Mouse
Mouse Secretary
amanuensis to the cat
Posts: 143
|
Post by Mouse on Jul 2, 2006 1:09:31 GMT -7
Part I **A Walk In Mortality** Another day in the life of Wyld.... I was tired. I could feel my indecision of my place in Shade. What was happening to me? For so long I had never questioned my path in the War between Chaos and Grimm, I considered myself a child of Chaos through and through. How could this be? I, a mere mortal, walked beside those that I considered my brethren in arms... liches and undead... yet refused the possibility of giving up my own mortality. "Mortals cannot cast spells as well, Wyld," countless times I have heard this from Demon and others... "They tire so easily and have to recover... when you are undead, you feel nothing but the exhilaration of the kill." Always I would cling like a rabid pit bull to my convictions. "I came into this world a mortal and a mortal I will remain," was always my reply. My last death, however, made me question my own rights to my decision of the mortal path. In my last lucid moments before the darkness overcame me, I saw the face of a god.
|
|
Mouse
Mouse Secretary
amanuensis to the cat
Posts: 143
|
Post by Mouse on Jul 2, 2006 1:16:39 GMT -7
Part II **Chaotic Dreaming** "You are dead, Wyld," the voice slammed into my failing mind merciless and forgiving. My body was cut off from me... I could see it vividly, the last mental picture before my last breath was taken... countless wounds, bloody gashes; my abdomen ripped open and food for the balors that overcame me in my final moments. "You have a choice, Wyld, same as any who fall at my feet," the voice grew soothing... a thunder in the distance. "I can restore you to a new life, the path of the undead. You will train, strengthen, and prepare yourself for the life of the lich. You will be fierce, a mage that mortals will tremble as they hear your name spoken. You will truly be my child... body and soul." "However, my patience is running thin, Wyld," the voice became a harsh whip on my bodiless spine. "You continue to cling to your puny, weak mortality.... continuing to defy me, yet say you fight in my name. This will not be allowed to continue much longer." "My Lord, Chaos, I am not ready yet," my own voice was thready and weak. I sounded childish and pleading in my own ears. Inwardly, I cringed. "You are ever the fool, Wyld," replied Chaos. "Your time in my eyes is running out. Soon, you will not be tolerated to walk this line. Next time you come to me, be ready to shake off the pathetic mortal chains." The vacuum of endless silence enclosed me in it's cold embrace. There was no light... no tunnel... only... Death. TO BE CONTINUED........ ~Wyld^1~
|
|
Mouse
Mouse Secretary
amanuensis to the cat
Posts: 143
|
Post by Mouse on Jul 2, 2006 1:20:57 GMT -7
Part III ~The Decision to Dance~ It was another day... only a few months since my last resurrection. Chaos had thrown down his ultimatum. I would spend hours in the Byrendell pub, watching the crowds, the endless fights; but I was only half listening. I had grown moody and morose. I was irritable. I became disenchanted. "WyldFwend!!" My dearest friend and mentor grinned at me and attempted to poke me in the eye... again. "UnBuddy!!" I laughed in spite of myself. Un grabbed a chair and pulled it up to my table. He knew without asking. He had been an undead for so long... a fearless warrior of Chaos. He recognized a kindred spirit. "Wyld, is it time yet?" Un grinned at me but his eyes were serious. "You have put this off for so long; always questioning yourself. You will do just fine. All you need is the courage to just do it. Stop worrying about the magic and the healing, your comrades in arms will make sure that you never get in dire straights. Once you commit yourself to this path, you will see the wonders of Our ways." I looked at him for a long moment. At a first glance, Un was no different from a mortal. You always hear the tales of the undead... the rotting flesh, the mindless corpses. Wivestales, all of it. I studied Un, committing him to memory as I did to all of my friends. I had never truly thought of the differences of the Undead and the liches... besides the obvious. I felt the hand of the god close tighter on the back of my neck. I sighed and bowed my head. The time had come for me accept my destiny. I would begin my lessons on the Dance of the Dead. Smiling, I nodded in silent agreement to Un, and walked out of Byrendell to savor my last day as a mortal in the sunshine. I looked up at the suns and the world around me. It was a good day to die.
|
|
Mouse
Mouse Secretary
amanuensis to the cat
Posts: 143
|
Post by Mouse on Jul 2, 2006 1:24:25 GMT -7
Part IV ~Death and Rebirth~ "Ok Fury, you know what to do," I handed all of my armor and weapons to my sister without hesitation. The time to think had come and gone. Now, it was time for action. I was ready, even eager to begin my new journey as a Child of Chaos. Fury eyed me skeptically, however. "Are you sure that you are ready for this?," she asked me. "I mean, you are notorious for jumping without looking, Wyld. You said you weren't going to even go undead, and now you are naked as the day you were born and asking me to kill you. What's wrong with this picture?" "Are you going to kill me or not, Fury?" I was impatient to get this over with. The old fear was starting to gnaw at the pit of my stomach. "Look, I don't trust anyone else to do this. You, at least will give me a quick death... painless as possible." Dying at the hands of the balors still made me wince in remembered agony. "Ok, ok!!" growled Fury. "Umm close your eyes." Without thought, I let my eyes close... this was my moment! I was finally going to do this. I was going to fall and rise like the phoenix! Undead... I could almost taste it... I... I... What the hell was taking so long?!?!?!?!? My eyes opened wide... I was still very much alive. I looked around in complete bewilderment. Fury had disappeared. At my feet was a quickly penned note. Cursing in several different languages, I snatched up the letter and read: Dear Wyld, I can't do this. You and I have done too much and we have been through too much for me to casually take your life, even if it is at your request. Go east, Wyld, and find the wolves, or elves...something!!! Twist it, and let nature take its course. Be well, sister. ^Fury^ P.S. If it makes you feel any better, when I go undead you can kill me. I wanted to be angry with her, but I couldn't. She was my mentor when I began training. She and I had been through too much. I understood why my death couldn't be at her hand.
|
|
Mouse
Mouse Secretary
amanuensis to the cat
Posts: 143
|
Post by Mouse on Jul 2, 2006 1:26:05 GMT -7
Part V ~Til Death Do You Part~ I was on my own now. I would not allow anyone else to kill me. Call it pride, if you will, but to give someone else the gift of my death seemed unacceptable to me. Already the patterns of my thoughts were changing. Sighing to myself, I wandered naked into the forest... I would head to the East where the wolves would deem me a noble sacrifice indeed. I wandered slowly, contemplating my destiny. I think it is natural that when one knows that they are going to die, they reflect. You want to savor those last moments of the cool breeze on your mortal skin, the sound of life to your ears, the last free moments where your chest expands with each breath you take. So many things I had taken for granted and not appreciated enough. My mind was purged. I have no regrets. I could hear the wolves in the distance. Their calls were soothing and how well I remembered watching them as a child. I had always had an affinity for the lupine creatures. I never killed them unless I had too. I took a tentative step over the bridge. I could see them in the distance. They were as beautiful as I remembered. Their shaggy coats glistened in the moonlight. I watched them for few moments. They were playful and yipping excitedly. I smiled in spite of myself. Without thought, I walked slowly over the bridge, drawn to them. Before I realized it, my feet touched the lush grass of the Slyythra Fields. Almost instantly... the wolves grew still. Their eyes all focused on me. I could see them testing the air to determine my purpose for being in their domain. They became agitated and started pacing around me. Even though I was naked and without weapon... I still had the aura of the mage around me, and they could feel it. It made them wary and unsure of my intent. I conjured the words to the last spell that I would cast before my death. It was a last minute cut and run, Twist of Fate. The spell would weaken me to the point of near death. My magical aura would be almost gone. Death would be imminent. I took aim to the black wolf that was crowding south of me. His brethren were running at his flank... patient. A bright light flashed in my head... the force of the spell threw me to the ground as I switched places with the black alpha. The wolves to the left of me jumped back in shock, but recovered quickly enough. My head was reeling. I staggered to my feet but there was no sense in putting off fate. I dropped back down to my knees, head bowed. It was like lightning, the way the wolves all lept upon my weakened body. Their claws and teeth ripped through my flesh. Every jagged slash was a blossom of exquisite pain. My vision began to fade as I saw the black alpha crouch down over me... his teeth locked on to my already bloodied throat. I vaguely felt the rip as my flesh was torn away. My mind began to wander. I had the strangest feeling of flying as my heart slowed to nothing. Peace... acceptance... blessed relief. Silence.
|
|
Mouse
Mouse Secretary
amanuensis to the cat
Posts: 143
|
Post by Mouse on Jul 2, 2006 1:27:33 GMT -7
Part VI ~Thou Shalt Not Fail~ "Ahhh, Wyld, once again you are at my feet," that voice... so familiar, a child with its parent. I would know that voice anywhere. I felt thunder echo over my skin as I felt my soul tremble. Death gives you the feeling of the newborn... no sight... at the mercy of your god... helpless. "My Lord, Chaos," my voice was a whisper, unrecognizable to my own ears. The sensation of the eternal dream was liquid euphoria. I have died many times, but never has time stopped for me in this fashion. My mind was unable to concentrate on one focus point. Thus is the feeling to stand in the presence of chaos. "You have done well, Wyldone," the words were quietly growled. Pure seduction to my ears. "A naked Wyldling in the forest; like the pagan sacrifice. You did not die in battle, but at your own decision." "I could not do less, my Lord," I could feel the powers of Chaos penetrate my very soul, searching; probing. He knew me better than I knew myself at that moment; however he can not take his children, his army, by force. When you go to Chaos, you go under your own free will. "You have a choice, Wyld," said Chaos. "You can return to the world under the glory of my name. Fight alongside my warriors. The power of the undead will be granted to you. When you have proven yourself worthy, I will give you the option of becoming a lich." "You have always used my name in your travels, Wyld. Your mortality, however is offensive to my standards. I warned you before, that the next time we met, this would be your last choice," the thunder was a quiet roll reverberating through my head. I was becoming drowsy, even in death. "Of course, you always have the choice to maintain your foolish mortality as well..." Chaos tossed this to me with a sneer. I cringed like a whipped cur. "My Lord, Chaos," I tried desperately to put some mettle in my voice. "I deliver myself into your hands. I offer myself to your army. Show me the way of the undead, so that I may answer the call of the Lich. May we triumph in your name." "Welcome, my child," the voice of Chaos became a loud echo. I felt electric shocks jolt me to my core. A sensation of.... rebirth? I didn't have time to ponder this. An explosion of worlds came crashing down on me and dragged me into the abyss of my own sanity. "Thou shalt not fail, Wyld," his last words to me and my mind faded to black.
|
|
Mouse
Mouse Secretary
amanuensis to the cat
Posts: 143
|
Post by Mouse on Jul 2, 2006 1:29:07 GMT -7
Part VII ~Blessed Is The Undead Soul~ I became of the sun beating down upon my skull. I opened my eyes in irritation and lifted my head... my brain immediately kicked into overdrive. My vision was overacute, my hearing.. I could only shake my head at the beginning blossoms of pain as my auditory nerves were racked by the vibrations. It was too much; overwhelming. I growled in irritation and curled up in a ball. I immediately called to mind some relaxation breathing techniques of my past. Without thinking.. I took a breath. I choked and wheezed. Half whimpering, half screeching in rage and fear, I felt the panic bubble up within my insides. What was happening to me? Was I dying? Wait... I was already dead. I closed my eyes. I had to concentrate. "Stop fighting it, Wyld," I muttered. "You have handled alot worse than this. Let go and just BE." I repeated this like a mantra. Over and over. My mind began soft inner clickings and adjusted as my entire body stilled and became calm. It was some time before I opened my eyes and immediately became aware of someone standing over me. I leapt to my feet and hissed, reaching for my foil... and cursing softly because it wasn't there. "Easy there, Wyld," Demon laughed softly. "You aren't ready to spar with me just yet. Fury told me you would be around here somewhere. I brought you some of your gear." In silence, I put on my gear. Platinum. I noticed the chill of my flesh yet could hardly feel the sensations upon my skin. Once I was ready, I turned and looked up at Demon. One of Shade's most powerful liches, and my trusted companion...for all that I was once mortal. "What is happening to me?" I asked him quietly, my voice wouldn't come out higher than a defeated whisper. "Lesson One, mija," he replied with a smile of... pity. "To become undead, you must embrace it. You cannot bring your mortality with you. You cannot think as a mortal. You cannot breathe as a mortal. You are not a mortal. The more you fight this, the worse it will be for you. Accept your new destiny. It is not enough to just resurrect. You must celebrate and exalt in the new discovery of yourself." With those words lingering in my head, he left me to ponder my new existence... and allow me to shrug off the last remnants of my mortality.
|
|