Pale_Horse
Member!
The Curse: A Diablo Inspired Story
Preface
Thank you for taking the time to read this. It's out of bordem really that this came about. This will be an on going tale I have finally decieded to put down into words, please forgive any grammer errors. I would ask that you please do not spam any messeges in here. Feedback, of any kind is welcomed.
Prologue
Crimson life, it covered his body. His trusted companion, Damitri, lay breathless in his lap. The blade was not meant for him, but none the less it found a home, as it slashed threw the throat. Only a few muscles prevented a complete sever of the head. Blood pulsed out, with every painful beat of the now dying heart.
For close to eleven years, Zavier, and Damitri, have fought side by side to rid towns of the ever growing demon horde, for a price of course. Now, in this dark unholy temple, Zavier can here death creeping forth on all sides.
With much care, and ease, Damitri is gentally put to the ground. "I will make them pay, my brother, I shall avenge thee, if it takes the last bit of my being." He rises with mace in hand, and charges into the darkness. A white knuckled grip, strengthened with emmence rage, sends the mace crashing with superpower like power upon numbers of zombielike beings, as well as animated skeleton remains. Still their numbers are many, for every one that is dropped, their is another to take its place. With lightening speed, five consectutive hits find its way to the Gardian who is reanimating the cursed piles of bones that make up the attacking mob.
Before the mass of deformed flesh can contact with the ground, a searing pain makes its presents known from his lower back. His knees buckle, warm liquid trickles down onto the slime covered brick floor. Another stab, this time from his thigh screams.
The horde covers him, every muscle tense. His time has come. A scream escapes his lips.
Zavier awakens with a shock, his hand, tightly gripped around the ancient axe that never leaves his side. It's magic tingles up his hand, and threw his arm. Calm takes hold, "A dream, only a dream, sir." His head darts towards the voice. Sleep still clouds his mind. For a moment he is unsure of his surroundings, as well as the company he is keeping. Reality sets in slowly, Horris his guide, eyes Zaviers hand.
" Only a dream sir, you are safe."
Realizing his weapon Shatterstar, still in hand, he preplies, "Forgive me, instinct." A apologetic smile faintly shows upon his lips.
He stands with a stretch, and a yawn. The back of his right hand wipes the left corner of his mouth. He looks up to the night sky, stars are twinkling brightly. Heat from the camp fire warms his face.
"For how long have I slumbered Horris?"
"Dawn appears over the horizon soon, sir."
"I must not be disturbed as I pray, Horris. My faith is all I have left, after, we will proceed to the town. We shant be long here, if we are to find him."
"If, he is still alive, that is." says Horris
"Have faith, my guide, Cain still lives, I am sure of it. His knowledge is greater then any known in all the lands. For this I am in need of his aid."
They take time to eat, freshly killed boar is on the morning menu. As they feed they converse a bit, then set out at first light, before the heat from the sun becomes too great.
Zavier gathers his axe and guard in hand, then tucks hit hammer into his belt, while Horris finishes his preperations by throwing his bow over his shoulder and sheething his sword. He reaches his hand back to his pack to assure that his arrows are accessible. With a nod the two set out again towards the town.
The desert summers in Laramar can drive a man to see and hear strange things. Their are many tales of ventures taken out into this land where champions and those in search for riches, return with frail wits and aged many years over, but many do not return. Consumed by the unforgiving desert sand, and anything else that, awaits the unprepared traveler.
The sun is overhead, when, they begin to hear a strange noise. A angelic voice is carried by the wind, it is a soothing hypnotic sound. Both Paladin, and guide look at one another in reasurence to see if the sound is real or if the heat has made them crazed.
Zavers eyes widen "Cover your ears, do not listen!"
With much haste both rip off their packs and find some fur from their sleep lining. They proceed to pack the fur in their ears. As they do so, a thick green vinelike appendage snakes up from the sand below tiny thorns protrude glistening with poisonous liquid. It slithers across the ground until it reaches Zaviers left leg. The vine tugs hard, making his balance off, as he falls hard to the ground. Shatterstar the mighty magical axe is set loose from his hand. He claws at the desert floor as he is pulled futher from the weapon.
"Horris, Horris! Help!" He yells in his direction. Then notices, that Horris is in a worse predicament then he.
Both of Horris's legs are wrapped with the vine. He is haking wildly with his sword at the vine, as he is quickly pulled toward a growing mound of sand. A milky liquid flows from the cuts made by the sword. This liquid trails off onto Horris's legs that are now a deep red, from the lack of blood flow. A final swing sends the vine limb reeling with pain back to the mound without its target. A loud muffled screech is heard from under the earth. The ground begins to violently shake. Horris tries to scurry away but, his bloody legs are parilized with toxins from the thorns, and throbbing from the blocked off blood.
"Help me Horris!" Cries Zavier.
Horris peers over to his companion, who is now feet away from his weapon. Covered mid chest down in vine. Neither hand free to defend himself against the evil.
Quickly he grabs for his bow, that is still over his shoulder, and knocks a few shots off from his pack, that is just in arms reach. Three of the four shots find its mark just below the feet of Zavier. A wiff of sulfer lingers in the nose as the magical arrows burn the vine enough to have it scurry away in a charred mass. The mound crests and eight giant green and purple flower peddles explode from the ground. It towers over them by ten feet, with twenty or more thick vines whipping around in the air. These thick leather like peddles peel back to show a ring of huge dagger teeth. Both fighters unable to move due to the poison are helpless. Only thing Horris can do is unleash his remaining arrows at the overgrown vegitation. Eight easily hit lighting up tiny fires.
Zavier having a decent tolerence to poison stumbles to his feet, readies his axe and shield, then full on charges into the beast. A deafening thunder crack sound rips threw the air, as the thing pops. Green, purple bits fly everywhere, as well as, the white liquid, covering both travelers.
Zavier collapes to the ground. "This will take days to get off, and it smells wretched. What was that thing. Are you ill my friend?"
"Pifft! pifft! It paste life horfe pies. Pifft! Uhh. Groff. I amf fell."
Both lay their laughing for some time. After regaining feeling, they tend to the wounds,while Zavier, uses his skills to heal their exposure to the poison.
They finally enter town soon after sundown. Towns people causiously eye them, as their walk ends at the Greymalkin Inn.
Preface
Thank you for taking the time to read this. It's out of bordem really that this came about. This will be an on going tale I have finally decieded to put down into words, please forgive any grammer errors. I would ask that you please do not spam any messeges in here. Feedback, of any kind is welcomed.
Prologue
Crimson life, it covered his body. His trusted companion, Damitri, lay breathless in his lap. The blade was not meant for him, but none the less it found a home, as it slashed threw the throat. Only a few muscles prevented a complete sever of the head. Blood pulsed out, with every painful beat of the now dying heart.
For close to eleven years, Zavier, and Damitri, have fought side by side to rid towns of the ever growing demon horde, for a price of course. Now, in this dark unholy temple, Zavier can here death creeping forth on all sides.
With much care, and ease, Damitri is gentally put to the ground. "I will make them pay, my brother, I shall avenge thee, if it takes the last bit of my being." He rises with mace in hand, and charges into the darkness. A white knuckled grip, strengthened with emmence rage, sends the mace crashing with superpower like power upon numbers of zombielike beings, as well as animated skeleton remains. Still their numbers are many, for every one that is dropped, their is another to take its place. With lightening speed, five consectutive hits find its way to the Gardian who is reanimating the cursed piles of bones that make up the attacking mob.
Before the mass of deformed flesh can contact with the ground, a searing pain makes its presents known from his lower back. His knees buckle, warm liquid trickles down onto the slime covered brick floor. Another stab, this time from his thigh screams.
The horde covers him, every muscle tense. His time has come. A scream escapes his lips.
Zavier awakens with a shock, his hand, tightly gripped around the ancient axe that never leaves his side. It's magic tingles up his hand, and threw his arm. Calm takes hold, "A dream, only a dream, sir." His head darts towards the voice. Sleep still clouds his mind. For a moment he is unsure of his surroundings, as well as the company he is keeping. Reality sets in slowly, Horris his guide, eyes Zaviers hand.
" Only a dream sir, you are safe."
Realizing his weapon Shatterstar, still in hand, he preplies, "Forgive me, instinct." A apologetic smile faintly shows upon his lips.
He stands with a stretch, and a yawn. The back of his right hand wipes the left corner of his mouth. He looks up to the night sky, stars are twinkling brightly. Heat from the camp fire warms his face.
"For how long have I slumbered Horris?"
"Dawn appears over the horizon soon, sir."
"I must not be disturbed as I pray, Horris. My faith is all I have left, after, we will proceed to the town. We shant be long here, if we are to find him."
"If, he is still alive, that is." says Horris
"Have faith, my guide, Cain still lives, I am sure of it. His knowledge is greater then any known in all the lands. For this I am in need of his aid."
They take time to eat, freshly killed boar is on the morning menu. As they feed they converse a bit, then set out at first light, before the heat from the sun becomes too great.
Zavier gathers his axe and guard in hand, then tucks hit hammer into his belt, while Horris finishes his preperations by throwing his bow over his shoulder and sheething his sword. He reaches his hand back to his pack to assure that his arrows are accessible. With a nod the two set out again towards the town.
The desert summers in Laramar can drive a man to see and hear strange things. Their are many tales of ventures taken out into this land where champions and those in search for riches, return with frail wits and aged many years over, but many do not return. Consumed by the unforgiving desert sand, and anything else that, awaits the unprepared traveler.
The sun is overhead, when, they begin to hear a strange noise. A angelic voice is carried by the wind, it is a soothing hypnotic sound. Both Paladin, and guide look at one another in reasurence to see if the sound is real or if the heat has made them crazed.
Zavers eyes widen "Cover your ears, do not listen!"
With much haste both rip off their packs and find some fur from their sleep lining. They proceed to pack the fur in their ears. As they do so, a thick green vinelike appendage snakes up from the sand below tiny thorns protrude glistening with poisonous liquid. It slithers across the ground until it reaches Zaviers left leg. The vine tugs hard, making his balance off, as he falls hard to the ground. Shatterstar the mighty magical axe is set loose from his hand. He claws at the desert floor as he is pulled futher from the weapon.
"Horris, Horris! Help!" He yells in his direction. Then notices, that Horris is in a worse predicament then he.
Both of Horris's legs are wrapped with the vine. He is haking wildly with his sword at the vine, as he is quickly pulled toward a growing mound of sand. A milky liquid flows from the cuts made by the sword. This liquid trails off onto Horris's legs that are now a deep red, from the lack of blood flow. A final swing sends the vine limb reeling with pain back to the mound without its target. A loud muffled screech is heard from under the earth. The ground begins to violently shake. Horris tries to scurry away but, his bloody legs are parilized with toxins from the thorns, and throbbing from the blocked off blood.
"Help me Horris!" Cries Zavier.
Horris peers over to his companion, who is now feet away from his weapon. Covered mid chest down in vine. Neither hand free to defend himself against the evil.
Quickly he grabs for his bow, that is still over his shoulder, and knocks a few shots off from his pack, that is just in arms reach. Three of the four shots find its mark just below the feet of Zavier. A wiff of sulfer lingers in the nose as the magical arrows burn the vine enough to have it scurry away in a charred mass. The mound crests and eight giant green and purple flower peddles explode from the ground. It towers over them by ten feet, with twenty or more thick vines whipping around in the air. These thick leather like peddles peel back to show a ring of huge dagger teeth. Both fighters unable to move due to the poison are helpless. Only thing Horris can do is unleash his remaining arrows at the overgrown vegitation. Eight easily hit lighting up tiny fires.
Zavier having a decent tolerence to poison stumbles to his feet, readies his axe and shield, then full on charges into the beast. A deafening thunder crack sound rips threw the air, as the thing pops. Green, purple bits fly everywhere, as well as, the white liquid, covering both travelers.
Zavier collapes to the ground. "This will take days to get off, and it smells wretched. What was that thing. Are you ill my friend?"
"Pifft! pifft! It paste life horfe pies. Pifft! Uhh. Groff. I amf fell."
Both lay their laughing for some time. After regaining feeling, they tend to the wounds,while Zavier, uses his skills to heal their exposure to the poison.
They finally enter town soon after sundown. Towns people causiously eye them, as their walk ends at the Greymalkin Inn.