Board Thread:Custom Lore Development/@comment-26084195-20160212074202/@comment-26084195-20160212081208

The sun was rising over the hills. Not that that mattered, of course. It was so misty there that sunlight made little difference. Jaukoehai suspected that was part of the enchantment. Still, as the sun rose, so too did all the raiders in the camp. Including Slythe. She still wore the leather catsuit, but now she also wore black gloves and a hood. Now only the smallest bit of her acid green scales were showing.

“Jaukoehai. There is no time to wait. Thisss will take usss sssome time. The cccity is a reasonable dissstanccce away, and it will take usss even longer to get to where Sssathir has hidden the phylactery.”

“Wait, what do you means ‘us?’”

“I’m coming with you.”

He laughed. “Ok, thanks for the offer, but that’s not a very good idea. That outfit, comfortable as I’m sure it is, is most definitely not built for combat. Forget the swords of the undead, the sharp end of a feather could pierce that if propelled hard enough.”

“Well, with a big tough soldier like you watching my back, that won't happen, will it?”

“I could probably keep you safe, but--”

“Excccellent.” Jaukoehai was cut off as Slythe’s tail wrapped around his wrist and she started walking off, dragging him along behind.

“Seriously? You're going to drag me along with your tail?”

“Would you like me to let go?”

“Please!”

She released him, and he moved to walk beside her. “Sorry for snapping at you. I’m not used to people acting like that toward me.”

“I figured, you could use the breath of fresh air. Wait, that'sss what you call sssnapping? You need to loosssen up.”

“Loosen up? What do you mean?”

“I mean that you’re far too mellow! You need to let yourssself exxxperienccce and releassse more emotion, and ssstep outssside of your routine! You’ll never feel everything life has to offer if you won’t take time to live a little. Jussst try to be lesss ssstiff!”

“And I suppose you’re the expert at not being stiff?”

“I am the mossst fluid being you will ever lay eyes on. In every sssenssse of the word.”

“Yes, well, as much as I would like to loosen up, I cannot. My line of work makes it impractical.”

“Even people like you can afford to ssstep outssside their comfort zone on occasion.”

The two continued to chat about small, inane things such as recent fashion trends in Quinos or the best method with which to skin something. Normally, this mist and darkness would discourage conversation, but not with these two.

It took two hours of steady walking to reach the stream which surrounds the City of Mist.

“We’ve conssstructed a makeshift bridge to get into the cccity jussst down here.”

She lead him to a rickety looking wooden bridge, which she crossed with light footed ease. Jaukoehai, on the other hand, broke two planks walking across.

“Sssmooth.”

“Clearly this bridge wasn’t built for a form consisting mostly of metal and muscle.”

“I’m looking forward to ssseeing how much ssstamina you’ve got, though.” She waited as he yanked his foot out of the last plank.

“I certainly seem to have plenty to spare.”

The two of them looked at the city. The mist was so thick by now that even Jaukoehai with his special helmet could only see about ten feet in any direction.

“Alright, which way, Slythe?” She didn’t respond. “Slythe?” She was nowhere to be seen.

“Great. I haven’t been here one second and she’s already gotten herself captured or worse. Aah! I told her it was a bad idea for her to come along!”

“Well? Let’sss go!” Her voice seemed to come out of nowhere.

“Where are you?”

“Now now, if I told you, that wouldn’t be called ssstealth, would it?”

“Alright. Normally people are hiding from me.”

“Sssomehow that doesn’t sssurprise me.”

Jaukoehai walked along the streets of the ruined city, with the distinct idea that the presence he felt was not Slythe.

Sure enough, it wasn’t long before he was accosted by a group of skeletons, which were of course taken down with a few swings of Jaukoehai’s hammer. But one was felled by a quick jab from a shadowy figure that quickly retreated back into the mists.

“Nice kill. You aren’t bad at this.”

“Keep moving.”

And so he did. He walked and walked through the twisting streets of the ancient city, countered almost every other step by a group of skeletons. Naturally he encountered several spirits, but they all gave him a wide berth. The power of his shield repelled all phantoms, though it didn’t keep back the living skeletons all on its own. It didn’t repel the living, either, which was about to become a problem.

In the road ahead of him stood ten Sathirian Oathsworn warriors (remember them from the first blog post?), their curved swords held to the side. They were standing between Jaukoehai and the bridge to the building where the phylactery was held.

Last time I fought these clowns, blunt attacks had little effect! The best I could do is knocking them out! I’ll have to get out my sword…

He took his small backpack off and rummaged through it. it had been enchanted to be more or less endless, and he knew he had a backup sword in there. But as he took it off, the ten Oathsworn began walking toward him. He quickly plunged his hand down and yanked out the blade. When he looked up, however, he discovered that he didn’t need it.

Slythe had come in from behind as silent as one of the phantoms that now inhabit the ruins. The odd silvery dagger in her hand had felled one of the Oathsworn before Jaukoehai even looked up.

The Oathsworn whirled around, turning their death stare to Slythe. No words were exchanged between either party as the duel commenced. Jaukoehai began running over to help, but stopped in awe at the scene folding out before him.

Slythe leapt or slid or rolled past each swing of their blades. Her movements were as swift and fluid as the serpents her kind resembles. Her body twisted and manipulated itself to the point where Jaukoehai wondered if she had any bones at all.

It was like a storm of black leather and silver blades, Slythe was everywhere at once, leaving destruction in her wake. By the time she slid to a halt, every Oathsworn had collapsed.

Jaukoehai was standing there, totally stunned by the display he had just witnessed. Never had he seen anyone move with such uncanny grace. There wasn’t even a scratch on her. It was especially impressive to a being of such limited flexibility.

“I… that was… wow!”

“I’m flattered, but you may want to sssee what’sss behind you.”

He rotated to see an immense metal golem’s fist bearing down on him. The metal mass made contact with a resounding crash. The golem’s hand shattered, and Jaukoehai didn’t move an inch.

“Not bad. Now watch how the master does it.” He picked his hammer up and leapt into the air, bringing it into the chest of the steel giant. The thing buckled like a soda can, its very limbs popping from the torso from the force of the blow.

He turned to see Slythe watching him. She was closer than she had been, perhaps she had run to help? “I sssee that the ssstories about your durability are not overssstated.”

“Wait, let me see that dagger!” He jogged over to her and examined the blade in her hands. “I’ve seen images of that before, in a really old book! Is that the Fang of Ichor?”

“You know of it?”

“Know of it? I’ve been looking for it for at least a decade! This is the blade that the famed assassin Ezio used to assassinate the ruler of the Rallosian Empire in 1012 B.T.!”

“Very impresssive. How did you know all of that?”

“I’ve dedicated a significant portion of my life to the hunting of rare and dangerous artefacts. Some may call it a hobby--”

“And others may call it an obsssession. I know the feeling.” She was giving him the oddest look.

“What?”

“I’m sssurprised at you. I would never have figured you for a treasure hunter.”

“And speaking of treasure hunting, there is a pretty big one just across that bridge.”

“Indeed. You go firssst, I inssssisssst. And remember the plan!”

Jaukoehai walked up onto the bridge that led to the old city hall. He took his steps slowly, watching for signs of traps. He glanced behind him, but Slythe had once again been swallowed up by the mists, and her own skill at subterfuge.

He walked across the bridge, the mist amplifying the sounds of his armoured feet clanking on the stone. The rest of the city was abnormally silent, but in this spot it was something more. The silence here was almost palpable.

Before him appeared five spirits, clearly of Iksar nobility. They stood before him on the bridge.

“You shall go no further, thief.”

He put on his best heroic voice. “No spirit will detain me. Let me pass, or else.”

“You shall not pass.”

“And who will stop me?”

“We will.”

“You? A bunch of wispy shadows of once-living politicians? Don’t insult me. I’m the only survivor of the turning of New Tunaria. I am the conqueror of Stormhold, slayer of the dark necromancer Ganak, and hero of Maj’Dul! Do you really think that you could possibly detain the Sentinel of Quinos? Stand aside you pathetic shade, lest I unleash upon you the wrath that has ended nations and toppled gods.”

The ghosts looked at each other momentarily. While they did, Jaukoehai raised his immense shield and advanced. They screeched and hissed and worked desperately to get away from the powerful shield.

“PUPPETS OF SATHIR, YOUR POWER IS NOTHING BEFORE MY OWN! BEGONE, ABERRATIONS OF NATURE!”

He pushed them back, off the bridge, hovering over the abyss below. He was joined on the bridge by Slythe.

“Sssorry boys, but we have to run along now. We’ll be taking thisss with usss.” She displayed the highly intricate metal construct in her hand, within which was a flawless green crystal. “Enjoy your eternal ssstate of torment trapped between worlds! Come along, my knight.”

“I’m right behind you.”

The two made their way out of the city, no longer bothered by any undead, or even anymore golems or Oathsworn. The most dangerous thing they encountered was the bridge out, which Jaukoehai proceeded to shatter in four more spots.

They returned to the camp, amidst the massed cheers of Slythe’s Iksar employees. The two of them studied the Phylactery carefully, you could almost call it geeking out.

“Look at those details there, they seem to be indicative of some sort of battle, perhaps the battle of the Swamps of Nathsar?”

“Yesss, it does look that way. And thisss one here, it makesss note of sssome sssort of buried cccity. Cabilisss, perhapsss?”

“Perhaps. Fascinating.”

“Well, I should go put thisss with the ressst of the artefactsss.” She got up and walked into her tent. About ten minutes later, one of her employees approached him.

“The bosss sssends her apologiesss. She dissscovered that a few of the artefactsss were time sssensssitive, and she had to leave in a hurry to make sssome sssales. But she sssends her sssincccere appreciation for your ssserviccces, and she wanted me to give you thisss with her complementsss.”

It was a very old looking leather bound book, covered in the symbols of Druzaic, the language of pure magic.

“Amazing! Well, tell Slythe I’m quite grateful. I guess I’ll be on my way.”

“It was an honour, captain.”

And so Jaukoehai left the camp, and began the long trek back to civilization.

As he walked, however, something nagged at him in the back of his mind. He focused on the nagging thought, tried to make it more tangible. Then, suddenly, he realized what it was that was bugging him.

There were no time sensitive artefacts in the city! If there were, they would have expired long ago! The city isn’t exactly a sealed environment, after all. Which means… Slythe wanted him out of the way. For whatever reason that may be, the situation definitely warrants further investigation. And so Jaukoehai retraced his steps.

Meanwhile, back at the raider camp…

Slythe stood, surrounded by her former employees. They were armed and quite unhappy looking.

“Sssorry, bosss. But nobody really crossses Venril Sssathir. He’ll be paying usss handsssomely for the return of his artefactsss, as well as the head of the Iksssar foolish enough to sssteal from him.”

“I should have expected thisss. But you lot should know more than mossst that attacking me is sssuicccide.”

“Mossst of the time. But you’re out of your element here. You can’t kill usss all, and the ones that die jussst mean a bigger cut for the ressst of usss. Now ssset the sssack of artefactsss down and we’ll make it niccce and easy for you.”

Her smile widened. “You don’t want to do that.”

“Niccce try. You’ve played all of your cards. What could you be holding out for now?”

There was a loud clanging noise. “That.

They turned to see Jaukoehai standing there, an unconscious Iksar at his feet. “I need to remember that your kind is usually dishonest.”

*Holding Out for a Hero begins playing here*

Jaukoehai held his shield before him and charged like a rhino, bouncing the rebellious Iksar off it like bugs off a kettle. The distraction was more than enough time to allow Slythe to leap into action, forcefully disgorging many an Iksar’s childhood memories from his head. The unstoppable force and the immovable object, the perfect union. The renegades were unprepared for such a brutal onslaught, and it was a matter of minutes before the battle was over.

“Jaukoehai! That probably attracted every Oathsssworn in the jungle! We have to go, now!”

He nodded, and rushed over to her and picked her up over-the-threshold style, grabbing the artefact sack and slinging it over his should as he ran past.

“Jussst how fassst are you going?”

“I’m not entirely sure!”

Jaukoehai eventually stopped running, and set Slythe down on the banks near a river. The mist from the city was still chokingly thick, but slightly less severe than back at the camp.

“Well, that was exhilerating!” Slythe said, a bit out of breath. “I don’t think I’ve ever gone that fassst.”

“You knew I would come back to save you, didn't you?”

“Of courssse.” Slythe said, getting up.

“And now that you’re rid of your former employees, you don’t have to share your profits. Very clever. The complexity of your plans never ceases to amaze me.”

“You would be sssurprised.”

“Oh yeah? Try me.”

She thought for a moment. “Very well. You sssee, I onccce worked in the capital cccity, Sssebilisss. And one day I came acrosss a very ssstrange and obssscure entry in the archives. I followed that vein on a hunch, and it paid off. By piecccing together variousss clues, I dissscovered sssomething very interesssting regarding the Sssarnakki. Whatever ssspecccies created them onccce lived on Kunark, and they were afraid of exssstinction at the hands of the Sssathirian Empire. Those fears were well founded, as Sssathir did issue the order to have them hunted down. Desssperate, they used the blood of Dragons mixed with other things to create the perfect sssoldier, the ultimate warrior raccce. And they sssuccceeded. And Venril Sssathir was afraid. He knew that the Sarnakki had the power to topple his empire if allowed to live. Ssso he had the laboratories where they were being created completely sssmashed. He sssemed to have sssaved himssself from ever having to worry about the Sssarnakki again. But he misssed a sssingle laboratory, one hidden deep within a volcano on an island chain jussst north of Kunark. Thisss laboratory finished itsss tasssk, and the firssst batch of Sarnakki were born from the vatsss there. I had hoped that I could use you to lure your Sssarnakki brother here, tell him that clues to his ssspecccies’ origins are here on thisss continent, which he would then relay to the ressst of his kind, they would sssend people here, and conflict would eventually erupt between them and the Empire.”

“So… so I was just bait? A pawn in your little game of chess? My brother was the one you wanted all along?”

“Initially, yesss. But I realized quite quickly jussst how much I wanted you. You became my rook. I will level with you: I do not think I could have gotten the Phylactery without you. And, in the end, you became an integral part of my plan.”

“Well, it is a good plan. And if everything you have told me is true, it could well be earth-shattering.” He paused then, as if thinking very hard about something. The next time he spoke, it was choppy and uneasy, the voice of a nervous man. “You know… your moves while we were trying to get through the city were very impressive. I’ve never seen anybody with such acrobatic flexibility. For that matter, I’ve never seen anybody keep up with me in battle at all, besides my brother. It was, er, quite… stunning would be the word, I guess.”

“I know. I sssaw you watching me.”

“Can you blame me? You took out one of those oathsworn before I even got out my sword!”

“There are cccertain benefitsss to doing things my way.”

“No doubt.” His tone turned a bit sour.

“What’sss the matter?”

“Oh. Well, do you remember that conversation we had shortly after I arrived? It’s gotten me almost obsessing over the question: what do I look like? I haven’t seen my own face in more than eighty years. I’m normally unshakeable, but this question has kind of rattled me.”

“You haven’t ssseen your own faccce in over eighty years?”

“Yeah. I got this helmet about seventy years ago, and before that I was wearing a different helmet. I’m starting to think that I’m incapable of taking it off.”

“Why?”

Once again, Jaukoehai found himself blurting out information he had always hoped to keep under wraps. “I’m afraid of what I might see.”

“You’re afraid that you will sssee your passst. The passst you have tried ssso hard to keep under wrapsss.”

“I suppose I am.”

“We all have ghossstsss, Jaukoehai. We all have shadows from the passst that haunt usss. You cannot let them rule your actions here and now.” She walked over to him, so close they were almost touching. “It’sss like I sssaid. You need to be more flexsssible.”

She reached up slowly, as though she were handling a wild animal, and engaged the hidden mechanisms in his helmet that kept it locked firmly in place. She raised it, inch by agonizingly slow inch, off his head.

“Slythe, I don’t think--”

“Shhh.”

She finished lifting the helmet off of his head, and dropped it on the ground beside them. Reflected in her serpentine eyes, he could see himself for the first time in eighty years.

Jaukoehai was lost in the moment, gazing with fascination at his reflection.

“Slythe, this is… I… don’t look MMMMPH!”

His arms went flailing around like the Eleventh Doctor as she yanked him down and pressed her lips against his.

With all fairness, Jaukoehai functioned about as well as he could have in that situation. He had no idea how long it lasted, given that his brain wasn’t exactly functioning properly.

Of course, eventually she released him, and as he straightened up, she reached out and gave him a gentle shove. Jaukoehai went toppling to the ground with a loud clang. When he straightened up, Slythe was nowhere to be seen.

He scrambled to grab his helmet, and clicked it back on. As he was looking around for some sign of which way he went, however, a dazzling white light suddenly pierced the mist. He could see an armoured Sarnakki figure, silhouetted against the light which emanated from his raised fist, cape flowing in a non existent breeze. When the blinding light died down, his brother Jaukoehai Sky’ki stood there in his resplendent gold and white armour, with his companion Denva Loogei close behind him.

“Brother! Are you alright?” Jaukoehai S. asked, rushing to his twin. “I sensed great alarm from you a minute or so ago. What happened?”

“Oh, it was nothing.” Jaukoehai I. said. “Being here for three weeks will do things to the mind. It was only a Sathirian warrior. I dispatched him with ease. Say, a female Iksar didn’t run past you a moment ago, did she?”

“No. Why?”

“I saw one fleeing the City of Mist. I was curious to see if I could help her.”

“Why you’d help an Iksar is beyond me.”

“You know as well as I do that some are better than others. Come, we should head home. And boy, do I have a legend to tell you!”

And so the two three beings, the hero the outcast and the mercenary, made their way back to Quinos, Jaukoehai relating the tale of the Sarnakki’s potential for destroying the Sathirian Empire, just as Slythe had wanted. But as they walked, and for two years after, our hero searched his surroundings for some sign of the serpent thief.