Rico Penguin

First Draft of Avatar of Passion – Ignis the Tyro Pyro, please leave any thoughts here or (the more popular option) by email. This is also in my drop box for anyone signed up for that.

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Day 1 of Expedition to Onyx Forest, 3rd of Gefil:

Day 1 of the Expedition has been quite fruitful. Adura and Myself have found the recently formed Onyx forests. Reports of the newly birthed forest have flooded out to all nearby cities. High activity of Infernal Beasts suggests a strong concentration of high energy crystals. We have been informed that it is almost certain that a burst cave is in the area and that such region will house the crystals. I am skeptical, the information is a bit too direct for my tastes, our contractor knows more than they are telling us.

Slightly unrelated but worthy of note, Adura has told me many times now that she feels we are being followed. Because of this we are taking shifts sleeping, however I pity anyone who underestimates either of us.

Ignis

~ ~ ~

Day 3 of the Expedition to Onyx Forest, 5th of Gefil:

We have not yet located the burst cave. However we have spotted at least two dozen Infernal beasts, one of which was an exceptionally large Sapphire Dragon. The Canopy of Onyx has kept us relatively hidden from the large predators but I am skeptical of the safety in this expedition. As it stands we have no short supply of food, the trees are high in nutrition and exceptionally tasty. Likewise I brought some rock candy with us, hopefully this guilty ration will last the entire trip, these fruitless days are a bit of a bore.

Catching up on my previous entry: Myself and Adura have both now seen someone-something-at least sneaking around the woods around us. Adura is quite worried but I have reassured her that nobody will be able to harm us as long as I’m here. I have a sneaking suspicion that bandits heard of the cave and are hoping to steal the loot from under our noses. They obviously haven’t heard that a Pyromancer is on the mission.

Ignis

~ ~ ~

Day 4 of the Expedition to Onyx Forest, 6th of Gefil:

There is good and bad news on this day. The good news is that we have indeed found the Burst Cave, confirming my suspicions it lies almost exactly where they told us we’d find it. I worry something is up, to compound my fears, Adura has become ill. She is getting a little too cold for comfort at this point. I will give the trip another two days, if we do not locate the crystals by then I am going to call off the mission and we’ll get her back. I am not about to lose my friend over what has from the beginning unsettled my stomach.

There appears to be three things following us, none of them are beasts that I can tell, I’m not even sure if they know I am tracking them as they track us. However the amount of beasts around the cave borders on obscene, it is nothing I cannot handle, but I worry that Adura’s sickness may make this a more difficult expedition than anticipated.

She seems visibly upset, not because of her health, but of the burden she has become. I wish she’d realize that she’s never a burden to me.

Ignis

~ ~ ~

The cracking of Crystal woke Ignis from her sleep. She eyed around quickly, the burning cinders of the blast cave kept the entirety of it glowing like a fire in its death throes.

"Adura? Where are you?" Ignis stood quickly, eying around visibly worried. On the ground 50 feet from her lie Adura; face to the floor. "Adura!" Ignis shouted, dashing towards her partner.

Adura rolled over slowly, her stony skin glowed from the warmth of the blast cave floor. "Ignis?" She yawned, sitting up from the floor weakly. "I’m sorry. I suddenly got tired."

Ignis ran her fingers through Adura’s silver hair. "I’ll take watch for the rest of the night." Ignis moved Adura’s arm over her shoulder and helped her back to the camp.

Adura frowned. "Is it alright? I’m sorry." Shaking her head in shame.

"No no no. Don’t worry at all. I just want you to get better." Ignis responded.

Adura laid down on the woven asbestos bedroll and almost immediately fell back to sleep. Ignis looked on with worry.

"Please get better." She whispered.

Ignis walked over to one of the blast cave walls. Running her hardened stone fingers across the surface, the friction causing sparks to dance off the wall. Ignis began to concentrate and the sparks that showered towards the floor halted in mid air.

She turned and gestured into the air before her with her hands. The tiny fragments of flame followed her command and began to dance in front of her. A ballroom dance of fire, like a few dozen fireflies, they spun around one another. Eternal lovers caught up in the moment.

The infernal waltz glowed in her emerald eyes, each entirely devoid of pupils, merely large green orbs resting comfortably within her hard stone head. Stands of shimmering steel hair ran down her back. Around her wrists a pair of hardened titanium bracelets given to her at her birth. An unassuming figure upon the Isle of Tartaro, but she was so much more.

A land entirely engulfed in endless fire and brimstone, a sea of scorching chaos, she was one of an extremely rare breed. A pyromancer, not merely gazing upon the wonders of the land, but controlling it. She was the manifestation of passion, a force of nature whose full strength was not fully realized, at least not yet.

With a twist of her fingers the embers fell to the ground. She began to concentrate deeper, slowly at first the embers crawled along the ground. Each rolling unto another, until two small figurines of flame stood in front of one another. Like a puppetmaster she began to pull unseen strings, the first figure gestured to the second for a dance. With a few twists of the wrists they were dancing around with one another, the embers that were their heads fixated upon one another.

The twisting and turning left a trail of smoke, a momentary history of their embrace. The two figures danced around the sleeping Adura, as Ignis smiled warmly.

"We’ll get you back home. I promise."

Another crack caught Ignis’ attention. One of the figures crumbled to the ground while the other, in tandem with Ignis, looked towards the sound. A moment later it too fell.

"Who is there?" Ignis spoke, her voice stern but soft enough not to wake Adura. "Show yourself now if you value your lfe."

A slender sliver of flame crawled towards toe duo, a small flaming centipede, curiously approaching. Ignis lowered herself to the ground and opened her palm towards the insect. "Come here little one."

As if it understood the insect sped towards her and climbed into her palm. Her hand began to glow red as the two warmed one another. It began to give off a tiny humming chatter with its obsidian incisors. With her free hand Ignis began to pet the centipede. "What are you doing in here? You sense the crystal too don’t you?"

Ignis raised the centipede to her shoulder. "It is warm up here too. You can take watch with me tonight." It’s one hundred legs carried it from her hand to her shoulder where it quickly proceeded to curl up, resting its own head on its coiled body. The hum of its teeth was a calming harmony in the nearly silent crackle of the cave.

~ * ~

It was difficult for the average Tartarun to gauge the time of day on Tartaro. It was an Isle eternally hidden beneath a cloud of Sulfur and Steam, blocking out any true stellar light source that would hint towards a standard cycle. Instead it was the response of nature that gave the citizens a hint of what time it was.

In the case of Ignis she could sense the change of the land itself, the subtle increase of the firestorms, the infernal cousins to dust storms on distant lands. Feel the slight increase in the scorching heat, and the increased activity of the wildlife, all these things combined in her mind to help her know more accurately than nearly anyone else just what time it truly was.

She stroked the cheek of Adura. "Wake up. We are almost there." Adura smiled, still in a bit of a daze.

"I’ll be ready in a minute mother."

Ignis chuckled. "Still dreaming?"

Adura’s eyes began to glow as she came to. "Hmm?"

"You called me mother." Ignis responded.

"I did?" Adura was obviously embarrassed, her cheeks began to glow, a sign of warmth that pleased Ignis.

"I’m flattered but you are older than me. I’m talented but not quite that talented."

Ignis began to repack their supplies as Adura gathered her energy. A single asbestos bedroll, a small sealable basket of foodstuffs, and a rod of solid diamond. In all her trips this had been all she had needed, and it was beginning to look like it would be all she needed once more.

Blast caves are essentially regions of Tartaro where intense levels of energy are instantaneously released not unlike a volcano. The results are incredibly deep caves that attract all sorts of Tartarun flora and fauna, and for explorers like Ignis they also reaped a very reasonable living.

This particular cave was a bit different however, whereas all her previous experiences with them resulted in many catacomb like systems this particular one had a singular path. A linear drop deep into the land. The further they went the cooler the cave got, something was draining the heat out of the cave.

As they went deeper Adura was becoming noticeably uncomfortable.

Ignis began to rub her hands together until they grew red hot and sparked. Tensing her mind the sparks began to spin, with such an intensity that they were creating friction in nothing but the air. In a matter of moments a half dozen orbs of fire floated in the air.

Adura smiled weakly. "You are such a show off."

Ignis smiled back, her orbs floated towards and surrounded Adura. Their combined light reflecting off of her. "Thank you."

Ignis waved her hand. "Don’t mention it." Ignis took a step. "No really. I have a reputation to keep." She joked.

The two laughed and then silence, the moment felt like an eternity, until a small chatter broke in.

"Oh. Looks like my little friend is awake." Ignis rubbed the head of the centipede. "Hope you were comfortable."

Hours passed as they marked on. Even Ignis was finding that the cool was unsettling. Something was draining the energy around her without cease. Even the orbs she had formed to warm Adura were spinning with increasing fury to maintain their size and temperature, the only source of light in the entirety of the blast cave at this point.

Then suddenly in the distance.

"Did you see that?"

A faint flicker of light in the otherwise endless darkness broke forth. It was momentary and un repeating, Adura hesitated to mention it again. A minute or so later it glowed once again.

"I saw it that time. That must be it."

Adura sighed with relief. "I’m so glad we found it before you had to break off the expedition."

Ignis frowned. "Stop. Stop blaming yourself. It isn’t your fault you are sick. We’ll get the crystal, get out of here, and get you back to the city before you know it." Ignis tightened her fist and the orbs grew larger. "You’ll be ok and we’ll have a feast celebrating the find. Just you and me."

As the two approached the light source the cave began to glow once more, but it wasn’t a glow of warmth, a violent radiance flooded the cave around the crystals. In an instant Ignis knew what she was gazing upon.

"Dark Crystal." She had read about it in expedition manuals and encyclopedias, however she questioned its existence. The crystallized essence of Dark Energy. Without any doubt this was the greatest find of her entire four century long life.

It may have been the immensity of the find or the entrancing glow of the crystal but Ignis had befallen something that hadn’t happened to her in almost one hundred years: an ambush.

Quickly dashing back Ignis barely missed being beheaded from something falling from the ceiling of the cave. Crouched in front of her was a lengthy being, a Tartarun who looked as if they’d been put stretched to breaking. Long spindly arms of stone ended with two stumpy hands wrapped tightly around a diamond blade.

As Ignis backed up she bumped into a wall, a wall with hands. Two massive hands wrapped around her and lifted her into the air. "We’ll be taking that." Called out a voice. To her right from behind the massive Tartarun was an old man, even by Tartarun standards. A long obsidian bared stretched down to his waist, his bald head glowing with the flames twirling around Adura…Adura!

Ignis began to look around herself frantically.

The spindly man stood up from the ground. "Looking for your friend?" He cackled, in any other situation Ignis wouldn’t dignify such a fool with a response, but she was without options.

"Where is she." Ignis screamed, her body subtly glowing ever brighter.

"I’m amazed she made it this far little traveler." The older man responded.

Ignis’ eyes cooled with fear.

"We gave your friend quite a strong concoction of Crystalytes. They’ve been crawling inside of her for days now, telling us exactly where you two were. Turns out that once you had found the cave we didn’t even need you anymore…or her." Her unfurled his hand pointing back towards the entrance of the cave. "On long linear path…who’d have thought that something so precious would be so easily found."

In Ignis’ mind there was only one thought: Rage. With a deafening scream she tensed her fists to the nearly point of cracking. Her body in an instant glowed a bright red, a flash of cinder firing out in every direction, startling her captor. The massive hands released her, she fell to the ground and dashed towards the spindly man.

He raised his sword preparing to fell her, once she came within range he swung down splitting her in two. Like butter the form he cut melted away into nothingness, his cocky grin turned to an expression of confusion. An instant warmth build up in the center of his chest and suddenly it went molten. A diamond staff exploded out his chest from behind him. Ignis lifted him off the ground with the staff and with one quick twirl launched him towards his massive partner.

As he fell Ignis could finally see Adura, lying lifeless on the ground, her eyes as empty and cold as space rock. The ground around Ignis danced from the energy she began to emit. As she turned to the old man he held the shard of Dark Crystal out in front of himself.

"Too slow. Even you are not strong enough to stop me no-" The molten hot fist of Ignis plunged through the old man’s throat, the dark crystal fell onto her back and melted into her infernal flesh. Grasping the back of his neck she swung him to the ground behind her, a rush of energy flooding her form from the crystal.

All Ignis could feel was pain, an endless swirl of pain deep at the core of her soul. Energy rivaling that of a sun began to flow from the base of her feet raising her into the air before the collection of crystal. Her entire body gave birth to wave after wave of fire. Inside her mind she could hear the chatter…of her small friend.

"I consumed him?"

The thought was instantly vanquished with the realization that Adura was gone. Her friend was gone…her Adura…

Slowly she turned, opening her hands she began to concentrate. The Dark Crystal fragments all severed their connection to the cave and rocketed towards her. Impacting with her skin and melting into her. With each piece she became ever more powerful. The old man held his hand over his punctured throat.

"Impossible! The master said I was the chosen!"

In his eyes she could sense everything, her powers had grown exponentially and he was just like any beast of Tartaro. She could smell it…his fear.

The purest form of Passion floated before the old man and his partners. The entirety of Tartaro shook under the weight of Ignis’ scream. A surge of fire rocketed out of the blast gave, liquifying the entire Onyx forest surrounding the blast cave and separating the sulfur clouds above.

As the three melted Ignis could see everything they knew, everywhere they had been, every order they had ever been given. Also she could hear the faint whisper of something else in her mind. The sweet voice of her Adura.

"I’m sorry Ignis." The voice called out.

"Don’t be my Adura. "

In an instant Ignis was floating above the entrance of the blast cave. She knew who had given the orders to the men, she knew who was responsible for the death of her Adura. She knew everything.

The Novice Pyromancer had in an instant become the ultimate incarnate of Passion, she and Adura had become one, she would avenge her Adura. She would show Adura’s true killer the face of fear, the ultimate end of all who stand against passion’s decree.

"I will avenge you."

Ignis screamed, her voice carrying across the entire Isle. "I have awoken. The Avatar of Passion. I am Ignis and you will forever fear my name."

Turning to a form only she could see, Ignis whispered sweetly.

"As long as we are one my love…I am invincible."

  Every Month in the Scionic Calendar has 28 days in it. This number is derived from the 27 known Lesser Seraphim, each day of the month has a special sub name derived from the names of these entities. The 28th day is a special day in each month that is considered a time of prosperity that even the most war torn nation observes and respects, mainly for fear of repercussions from the Seraphim themselves.

  The Months themselves are named after the Seraphim Lords and Barons. Of which there are 13 in total. This conveniently enough results in a year that is 364 days long and thusly makes all understanding of events transpiring in the land of Scion relatively simple. It works out almost too well.

  In Order from the beginning of the year to the end the months are, Aurin, Chas, Kalmine, Dimil, Gefil, Hidrone, Ghein, Thananus, Kalma, Atune, Tartun, Phobus, and Scius. The Calendar has been in action for so long that even after the seemingly eternal separation of each Isle they each still use the same Calendar (unbeknownst to them).

  In an almost impossible manner, while all Isles are separated to the most extreme of degrees, the Forbidden still exist. More widely known as “The Cult of the Forbidden” these groups of beings, each a select few from the races of their staple Isle, are searching for rare artifacts known as the “Shards of Thanatos”.

  No group has ever met another and yet they each work hardily and without halt towards this ultimate goal. Each connected by some dark event in their life, murder of a loved one, theft of innocence, or some other agent that drove them to the darkest of followings. None of them knows for sure what will come of their acquisition but many pray that it will bring closure to their tattered souls.

  Assassinations, disappearances, and other acts of secret destruction can safely and accurately be tied back to these groups. Even on the most pious of nations these groups exist and they seem almost unstoppable, if only because so few believe they exist. A slick sliver of steel stabbing deeply into the spine without ever being seen are they.

  Some forty shards are all that stand between the entire planet of Scion and what many assume to be the darkest of days. The ceasing of time and quite truly the ultimate end.

  The Isle of Tartaro is a land of ever raging flame. Seas of Magma and Streams of Sulfur travel through the valleys paved from the hardened lava rocks of ever present Volcanoes. The reach of the isle grows as the years pass from the rolling molten landscape.

  Citizens of Tartaro, and fauna in general is largely stone and metal based, beings of immensely long age. Because of these long lifespans everything in Tartaro moves at a different pace than expected, commerce, religion, war, birth rates, each has been changed over the centuries.

  Tartaro is an Isle of ever changing and ever growing wonder, new pieces of land are exposed as explosions tear the land asunder. Forests of crystal reflect the heat that beats down from the clouds of debri and sulfur above the Isle.

  While utterly inhospitable to anyone not accustomed to the land, Tartaro is truly a land of unique beauty, a place that few can traverse but none can deny.

  ~~~

  My plan is to begin writing a short story about an explorer who has recently discovered an onyx forest and the ruptured cave within (and finally what is found within there…oh my). I haven’t named them yet but that should come very soon! Likely within the next 24 hours. Much like my previous story about Calmius this will actually be a very important story to keep in mind in the not too distant future.

  Islean (Pronouned Ill-lee-an) is another integral part of the story that I feel should be discussed, formerly and rather unprofessionally called “isle walkers” in previous versions of my rough draft this is the new and likely final name of an exceptional class of humanoids.

  As usual this may involve spoilers so I’m going to put it behind a clip.

(continue reading…)

(The Following is the first 8 pages of a 15 page short story I’m writing. If you read this fear not, unlike the previous rough drafts the next addendum will actually be new material so you won’t be reading the same thing twice! )

Spiders thread their webs throughout the cobwebs, every insect gambling with its life as it travels the corridors of dust and line. This system of deception and murder was of no concern to the old man standing in the center of his basement. Their lives would rise and fall around his ears without a bit of sympathy.

"What will you become?" The old man ran his fingers across an alabaster cube that stood a foot tall upon his work bench.

This cube would become something grand, a figure of the utmost importance. In his old age the man knew that what he made next could very well be his final creation. He could not die in obscurity-he would not die in obscurity.

"Come my child. What shall I make of you?"

His eyes rolled along the cube vexingly, the question brooding like a man betrayed. Betrayed by time, by mortality, betrayed by the very shell he was a prisoner within.

Can you hear me? A voice called out from the depths of the old man’s mind. So humorous the teetering of the mind, we enter the world hearing the voices of the imaginary and we leave the world in kind. The voice spoke out once more. Deprideo can you hear me?

"I can hear many things. But I feel the more pertinent question is just who is ‘me’?" Deprideo quipped. Like a ripple across a pond he could hear a chuckle reverberating through his mind. You are perfect.

Deprideo puffed out his chest momentarily. "Now tell this old man something he doesn’t know." The faint image of a grin imprinted itself within his mind.

Your right kidney is small than your left one. The voice responded.

Deprideo turned his torso and examined his back, rubbing his left side. "Figures." It was odd for the old man, just where does one gaze when attempting to see what is in their mind. "So who is it that hides in this old Joker’s mind? You know of my name but I haven’t the faintest of yours."

There is power in knowing isn’t there. A cloud of gas formed in Deprideo’s mind, a storm of sorts brooding within his psyche. You may call me what you like, I have heard a million names before and will likely hear millions to come. The most popular amongst your people however may suit your security: Calamity.

Deprideo let out a gasp and placed a finger to his lower lip. "Oh my indeed. To what do I owe this great honor?" The voice began to hum in his mind, thinking deeply. Honor? You are very quick to flatter.

The cloud grew ever greater and began to flash a thousand different colors, the flashes grew ever brighter till one flashed white and Deprideo found himself momentarily blinded. As his vision returned he found himself standing amidst darkness. A floor of endless gray rolling off into horizons of complete blackness. From behind him Calamity spoke out. Quite spacious isn’t it.

Deprideo turned to find himself looking at Calamity, in a flash he realized where he was. "Quite a trick!" Deprideo gazed around once more. "I’m disappointed I thought by this time in my life there would be more in my mind."

The darkness bodes well for you. Any point of light in your mind is a place for thoughts to escape.

Deprideo eyed the glowing gaseous cloud that is Calamity. "Well then I might worry about you trotting in my mind."

Calamity laughed. You please me Deprideo. So I will return the favor. What is it you desire most?

Deprideo smiled. "I want what any man would want. I want a legacy."

The Gaseous cloud that was Calamity began to slow condensing in upon itself. Slowly the form of a human revealed itself before Deprideo. A Genderless form of chaotic perfection. Each moment that a sense of calm radiated from the form it was matched with a momentary burst which in turn collapsed back into itself.

Well Deprideo you shall join me in creating something great. Tonight we write a declaration of your majesty and at its bottom shall your name be signed.

Deprideo smiled, a sense of accomplishment already brooding within his heart. "I hate to question you though I must ask. How are we to accomplish this?"

Calamity turn to reveal the wall of Deprideo’s mind, with a flick of the wrist it peeled open to show Deprideo the inside of his Workshop. More specifically it showed him standing in front of his table, hands at the ready to shape the block of Alabaster.

What you have in your possession is my very essence. A shard of me torn from my being a thousand years ago. You will fashion from this a figure of the most unassuming nature, those who hold it shall know of no greater pleasure than to have it. Their very essence will fuel its gestation and from this lifeless seed shall I be reborn. The Isle of Calmius has lied dormant for too many years, you will aid me in revitalizing this land and I shall give you the honor that is being my progenitor.

Deprideo watched as he took effortless strokes at the Alabaster, each swing of the chisel and each chip of the stone was perfect; almost effortless. The night bore on ever more as he sat there in his mind, his body a machine working without his guidance. Behind him stood Calamity, hands resting upon his shoulders.

If ever an inkling of fear enters your heart you are to scoff at it, if ever a doubt you are to crush it, for once this is complete you are a man of unrivaled greatness and these petty squabbles are not of your concern.

Deprideo smiled and placed his hand on one of Calamity’s. "There are not words to describe my appreciation for this gift."

Calamity walked around Deprideo. This is only the beginning of the gifts you shall receive. Calamity press a hand over Deprideo’s eyes and shoved against his head, he felt as if he had been shoved out of his own skin. As he fell a moment of doubt filled his mind.

The thud of his head against the dirt was unexpected, however given the night he wasn’t overly surprised. The cobwebs greeted his vision as he looked around.

"I’m back in the basement?" Deprideo rubbed his head. "That better not have been a dream."

Deprideo stood up slowly looking around the room. "That would be the most cliche-" Deprideo’s jaw dropped as he gazed upon a statue of perfection. However it was not the statue itself that had filled his mind with awe specifically, nor was it the fact that Calamity had chosen a Bonobo as the figure of choice, nay it was what he saw reflected in the statue.

"My Child-" Deprideo paused rubbing his face. "I’m young again."

Deprideo lifted the Bonobo from his table, the feel of it was almost too surreal to describe. A statue of the utmost purity. Pleasure glided throughout his body, as it did a cautionary voice spoke out from the hollows of his mind.

I have gifted you with the youth worthy of my Progenitor and I have protected you from the full affects of your child. However you must make haste with giving this to he who has wronged you and indeed us all the most.

"How do you know it is a he?" Deprideo responded.

Oh how quickly does youth instill naivety. I know what has happened to you Deprideo and we both are beyond all certainty upon who this Bonobo belongs.

Deprideo gazed up the basement to the door. "How quickly does the rise seem easy."

The creek of the old Basement door, the chattering of the aged floorboards, the dancing of dust against backdrops of soot and cobwebs. It was becoming immediately apparently to Deprideo that in his old age he had forgotten about something all too obvious. The poverty he had accepted as fact.

"Oh this is indeed unacceptable." Deprideo placed the statue upon a table near his from door window. The sun was beating overhead upon the sun scorched dirt roads that lead around the capital city of Calmius. Beams of light invaded his home at every opportunity, making apparent that it was not merely the local church that was holey.

Deprideo inexplicably chuckled as he entered his bedroom. "What will I wear on this most momentous of occasions?" A quick dash around his wardrobe revealed, as with many of the mornings events, an unsettling truth. "I have absolutely terrible taste in clothing."

As he shuffled around clothing an emerald green robe caught his eye. "Well hello there." Curious Deprideo pulled the robe from the closet. "I take it you are the next gift then."

Wise beyond your years Deprideo.

"Literally."

Shifting his robe about himself Deprideo made his way into the hall. An unusual event caught his eye. A beam of light crawled up along the table that supported the Bonobo, as it rolled along the surface of the statue it reflected in all directions. Finally it slowed upon the surface of the Bonobo, two beams of light both ended at a single point in the adjacent room.

Deprideo walked around the corner to see their target, a small wooden box that was wrapped in a tanned leather hide. "Oh exquisite taste indeed." Deprideo walked over and lifted up the box. "When I was younger this box held my collection of fantasy game guides." He dusted off the sides of the box. "It would appear that it hasn’t moved since then."

Walking back to the statue he set the box down and lifted the Bonobo. "So now my child today you shall become my legacy and I shall be eternally your proud father." Slowly he lowered the Bonobo into the box and atop the box he rested its matching lid. "You certainly have exquisite taste in transit."

"No need to lock the door today." Deprideo said as he left his home, walking out into the burning sun. "No I think today is my first day of fearlessness."

The walk to the castle was an odd mishmash of emotions for Deprideo. The breeze that had greeted him thousands of days before was all there, swinging merchant signs to and fro upon their rusted old chains on either side of the road. However the sun seemed to be hurling every ounce of strength it had at stopping Deprideo dead. A celestial being roaring in rage as he marched along the scorched earth, delivering a package of unbelievable power.

The capital of Calmius had been built upon a large hill, not quite large enough to be called a mountain yet far too large for such misconceptions not to be made. Atop this mountain-like hill was the Capitol, a castle whose size while dwarfed by its base was still difficult to overlook. Hundreds of thousands of marble blocks formed towering spires each topped with dozens of archers.

Within its walls sat a Barbarian, a man credited largely for the taming of Calmius and the joining of the many nations within. His name unknown to all he is merely called the Lord King. However not all his accomplishments are of pride, he is a nefarious letch kidnapping women and girls alike, slaves of passion none have ever left the castle.

Millions have died because of the Lord King, though it is said that with their deaths the peace many more millions shall be seen.

As he marched to the top of the Hill Deprideo let out a sigh of relief, turning to peer out from his newfound view. Sweat too beaded on his brow, perhaps in hopes of too getting a look.

"It’s all so…lifeless. Where is it? Where is the-"

Spark.

"Yes. Where is the Spark."

Deprideo gazed down at his parcel. "Ah. My child then?"

Soon.

Not one arrow found itself notched in the direction of Deprideo, not one spear, sword, nor lance was pointing to his person. Indeed all seemed prepared for his approach. Two men reflecting all the suns ferocity off their steel armament greeted Deprideo as he approached the main doors.

"The King has-" The first was cut off by the second. "-been expecting you."

Deprideo cocked a brow.

"You will-" Once again cut off. "-Enter immediately."

The massive mahogany doors opened to reveal the innards of the castle. A place that few had entered and of those even fewer of their own desire. The smell of roast and sex flowed out like slime from the sewers making its way past Deprideo. It hit his brain like a hammer.

"That smell could eat the wool off a sheep." Deprideo looked at the guards. "Am I right?"

Neither guard answered.

"Alright then. I’ll-I’ll be going inside."

I thought it was good.

"Thank you."

The floor of the castle was covered from edge to edge in layers of silk and satin, pillars of marble reflected the glow of walls encased in silver and gold. Each step caused pockets of air to flow along the silk creating seas of fabric, waves smashed into waves. As he made his way through the room the torrent grew stronger. It was unsettling to him how the waves crashed into him and faded away.

"Such a grand show of power ultimately masking something grandly meek."

The main room ran on for ages, to either his right or left it was a few dozen feet to the walls where door after door lead to places unknown. Not a single guard stood in this room, it was entirely without life save for Deprideo.

Though as if signaled by the nonexistent the doors at the farthest end of the room opened. He could not quite yet make out who was inside. Deprideo was met however once again with a silent killer, a stench that could stun the unprepared.

Deprideo cracked open the lid. "I see now why you wanted to come in a box."

The main throne room was expectedly massive. Towering columns, silk laden floor, dozens of steps leading up to a throne of gold. It was all so obvious that it disgusted Deprideo. What was new however was the walls lined with armed archers each pointing their loaded crossbows at Deprideo’s head.

That and the monstrous Lord King sitting within the throne. Sitting on his lap a nude girl clad in chains.

The king spoke out to Deprideo in a voice that was as deep and dark as the forest of hairs across his exposed chest. "So are you him?"

"It depends. Is the fellow you are waiting for supposed to be tasting all these arrows?"

A quick nearly subsonic laugh escaped the King. It knocked Deprideo back a step.

"You don’t speak as if you would pass up the meal."

"Touché"

"So we’ll try an easier question." The King pointed with his free hand, his tree trunk of a finger pointing squarely at the box and everything else in that general direction. "Is that for me?"

Yes.

"I know what to say."

"What?"

"Oh nothing. Yes. This is for you."

The King shook the chains of his captive. "Get it." Lowering her like a marionette from his lap to the floor he loosened the grip to give her enough slack to make it to reach Deprideo.

As the girl approached Deprideo the King spoke out. "You understand my confusion?"

Deprideo shrugged. "No I can’t say that I do."

"The one I saw in the vision did not look like you. He was much older-distinguished."

"I’m sure I’ll suffice." Deprideo halted his train of thought. "Distinguished you say? Anything else about him you remember?"

"He looked weak."

Deprideo frowned. "Oh." His pride shattered.

You are no longer that man. Soon Deprideo…

The girl was barely 5 feet tall. Deprideo handed the box to her and frowned. She looked frail and poorly fed.

"So young man. What is your name?"

Deprideo paused and tapped his temple. "My name has long since escaped me." He looked at the king and smiled. "You understand I’m sure?"

The King laughed, his momentary jerk yanked the chains sending the girl to her feet and the box tumbling from her hands. From it the Alabaster Bonobo rolled halfway out. The King gazed down at it and his eyes grew wide enough to burst.

"This! How did you get it! I have searched the land from shore to shore in search of this!" The King stood, his massive figure towering into the air.

"I made it myself." Deprideo walked towards the girl. "That is my grandest creation."

Holding out his hand the slave girl held onto it and he pulled her up.

"Impossible. I have searched for this for longer than you have lived."

"Oh nothing is impossible." Deprideo continued. "Of all people you should know that-Kahn."

The floor of the castle was covered from wall to wall in rolling layers of silk and satin. The folds of fabric mimicked the tides of the sea as Deprideo made his way towards the King’s chambers. Polished Marble Columns reflected the gold and silver that adorned every exposed inch of the room.

As Deprideo approached, the doorway to the chamber opened to greet him. The motion of the door over the endless waves of silk created a tsunami outwards towards him. The gentle caress of the fabric against his clothing was oddly surreal.

Atop a lavish throne of gold sat the King of Calmius. Very few knew his true name. As was told in stories of the Castle a young girl sat silently upon the King’s lap, he was known for his conquests of all kinds. Deprideo entered the room his hands clasped tightly to the box.

“I was told of your coming.” Said the King; his voice deep and dark as the forest of hair across his exposed chest. “A voice has invaded my dreams for the last week telling me of a young man who would bring me the first gift.”

Deprideo approached cautiously, against ever wall were guards armed with bow and sword prepared to kill any assassin. “So this is why I was allowed entry without question Lord King?”

The King nodded gesturing Deprideo to approach the steps leading up to his throne. “You will place the gift at the bottom of the steps and step back. I will then send…” The King looked down at the young girl silently. “…her to pick it up.”

Deprideo smiled masking the thoughts within. “He holds her prisoner within his home and does not even know her name. Is there any honor to be had amongst conquerors?”

The King snapped his fingers. “Are you all right?”

Deprideo snapped out of his contemplation. “Oh yes! My apologies.” He stepped forward and placed the box upon the bottom of the steps. As it met the silk a ripple ran out in all directions ceasing just short of any guards feet, an ominous sign of events soon to come.

The king gestured the girl off his lap, his massive size exaggerated even further the scale between him and his captive. She hopped down and walked down to the box, her eyes stripped of any sort of spirit, a shell of a once vigorous youth. It disgusted Deprideo to such a degree he wished he too had power to match that of the King. Though…he had something.

The girl carried the box to the King and raised it towards him. His massive paws grasped the box as if it were a breadcrumb. His smile grew against the rigid nature of his frame, a figure of almost pure muscle it was difficult for the King to produce emotions as each muscle jammed up against the next. It was this trait that lead many to nickname him “Coldstone.” A heartless conqueror who made no gesture of emotion towards even the most innocent of victims.

The raising of the box lid seemed to reveal the answers to all things to the King as his eyes grew wide enough to burst. “This!” He dropped the box to the ground nearly hitting his captive. “How did you get this?” Shouted the King who quickly motioned his guards to prep their weapons.

Deprideo stood momentarily confused. “I made it myself.”

Reaching down the King picked the Bonobo from the Box with two meaty fingers and held it towards Deprideo. “I have searched every inch of these lands for this statue. It has haunted my dreams since I was a child. You could not possibly have made it.”

Even behind his nearly frozen face Deprideo could sense fear. “Oh? How do you know?” The guards lifted their bows and prepped arrows.

The King stood from his throne knocking the young girl down the steps. “You are just a boy. There is certainty that one such as you could not construct something so majestic. So tell me boy…who are you?”

Deprideo eyed the King his gaze focusing ever tighter upon the Kings eyes. “I believe at this point the more pertinent question is just who are you?” Deprideo waved his hands through the air showcasing the entire room. “Who are you to think that you deserve all this?”

The King stomped, the shockwave from his foot rocking the foundation and causing everyone in the room to rock back and forth. A single guard misfired and nearly killed Deprideo missing his head by inches. The King shouted. “Lower your weapons you fools!” Returning to Deprideo he continued. “How dare you question my reign. I have crossed the land from edge to edge to gain the world I know rule. What have you done?”

“Me?” Deprideo responded. “I have lived a life of obscurity and I have watched the world crash around me.” Deprideo patted his robe with an open hand. “But I now find myself having conquered the unconquerable. Can you make such a statement?”

The King stepped down to the floor towering over Deprideo. “Crash you say? Is it during this crash that you came into control of this statue? What great misdeed did you commit to come across such perfection?”

Deprideo looked straight up, his neck straining. “I have committed treason and murder.”

The King’s eyes opened wide as he placed his free hand upon the hilt of his massive claymore.

“I betrayed the very unbreakable laws of time and have murdered the old Deprideo. What stands before you is a man untouchable. What you hold in your hands is the seeds of your undoing; you grasp between your clumsy claws my child. What you hold with such ever tightening intrigue is my progeny…my legacy.”

“Above all else I hold the final key to your undoing oh king. I have your name.” A silence fell over the room.

The Following is the first Short Story to be brought from my Short Story course to the site. Expect many more. Not necessarily of this quality (or perhaps better quality).

It has been five weeks since Deprideo first laid eyes upon the block. An innocent looking cube of Alabaster resting silently upon his workshop table. Not a matter of desire, or lack thereof, had hindered the old man’s progression-nay it was a matter of creativity. He wanted greatly for this to be the greatest of his creations, for this to be the sculpture to end all sculptures.

This would be his child, his legacy, a testament of his skill for all to behold. But to what would he honor with its visage? He could not make it in the image of kings, for too gloated the ego of man for he to feel the sting. It would have to be something lesser, something that amidst a wine induced stupor could be mistaken, neigh be charged with humanity.

Carefully and passionately he slid his calloused fingers across the top of the cube. With each twist of the hand and caress of the palm he stared deeper into it.

"What will you be?" Deprideo asked, his voice dried and warn from countless age. "What shall my child be?"

There is a point in a man’s life when he begins to hear things, it is not insanity but instead the creeping grasp of death slowly weakening the walls between this world and the next. It was for this reason, and this reason only, that the faint whistle echoing in his mind did not frighten him.

"Who may I ask is this?" Deprideo asked curiously. "Who has decided to take refuge within this old jokers mind?" A silence befell his mind, of all the things to hear this was decidedly the least helpful. A pop echoed out followed by a whisper. "You can hear me?"

Deprideo leaned against his work table and looked up at the thick wooden beams of his basement ceiling. "I believe the more pertinent question is just who is ‘me’?" Deprideo quipped. A light, almost sarcastic chuckle came fluttering through his mind. "Ah this is good. You are perfect."

The old man puffed his chest momentarily. "Now tell me something I don’t know." He jested. The faint image of a grin formed within his mind. "Your right kidney is smaller than your left one." The old man rubbed the left side of his lower back. "That explains a lot." He then gazed up once more, as if hoping to see into his own head. "So again with the original question. Who are you?"

The voice returned. "I go by many names, but you can call me by that which I am more popularly known: Calamity." Deprideo’s eyes grew wide as if gazing upon the guillotines approaching caress. "To what do I owe this honor? To what reason would you bless me with this visit?"

A pulsing cloud of a thousand colors washed about in Deprideo’s brain, it was the form of Calamity. In a flash the old man found himself standing within his own consciousness, his body but a shell standing rigid and lifeless against the edge of his work table.

"Quite a trick!" Barked the shocked Deprideo. "I’ll chock this up to a new experience indeed!"

Calamity grew closer to the old man as its form battling against itself in an attempt to take some solid form, something more acceptable for conversation amidst that of constant matter. Slowly the image of a human, genderless and awash with an incalculable swath of color, stood before him. "What you have in your possession is my essence Deprideo." Calamity pointed to a hole in the black wall of Deprideo’s mind, he found himself now peering down upon the block. A surreal moment as he gazed from within his own self out his eyes as if they no longer were a part of him.

His hands began to move around the block, chisel in hand. Each strike natural, his years of training revealed with each perfect stroke of the wrist. Calamity approached him from behind hands resting upon Deprideo’s shoulders, whispering into the artisans ears. "You will take this seed of mine and from it you will construct the most elegant Bonobo. Thereupon you will send it to he who wronged you the greatest. From there the cogs of chaos shall begin to turn and there will be but one who is safe from its twisting teeth."

Calamity walked in front of Deprideo and stared into his eyes, Calamity’s own eyes reflecting like pools of mercury.

"By your hand I will return to this world. You will become the Progenitor of Chaos, the father of a god." Calamity softly placed a hand upon Deprideo’s wrinkled cheek. "Is this not the dream of every aging man? To leave behind a great legacy?"

In a flash Deprideo found himself standing before a finished statue. A tribute to perfection, not a single strike out of place, not a single mark without purpose. Before him was a statue so real that he swore it would begin to move anytime. In the reflection of its eyes came the most startling revelation of all as Deprideo saw his own face.

"I’m…young again."

  Today’s discussion from the world of Scion is a particular sea beast whose name has changed on more than one occasion. As is with history eventually all things repeat themselves and this beast ahs gone from Megaroth to many different names and has inevitably returned to my first choice of name. It helps to verbally prepare the reader for the grotesque size of this creature.

  So without further adieu.

(continue reading…)

Darkness crawls along
Serenading Sirens Song
Cat calls tricking
all listening

Ether Escher
peaking threshold
bursting blackness
ink palms press

Gripping tightly
beneath the soul
pulling you down
by your sole

Enter the abyss
darkness incarnate
light loves no one
here