Background for a forest I'll paint in once it dries
SPOILERS! (Click to view)
The spirit lies just beyond the realm of the living. It is a short distance from the material world yet only a select few can bridge the gap between without ending their material existence. The wizard can enter this domain returning with knowledge of the Gods. From the spirit world, a wizard brings power relevant to those alive in the material world.
Within magic lies every secret of the universe. An eternal consciousness resting in immaterial energy is what defines us. Beyond the conceivable world is a reality stranger than our imaginations.
Without the darkness we could never comprehend light, much like we cannot know joy without suffering. We will forever conjure demons and, in banishing them, guarantee they return with a vengeance.
THE DIAMOND
Assenieve Silversziene rode through the dark, summer night. Using great stealth he circled the camp and found the man he had come to kill. Assenieve had a short frame which supported incredible power. He wore leathers that were reinforced with chain mail over top. The metal used to create his armor consisted of the lightest alloys, its properties further enhanced by the Karn magical arts blessing it.
Assenieve crouched down, lurking in the bushes beyond the campsite. He crept slowly closer on his belly as they chatted rather loudly deep into the night. They were gorging on fine meats and the strongest spirits. Assenieve waited patiently as their fire died along with their conversation.
Armeerja sat just in front of Assenieve. He was a middle aged man and appeared to have more self-control than his companions. While they lay in a drunken stupor, he sat alone by the fire, having consumed only half as much as his grungy friends. Assenieve emerged quietly from under the bushes and glanced at the other three men. He did not know who they were; he had only come to kill Armeerja.
Armeerja was tall and lean. He wore an expensive silk shirt and tailored trousers from Feruce. His stature resembled a bean pole and suggested a lack of coordination. However, he was deceptively agile. Assenieve had been warned of his cunning and speed but was unconcerned. Now that he saw the skinny crook, his confidence grew.
Armeerjas companions wore cheap rags and were the type that he normally did not associate with. Assenieve was unclear whether they were involved with the heist and didnt care, either way.
Armeerja leisurely reached for a log to strengthen the dwindling fire. As he hunched over, Assenieve took to his feet. Armeerja turned to face the trespasser and reached for his blade. Before his steel was unsheathed, he felt the sharpness of Assenieves sword slide deep into his abdomen. The sword was angled to puncture his lungs as well as rip his guts out. Assenieve jolted the sword back and forth as Armeerja mouthed a scream that he could no longer produce. His guts fell all around him as the sword danced around inside his abdominal cavity. He fell backward and quickly died while Assenieve crouched down and pulled out a large knife from his boot. He cut the disemboweled intestines apart until finally finding the merchandise.
Assenieve stood over the dead man and felt a hint of guilt. What if this man had a family? But he was a criminal. But so am I. He glanced at the other men as they slept and almost felt remorse.
Assenieve slipped into the bushes and disappeared. He reached his mount and hurried off toward the palace. He entered the Angel-Wood Forest and rode until sunrise. The next day, he only stopped to let his horse drink and rest in order to reach Durkgars palace before nightfall.
Assenieve was greeted by a guard he did not recognize but still was waived through with no hassle. The soldiers wore the finest plate armor bearing the crest of the Cult of the Blood-night. Four other soldiers appeared and eyed the bag that Assenieve carried. They pointed and laughed as they shouted at each other. They knew whose head was in the bag and cracked jokes, trying to get Assenieves attention.
Assenieve ignored them and continued down the dirt path. As he neared the palace, the road took on more beauty. It was wider and very smooth with flowering hedges that displayed an array of exotic colors. He soon reached the palace steps and realized that Prince Durkgar was already waiting at the top of the stairs. He walked to meet Assenieve as soon as he saw him.
The prince wore a decorative violet robe that resembled the style worn by the Holy Karn. It was elaborate and glowed with runes of protection. The former Karn prince was well known to be expelled from the holy city of Aukdale, yet still wore his royal robes. He considered his palace a new holy city and ruled in a manner that resembled the Holy Karn.
The palace of Prince Durkgar was extravagant. It had a central dome and five towers that represented the five holy stones. The arches and stairways were huge and ionic columns towered thirty five feet overhead. The colonnade path to the entrance was covered by Ehkara vine that grew so thick and full across the top and sides of the columns it formed a living ceiling and walls.
Oh good, good, I take it we found our man. Prince Durkgar shook Assenieves hand as they proceeded to his quarters to complete the contract.
They walked under the shadowy vines and emerged on the other side to a large, brightly lit main hall. All eight stories could be viewed from this chamber that rose hundreds of feet. Five circular balconies gave the illusion that they were spinning toward the hole marking the apex of the dome.
Durkgar lead him to the fifth floor of the first tower and into his personal quarters. Assenieve approached the table and plopped the sack down, making a horrible squishing sound. He opened the sack as Prince Durkgar looked on in anticipation.
I loved him, really took care of him. What a piece of shit. Where is the diamond?
Open his mouth. Assenieve answered impatiently.
Oh of course, I almost forgot. The prince had offered to double the reward if Assenieve were to behead his friend and bring the diamond back in his mouth. It was during a moment of anger and, as he looked at Armeerjas face, he wished he hadnt. He pulled the diamond from Armeerjas mouth, wiped it clean and gazed through it while pointing it toward a flickering candlelight.
You know that the light shining through this diamond carries immense power. My people learned to harness this power and create wonderful things. It seems now that the corrupt must destroy beauty, stealing power for selfish and perverted reasons. Why must we be so savage to one another? He paused and Assenieve only stared blankly at him.
Tell me, Assenieve, do you feel regret for those you kill?
Only when I dont get paid, Assenieve snapped back, continuing to lose patience.
Oh of course, come with me. The prince took him to the lower vault where he placed the diamond into a decorative, padded case. Sadly, I will no longer be able to display my favorite jewel. It has been tarnished. He took a moment and then reached under the shelf.
Here, he said as he tossed a large leather sack of heavy gold coin. Its Hawks mixed with a few Wheels, but Im sure youll have no trouble spending them anywhere. Gold is gold.
Thanks. Assenieve said before making a hasty exit from Durkgars palace.
He felt sick and wished he hadnt killed, regardless of the price. It was time to return home. Things would now settle down and Assenieve hoped he could too. The money he just earned promised to last him at least a hundred years on the plains.
The spirit lies just beyond the realm of the living. It is a short distance from the material world yet only a select few can bridge the gap between without ending their material existence. The wizard can enter this domain returning with knowledge of the Gods. From the spirit world, a wizard brings power relevant to those alive in the material world.
Within magic lies every secret of the universe. An eternal consciousness resting in immaterial energy is what defines us. Beyond the conceivable world is a reality stranger than our imaginations.
Without the darkness we could never comprehend light, much like we cannot know joy without suffering. We will forever conjure demons and, in banishing them, guarantee they return with a vengeance.
THE DIAMOND
Assenieve Silversziene rode through the dark, summer night. Using great stealth he circled the camp and found the man he had come to kill. Assenieve had a short frame which supported incredible power. He wore leathers that were reinforced with chain mail over top. The metal used to create his armor consisted of the lightest alloys, its properties further enhanced by the Karn magical arts blessing it.
Assenieve crouched down, lurking in the bushes beyond the campsite. He crept slowly closer on his belly as they chatted rather loudly deep into the night. They were gorging on fine meats and the strongest spirits. Assenieve waited patiently as their fire died along with their conversation.
Armeerja sat just in front of Assenieve. He was a middle aged man and appeared to have more self-control than his companions. While they lay in a drunken stupor, he sat alone by the fire, having consumed only half as much as his grungy friends. Assenieve emerged quietly from under the bushes and glanced at the other three men. He did not know who they were; he had only come to kill Armeerja.
Armeerja was tall and lean. He wore an expensive silk shirt and tailored trousers from Feruce. His stature resembled a bean pole and suggested a lack of coordination. However, he was deceptively agile. Assenieve had been warned of his cunning and speed but was unconcerned. Now that he saw the skinny crook, his confidence grew.
Armeerjas companions wore cheap rags and were the type that he normally did not associate with. Assenieve was unclear whether they were involved with the heist and didnt care, either way.
Armeerja leisurely reached for a log to strengthen the dwindling fire. As he hunched over, Assenieve took to his feet. Armeerja turned to face the trespasser and reached for his blade. Before his steel was unsheathed, he felt the sharpness of Assenieves sword slide deep into his abdomen. The sword was angled to puncture his lungs as well as rip his guts out. Assenieve jolted the sword back and forth as Armeerja mouthed a scream that he could no longer produce. His guts fell all around him as the sword danced around inside his abdominal cavity. He fell backward and quickly died while Assenieve crouched down and pulled out a large knife from his boot. He cut the disemboweled intestines apart until finally finding the merchandise.
Assenieve stood over the dead man and felt a hint of guilt. What if this man had a family? But he was a criminal. But so am I. He glanced at the other men as they slept and almost felt remorse.
Assenieve slipped into the bushes and disappeared. He reached his mount and hurried off toward the palace. He entered the Angel-Wood Forest and rode until sunrise. The next day, he only stopped to let his horse drink and rest in order to reach Durkgars palace before nightfall.
Assenieve was greeted by a guard he did not recognize but still was waived through with no hassle. The soldiers wore the finest plate armor bearing the crest of the Cult of the Blood-night. Four other soldiers appeared and eyed the bag that Assenieve carried. They pointed and laughed as they shouted at each other. They knew whose head was in the bag and cracked jokes, trying to get Assenieves attention.
Assenieve ignored them and continued down the dirt path. As he neared the palace, the road took on more beauty. It was wider and very smooth with flowering hedges that displayed an array of exotic colors. He soon reached the palace steps and realized that Prince Durkgar was already waiting at the top of the stairs. He walked to meet Assenieve as soon as he saw him.
The prince wore a decorative violet robe that resembled the style worn by the Holy Karn. It was elaborate and glowed with runes of protection. The former Karn prince was well known to be expelled from the holy city of Aukdale, yet still wore his royal robes. He considered his palace a new holy city and ruled in a manner that resembled the Holy Karn.
The palace of Prince Durkgar was extravagant. It had a central dome and five towers that represented the five holy stones. The arches and stairways were huge and ionic columns towered thirty five feet overhead. The colonnade path to the entrance was covered by Ehkara vine that grew so thick and full across the top and sides of the columns it formed a living ceiling and walls.
Oh good, good, I take it we found our man. Prince Durkgar shook Assenieves hand as they proceeded to his quarters to complete the contract.
They walked under the shadowy vines and emerged on the other side to a large, brightly lit main hall. All eight stories could be viewed from this chamber that rose hundreds of feet. Five circular balconies gave the illusion that they were spinning toward the hole marking the apex of the dome.
Durkgar lead him to the fifth floor of the first tower and into his personal quarters. Assenieve approached the table and plopped the sack down, making a horrible squishing sound. He opened the sack as Prince Durkgar looked on in anticipation.
I loved him, really took care of him. What a piece of shit. Where is the diamond?
Open his mouth. Assenieve answered impatiently.
Oh of course, I almost forgot. The prince had offered to double the reward if Assenieve were to behead his friend and bring the diamond back in his mouth. It was during a moment of anger and, as he looked at Armeerjas face, he wished he hadnt. He pulled the diamond from Armeerjas mouth, wiped it clean and gazed through it while pointing it toward a flickering candlelight.
You know that the light shining through this diamond carries immense power. My people learned to harness this power and create wonderful things. It seems now that the corrupt must destroy beauty, stealing power for selfish and perverted reasons. Why must we be so savage to one another? He paused and Assenieve only stared blankly at him.
Tell me, Assenieve, do you feel regret for those you kill?
Only when I dont get paid, Assenieve snapped back, continuing to lose patience.
Oh of course, come with me. The prince took him to the lower vault where he placed the diamond into a decorative, padded case. Sadly, I will no longer be able to display my favorite jewel. It has been tarnished. He took a moment and then reached under the shelf.
Here, he said as he tossed a large leather sack of heavy gold coin. Its Hawks mixed with a few Wheels, but Im sure youll have no trouble spending them anywhere. Gold is gold.
Thanks. Assenieve said before making a hasty exit from Durkgars palace.
He felt sick and wished he hadnt killed, regardless of the price. It was time to return home. Things would now settle down and Assenieve hoped he could too. The money he just earned promised to last him at least a hundred years on the plains.
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Good stuff.