Tuesday, September 20, 2005

A Fix
I found that I did not like making Razikiel and Tarin the same person and decided to go with the original plan... so there are only a few changes in this, but they are very drastic

Chapter 1

In the lands of Lumeria, far into the east, there is a small country known as Garudia. Also known as the Forest of Shadow, tall dense trees with trunks the size of elephants rise high into the skies, with the biggest touching over the clouds miles above. Under the large branches and leaves, only the slightest of light touches the forest floor, leaving darkness to rule and figures, like shadows, to walk it. Only the River of Theadon and the mountains of Herard separate this forest country from the rest of the Lumerain world.
In this forest, across a certain part of the Theadon river, there is a path that is rugged and harsh to travel, where only the most mastered of tracking could follow. For hours, this trail leads deeper and deeper into the forest, away from even a sign of day above, where beast of unknown lurks in the dark ahead. Further and further you will travel, by light would be the choice, until you come to a wall of tangle vines and thick undergrowth. To this point, it seems that there is no way through, but look harder and you would find a small opening under the mess of vines.
Walking through, you would come to an opening, sun shining from the open spaces above. Green grass and delicate flowers being underfoot, and a small beaten dirt path. only a few yards away to where the dirt road leads is a tree that is bigger than all the rest, its trunk so large that not even five giants could reach its arms around and even so taller that not even ten could reach its top. A steel door of 10' tall was built to where the path stopped, and many windows, bared by steel also, covered up its massive side. On branches there were doors weapons perched on each. And above the door was the grandest sight of all, a Gryphon of Gold, nailed to the tree itself in all its pride and power. This was the base of the Golden Gryphon.
The Golden Gryphon, though only a whisper in the other Lumerian Countries, are a group of talented and extremely trained individuals. To many, they are heroes in the dark forest. But to some, they are the bane of all their work and power, taking away their control of the land, for they spark hope in all of a better life without the control of others. To put it best, there are no followers, but leaders that stand by each other and works together in ways that others only wish they could.
But, saints are not these people, for they do not accommodate their powers for free. Even though they only work for the forces of good, they still take payment, large amounts, to keep their coffers full. And even so, many of them came here from lives hidden or of terrible memorance. This is the second chance, an escape, and a challenge for these individuals. Despite this, they still look to defeat evil as much as possible. This is their goal and this is there lives. None can change it now.

Sitting alone in his room at the top of the tree, Syilos watched as the sun rise from his open hutch, the dark red rays shooting into his room. Shielding the glare from his small, silver eyes, he could not help but smile in this moment. As the light bared down upon him, he stood up in his naked form, a gaunt but strong muscular structure glowing from the tint of blue skin, beautiful in every nature. Even his hair, the dark gray from his scalp, was silky and showed much of the way he was, touching his lower back in a long braid.
Deciding to get ready for the day, he opens a drawer in his dresser and pulled out a pair of black cotton pants, sliding them on and fastening them with a belt. Then, he closed that one and opened another to retrieve a deep blue shirt and pulled it over his head. Finally, he grabbed a long strips of cloth from the bottom drawer and wrapped them around his feet and hands.
To some, this was awkward to see someone using these cloth wrappings, seeing no point in their use. But, they are fools in the mind of Syilos, who used them for comfort in the blue steel armor that was sitting on its display in the corner of his room. Going to it, he began to don it over him, taking much time, no rush, for perfection and no problems with it. Then, ending with the boots and gauntlets, he knew that he would not come home with blisters and calices upon his hand or feet, flesh still clean and pure as the day he was born.
As he completed himself with the his double-bladed sword, both sides sheathed in superb leather cloth, he was unaware of the flying figure that was heading towards his hutch. As the sun began to turn to shadow, he could not help but growl and whispered slander under his voice.
Falling in from the hutch, Ark laughed as he ruffled his feathery red hair, clawed hands coming through it. He was about nine feet tale, with an average body build, if you can even call it that when he surpassed Syilos in every form. He was a beautiful Aerovan creature to say the least, with his eyes a cheerful and gentle gold, his wings a black and red in the light of the sun, and a smile so charming that even a man can not help but smile or laugh. But for Syilos, this meant bothering and annoyance.
" What do you want, Ark Redhaven?" spoke a harden, yet still careful and musical voice of the Shadow elf.
Seeming hurt, Ark stopped smiling and just laughed nervous in his upbeat and quick sound. " Sorry, Syilos. I was ordered to come and get you this morning, cause no one wanted to walk all the way up here to get you... Seeming that you are the only one who enjoys the long walk. Do you really like walking 104 stories?"
" No, Ark. I do it to cause pure anguish and pain to myself... I just love the dreadful hype that it gives me," answered Syilos, a dark sarcasm releasing at Ark.
Again, he felt hurt by the hateful tongue of his fellow warrior, but took it all the same. " Ok, Syilos... Umm, we need to get down the tree. I think I will run down with you today, if that is alright?" Even the deafest ear could here the sound of worry in his voice, a defeated soul trying to recover.
Shrugging with annoyance, he shook his head before telling him in the same sarcastic voice, " Why not? Come on. I am sure this will be fun." And then they were off through the large steel door in the far end of the room.

It was an hour before they reached the bottom, neither seeming to be exhausted from the long descend. As they were going down the last few floors though, a side door opened and out walked a beautiful and young Heaven Elf, dressed in a gown of gold and white that gave compliment to the glowing golden skin she wore, and glittering brazen hair. She was like an Angel from the Paradise and many could not match her beauty, a simple sweet smile with a tinted golden eyes. A far great number would think her flawless in all her ways, but few knew her knack of bad luck and causing problems, such as coming out on Ark as he was coming down the stairs, causing him to jump over her and roll down the last four flights with several hard thuds.
" Oh my goodness," she screamed as she watched him fall, turning to Syilos, who was now at her side with an impish grin upon his face.
Laughing, he turned to the Heaven Elf and stated, " Once again, Ora, you have proven to be a useful little creature. I thank you for allowing me such a wonderful display of entertainment," Bowing as every work snaked between his lips.
" As always, you are a cold hearted bastard to that kind creature... You do not deserve to be called a Gryphon you demented blackguard!" she screamed at him before rushing down the stairs to see if Ark was ok.
Down below, the dazed Ark only rubbed his head and stood up, looking like nothing more than a few bruises and scrapes found themselves upon him. As he looked up, he found the room to have a few others in the room, eying him curiously and questionably. Laughing, he looked up to see Ora finally making it to him.
" Are you ok, Ark?" she asked, pulling out her holy symbol of Heli' Dorion, a golden hand clasping a silver sword.
" I am fine. Just a little banged up. Nothing to worry your clerical powers," he said in his most reassuring voice, which at that moment was a mix between frightened and ashamed.
" Well, it doesn't matter," she bellowed at him," I am taking a look at you no matter your complaining." She knew well that he never spoke truly of his wounds in the past. Even to this day, she could never forgive him for one that almost took him from the world of the living.

Sitting by himself in a balcony above the commotion, a handsome young man could not help but shake his head and sigh. Pushing back the streaked blue and black hair from his soft green eyes, he combed with his hands and allowed it flow freely, hanging just above his shoulder. He had the face of a teenage, no older than sixteen, and always the kind-hearted feel coming from his malevolent face. Yet, no one could deny the dark presence that leaped from his body, a dark aura that seems to push and keep people at bay. Not many knew his story and only one knew the truth. But, no matter the case, they can also can not deny his overwhelming power to keep people close, to give hope and prosperous courage to every fight.
But, who exactly is this man, many would ask, and they would get this answer... " He is the darkness that seems to always give light. Through peril or tragedy, you will never find doom. If you die, you leave this world with pride. If you live, then honor be your day. This is who he is and nothing will ever change..." Of course, there are some who will tell you he is Myth Legend, the unofficial second in command of the Golden Gryphons.
As he bent over the ledge and watched as Ark was trying to escape the clutches of Ora, a figure stepped out from the shadows, materializing from the nothingness. This figure was robed in a black leather cloak, the hood pulled low over his face so that none could see it. He slouched over, unable to tell that he was bending his knees and has the stance of a tiger, ready to pounces at an open prey.
" So, Silence... you have returned?" said a voice of enlightenment, Myth turning to his new company, his long blue coat sweeping against the ground, the coat keeping concealed his whole body, not one scene of what laid underneath.
A sound so soft, a whisper into the graze of wind fell upon the open ears of Myth, speaking of what he found, but never a sound, unless wanted to be heard, could be known by anyone else.
" Thank you, Darkness... You may go now. I shall relay your report to everyone during the meeting..."
Seeming satisfied, he began to turn back, now struck with a quick and immediate thought.
" Wait, Shadow! I have one more thing for you... find Tarin. I just remembered that he has not returned for many days, and his presence is most necessary... go!" he ushered with urgency, seeming perplex by the unnerving thought.
Bowing to the order, the figure stepped into the darkness and disappeared. Light suddenly shined where the black was, and nothing was there except a solid wooden wall.

Silence is my call and fear is my enemy. I sit here with my blade of vengeance, waiting for my victim to come. I shall strike with the fierceness of a demon, but with cunning and speed of a fox. This is my promise to you.
These were thoughts running through the mind of Tarin Youngfox, a boy with eyes of fiery orange, one with such confidence that even the most fearless of warriors would have doubts. His madness did not stop there though, for his hair was long and tangled and massed with days without wash, only a hint of the black shine, like obsidian, in the soft glare of the only light that touched through the overbearing darkness. Even his armor spoke of many things about him, made from bones of an unknown creature, many places chipped and broken, mended by time. He was also covered by a cloak, yet his was of black fur, striped in red like a tiger, and its hood, currently not pulled over his head, was even more so spoken of the creature he had to kill, with its top skull still fixed in the fur, two long fangs jutting from the jaw, with smaller edged around them. In its eyes, two rubies that were dull even with the tinted glare.
He had been hunting for days out in the forest, his weapon of gleaming black ebony grasped in his hand, for the creature that had attacked him some time ago. It did nothing to harm him, but the woman he had travelled with, Fearu, had been gravely injured by the beast. Leaving Ryick with her, he went out by himself to slay it, not letting it leave in peace. Finally, he had tracked it to its layer, a hollow opening in the base of a tree, much larger than his own home.
He brandished the axe heads, holding them with pride as he stared at the reflection in the black gem. Touching each one to his head, he looked out to the monsters stronghold.
Suddenly, a roar echoed from the hollow tree base, its force echoing through the forest. Stepping out of the tree was a creature that stood nearly eighteen feet tall, broad and muscular, its flesh torn and an ashen gray in the soft light. It had coarse hair running all over its body, with long pointed fingers and a long crooked nose. It wielded a small tree trunk in its hand and eyes with wild yellow about the area.
" Come out, you scum! " It shouted into the forest, its rumble shaking everything about. " I know your there... I smell your putrid stench, the sweat and blood that you bled to follow me thick in the air. Come out!"
Getting up from his place, the silent warrior came out of the moss and weeds and faced his opponent with his head hung low and disrespectfully turned his back on the creature. A cry of rage rang out as the monster lurched forward with its large tree, the intent to kill made clear in its attack. Yet, even though his doom was for certain, he made no attempt to move. As the "club" struck him, the beast only laugh in hysteria at this.
Removing the Club from its embedment into the ground, he looked happily for the splatter of gore upon the ground. But, to his surprise, it was no where to be seen, only the imprint of the club. Quickly looking at the club itself though, he discovered a hole that was not there before, and inside, the glowing red of a predators eyes.

Coming out of the darkness some feet away, the figure had no clue of what was happening. Just knowing that the one he seeked would be close, he was not prepared for the sounds that he began to hear. First there was a roar, then screaming for someone, then another roar. In the end, he come to find a massive troll with a look of glee in his eye. To this moment, he believed the thing had just killed something, making it heartened with joy. But, for the figure, he knew death better than no one else knew, and already could tell the creature was doom, all from the glowing ruby eyes of the tiger cloak inside the now shallow hole in the trunk.

Lunging out of the hole, Tarin struck the creature on both sides of the neck, its sound a sickening clack as gem met bone. The blood splashed out from the wound as he ripped out the sword, covering himself in the creature red life. No longer was he bare from his head, but covered by the hood of the tiger cloak, the eyes on top glowing, and his face now shrouded in darkness. It was rare for him to take this form, the killer of no remorse, but when he did, nothing lived. That was the case for this troll as he struck each side again and again and again, nothing to hold him back.

It was another ten minutes before he was done, the corpse falling backwards moments into the attack, landing with a quackening thud. He had completely severed the head and ripped the body to pieces, making sure that all knew the price to pay for waking his wrath.
Pulling off the hood, he shook himself, like a creature who had just taken a bath, the blood flailing about. Taking a bottle from a pouch around his waist, he pulled the cork and poured the contents over himself. The fresh cold blue then ran without end over himself, cleaning him and his blades of all the vermillion liquid and grim, turning him into the corky little slacker that knew him as.

Finally finding a time to talk to him, the figure walked out in front of Tarin and bowed even lower to the ground.
" Hello Sir" spoke a sharp and whispered voice, a dark gloved hand reaching out to him.
" Phantom... What are you doing here?" Responded Tarin, the look of madness gone from his eyes and a softer color of orange replacing it.
Shaking its head, the figure just laughed. " I was sent to find you, Sir. Myth seemed worried about you, unlike his normality... But I must confess, you had been gone for many long days. I was not sure myself of your safety."
" Never mind that... Listen, I need you now to go find Fearu... she should be somewhere in the forest. I left Ryick with her. Take her back and send Ryick home. I will use that teleportation ring to get back (( even though it is about useless ))... I will see you in a while."
The figure then nodded, leaving him once more through the shadows.

Ok... I dont know... Should I end Chapter 1 here? or should I do more? Let me know
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