13_CBS
2008-05-25, 04:48 PM
The original, ongoing thread is here: http://forums.taleworlds.net/index.php/topic,37328.15.html
Sign up to vote! Game has already begun, and the original voters asked me to play as an assassin/mage, so I will primarily sneak around while slitting throats, and if things get messy I'll blow them up with magic.
So here we are, Dark Messiah of Might & Magic.
I: Introduction
I think it all began with a simple treasure hunt.
As long as I can remember, I have been under the tutelage of Master Phenrig, a wizard of great power and a greater hunger for lost artifacts. I don't really remember having any other guardian or even parents, though Master had told me that my mother's name was Isabel. Ever since I could walk, Master had trained me in the arts of combat, magic, thievery, and tomb delving, hiring, or sometimes even summoning, the very best of tutors. He was always a severe and strict teacher, and pushed me to my very limits, but he taught me well. Without him, I could very well be face down in a muddy ditch right now, killed for begging for alms from the wrong people.
For my first true field mission, Master sent me to a certain tomb to retrieve the Shantiri Crystal. I wasn't too sure what it was for, but a the time I didn't think it would have been too important. Why else would he send a novice like me, armed with only my young wits and athletic body?
The assignment was simple; make my way through the tomb and find the Shantiri Crystal. Master Phenrig was to observe from afar, providing me support and guidance when necessary.
"Master Phenrig, are you there?" I said. I then felt the comfortable and familiar presence in my mind; Master was projecting himself into my mind.
http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh314/13cbs/l000000.jpg
"Yes, Master," I replied.
http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh314/13cbs/l000003.jpg
The gloom of the ancient burial mound was filled with spider motifs. Portcullises were designed so that their metal bars were elongated spider legs; sockets bearing light crystals were dug into spiders carved into the wall. Aside from the cold illumination of the crystals, the tomb was pitch black.
I made my way down a large hall, gazing in wonder at the interior of the tomb. I briefly noticed a stone statue near the end of the hall, flanked by two sarcophagi. I turned to me left, and on an altar-like structure lay a spider-shaped object.
"Take the Spider Artifact, Sareth," boomed Master's voice in my head. I quickly complied, the artifact feeling strangely...alive in my hand. Thank Ylath I'm not afraid of spiders.
http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh314/13cbs/l000004.jpg
And so I did. The door slid to the right, disappearing into the wall.
http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh314/13cbs/l000005.jpg
I made my way through the rest of the tomb, climbing up chains and smashing through old wooden obstacles with my strong legs. Wherever there was no light, I used a trick Master taught me that gave me the power to see in the darkest gloom.
Eventually, I came to a large chamber. Its walls had series of holes in them, in which many coffins (and sometimes bare, dried corpses) lay. I made my way to a chest where I found a short sword. It was rather chipped and rusted, but I figured that it might still come in handy should I run into trouble. I noticed a long, rotting rope attached to the wall. It led up towards the ceiling, where it ran through an old rope ring and held up a barely suspended sarcophagus.
"Cut the rope, Sareth..."
The rope, weakened by age and mold, was cut easily. The sarcophagus swung like a pendulum and smashed down a far wall, opening up a new pathway. I peered through the rubble...and saw a zombie, a foul creature of undeath. Amazingly, it seemed unaware of the huge din I had just made.
"Kick the creature off the ledge, Sareth." I sprinted towards the zombie and booted it right in the back of its putrid head. It all but somersaulted its way down into the pit below. I swiftly hopped down after it.
"The undead are tenacious, Sareth. Impale it to make sure it never rises again." I shoved the old sword straight into the zombie's chest with both hands. Blood, long since coagulated into sludge, splurted from the force of my blow. I wiped my sword on a nearby burial shroud, feeling rather disgusted.
And then I heard rumbling...
"Master Phenrig? What's going on?"
"Your intrusion seems to have angered some of the resting spirits, Sareth. Behind you, now! Kill the foul creature!"
I spun around and saw the zomie clawing its way out of a pile of old bones and bodies. Before it could fully rise, I kicked it down and tried to impale it as I did to its compatriot only moments before. Embarrassingly, I tripped and landed face first into the very mound that the zombie had risen out of. I should advise the future generations that centuries-old body parts taste absolutely foul.
I sputtered and spat out a bit of rotten flesh that had entered my mouth, getting to my knees meanwhile. The zombie had already risen and swung at my face,. I barely raised my sword in time to block the blow. Oh, how I wished I had a pair of sturdy daggers. The zombie and I traded blows for a while until I saw an opening...
http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh314/13cbs/l000008.jpg
The head and the body crumbled into dust.
I paused a moment to catch my breath and turned my attention to a portcullis.
http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh314/13cbs/l000010.jpg
I had heard of the Black Guards. They were mercenaries, though it may be more accurate to refer to them as black-armoured bastards. They take anyone's money to do any job, and as long as the pay and the loot is good, they would rape women, kill children, and torture anyone in their way. Perhaps Master was right; I couldn't imagine why the feth-heads would be here if not for the Shantiri Crystal, and the Black Guard wouldn't be after something like the crystal unless necromancers were employing them....
The portcullis was silently raised.
http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh314/13cbs/l000011.jpg
What can I say? I like being efficient.
He recovered faster than I thought, however, and managed to block my finishing blow. A sweeping kick put me on the ground, and we both tumbled away from one another to get back on our feet. He taunted, "Show me some skill before I kill you, boy!" and tried to hit me with a thrust of his sword. I twisted and felt the blade gash my side, but I swung around and...
http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh314/13cbs/l000012.jpg
Master Phenrig would have been proud.
Another guard, this one armed with a bow, stumbled out of a doorway, wondering what the commotion was about. I seized a nearby crate and threw it into his face. He went down like a log, and I finished him with a vicious stab to the chest.
http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh314/13cbs/l000014.jpg
Yet another guard popped out from another doorway. This time, I was caught off guard, and I barely turned in time to avoid having my spine sliced open. The fether spat, "Let's finish this before it gets too ugly." I agreed:
http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh314/13cbs/l000018.jpg
I took down the very last guard (who ran out of the same doorway as the archer did) with a barrel to the chest. I kicked the sword away from him and slammed his face into the wall, stunning him. To make sure he wouldn't struggle out of my grasp, I broke his arm at the elbow across my knee. I ignored his screams of agony and held him up to a nearby grate of spikes*:
http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh314/13cbs/l000022.jpg
"Alright, pal, who the feth hired you?"
"*Cough* your mother, heh heh-augh!" I held him closer to he wall. "Wait! Wait! Uh, necromancers! Necromancers hired my and squad! I can't tell you any more than that, I swear! We just met them in a dark alley somewhere!"
"What city?!" I demanded.
"S-Stonehelm..."
Stonehelm, the free city across the seas? The reach of the necromancers is long indeed...
"Thanks for the info."
"Oh, uh, you're welcome...can I go now? Please, I-I got a wife and kids..."
I smirked. "Sure." I hurled him forward.
http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh314/13cbs/l000023.jpg
He died without a sound.
Master Phenrig had opened the next portcullis while I was busy taking out the Black Guards. I went into the next chamber and climbed up the chain and into yet another room which contained...
http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh314/13cbs/l000028.jpg
And finally, at last...
http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh314/13cbs/l000029.jpg
The object positively thrummed with power as I went forward to take it. I felt my head buzzing with energy, but I couldn't tell if it was because of the crystal or because of what Phenrig said. More adventures, eh?
*I could never quite figure out why these spiked grates seemed to be all over the place. They couldn't have been made for hanging things, and they punched through armour as though whoever was hurled onto the spikes were wearing paper.
Next: Part II, Stonehelm, and Leanna
Sign up to vote! Game has already begun, and the original voters asked me to play as an assassin/mage, so I will primarily sneak around while slitting throats, and if things get messy I'll blow them up with magic.
So here we are, Dark Messiah of Might & Magic.
I: Introduction
I think it all began with a simple treasure hunt.
As long as I can remember, I have been under the tutelage of Master Phenrig, a wizard of great power and a greater hunger for lost artifacts. I don't really remember having any other guardian or even parents, though Master had told me that my mother's name was Isabel. Ever since I could walk, Master had trained me in the arts of combat, magic, thievery, and tomb delving, hiring, or sometimes even summoning, the very best of tutors. He was always a severe and strict teacher, and pushed me to my very limits, but he taught me well. Without him, I could very well be face down in a muddy ditch right now, killed for begging for alms from the wrong people.
For my first true field mission, Master sent me to a certain tomb to retrieve the Shantiri Crystal. I wasn't too sure what it was for, but a the time I didn't think it would have been too important. Why else would he send a novice like me, armed with only my young wits and athletic body?
The assignment was simple; make my way through the tomb and find the Shantiri Crystal. Master Phenrig was to observe from afar, providing me support and guidance when necessary.
"Master Phenrig, are you there?" I said. I then felt the comfortable and familiar presence in my mind; Master was projecting himself into my mind.
http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh314/13cbs/l000000.jpg
"Yes, Master," I replied.
http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh314/13cbs/l000003.jpg
The gloom of the ancient burial mound was filled with spider motifs. Portcullises were designed so that their metal bars were elongated spider legs; sockets bearing light crystals were dug into spiders carved into the wall. Aside from the cold illumination of the crystals, the tomb was pitch black.
I made my way down a large hall, gazing in wonder at the interior of the tomb. I briefly noticed a stone statue near the end of the hall, flanked by two sarcophagi. I turned to me left, and on an altar-like structure lay a spider-shaped object.
"Take the Spider Artifact, Sareth," boomed Master's voice in my head. I quickly complied, the artifact feeling strangely...alive in my hand. Thank Ylath I'm not afraid of spiders.
http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh314/13cbs/l000004.jpg
And so I did. The door slid to the right, disappearing into the wall.
http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh314/13cbs/l000005.jpg
I made my way through the rest of the tomb, climbing up chains and smashing through old wooden obstacles with my strong legs. Wherever there was no light, I used a trick Master taught me that gave me the power to see in the darkest gloom.
Eventually, I came to a large chamber. Its walls had series of holes in them, in which many coffins (and sometimes bare, dried corpses) lay. I made my way to a chest where I found a short sword. It was rather chipped and rusted, but I figured that it might still come in handy should I run into trouble. I noticed a long, rotting rope attached to the wall. It led up towards the ceiling, where it ran through an old rope ring and held up a barely suspended sarcophagus.
"Cut the rope, Sareth..."
The rope, weakened by age and mold, was cut easily. The sarcophagus swung like a pendulum and smashed down a far wall, opening up a new pathway. I peered through the rubble...and saw a zombie, a foul creature of undeath. Amazingly, it seemed unaware of the huge din I had just made.
"Kick the creature off the ledge, Sareth." I sprinted towards the zombie and booted it right in the back of its putrid head. It all but somersaulted its way down into the pit below. I swiftly hopped down after it.
"The undead are tenacious, Sareth. Impale it to make sure it never rises again." I shoved the old sword straight into the zombie's chest with both hands. Blood, long since coagulated into sludge, splurted from the force of my blow. I wiped my sword on a nearby burial shroud, feeling rather disgusted.
And then I heard rumbling...
"Master Phenrig? What's going on?"
"Your intrusion seems to have angered some of the resting spirits, Sareth. Behind you, now! Kill the foul creature!"
I spun around and saw the zomie clawing its way out of a pile of old bones and bodies. Before it could fully rise, I kicked it down and tried to impale it as I did to its compatriot only moments before. Embarrassingly, I tripped and landed face first into the very mound that the zombie had risen out of. I should advise the future generations that centuries-old body parts taste absolutely foul.
I sputtered and spat out a bit of rotten flesh that had entered my mouth, getting to my knees meanwhile. The zombie had already risen and swung at my face,. I barely raised my sword in time to block the blow. Oh, how I wished I had a pair of sturdy daggers. The zombie and I traded blows for a while until I saw an opening...
http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh314/13cbs/l000008.jpg
The head and the body crumbled into dust.
I paused a moment to catch my breath and turned my attention to a portcullis.
http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh314/13cbs/l000010.jpg
I had heard of the Black Guards. They were mercenaries, though it may be more accurate to refer to them as black-armoured bastards. They take anyone's money to do any job, and as long as the pay and the loot is good, they would rape women, kill children, and torture anyone in their way. Perhaps Master was right; I couldn't imagine why the feth-heads would be here if not for the Shantiri Crystal, and the Black Guard wouldn't be after something like the crystal unless necromancers were employing them....
The portcullis was silently raised.
http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh314/13cbs/l000011.jpg
What can I say? I like being efficient.
He recovered faster than I thought, however, and managed to block my finishing blow. A sweeping kick put me on the ground, and we both tumbled away from one another to get back on our feet. He taunted, "Show me some skill before I kill you, boy!" and tried to hit me with a thrust of his sword. I twisted and felt the blade gash my side, but I swung around and...
http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh314/13cbs/l000012.jpg
Master Phenrig would have been proud.
Another guard, this one armed with a bow, stumbled out of a doorway, wondering what the commotion was about. I seized a nearby crate and threw it into his face. He went down like a log, and I finished him with a vicious stab to the chest.
http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh314/13cbs/l000014.jpg
Yet another guard popped out from another doorway. This time, I was caught off guard, and I barely turned in time to avoid having my spine sliced open. The fether spat, "Let's finish this before it gets too ugly." I agreed:
http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh314/13cbs/l000018.jpg
I took down the very last guard (who ran out of the same doorway as the archer did) with a barrel to the chest. I kicked the sword away from him and slammed his face into the wall, stunning him. To make sure he wouldn't struggle out of my grasp, I broke his arm at the elbow across my knee. I ignored his screams of agony and held him up to a nearby grate of spikes*:
http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh314/13cbs/l000022.jpg
"Alright, pal, who the feth hired you?"
"*Cough* your mother, heh heh-augh!" I held him closer to he wall. "Wait! Wait! Uh, necromancers! Necromancers hired my and squad! I can't tell you any more than that, I swear! We just met them in a dark alley somewhere!"
"What city?!" I demanded.
"S-Stonehelm..."
Stonehelm, the free city across the seas? The reach of the necromancers is long indeed...
"Thanks for the info."
"Oh, uh, you're welcome...can I go now? Please, I-I got a wife and kids..."
I smirked. "Sure." I hurled him forward.
http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh314/13cbs/l000023.jpg
He died without a sound.
Master Phenrig had opened the next portcullis while I was busy taking out the Black Guards. I went into the next chamber and climbed up the chain and into yet another room which contained...
http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh314/13cbs/l000028.jpg
And finally, at last...
http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh314/13cbs/l000029.jpg
The object positively thrummed with power as I went forward to take it. I felt my head buzzing with energy, but I couldn't tell if it was because of the crystal or because of what Phenrig said. More adventures, eh?
*I could never quite figure out why these spiked grates seemed to be all over the place. They couldn't have been made for hanging things, and they punched through armour as though whoever was hurled onto the spikes were wearing paper.
Next: Part II, Stonehelm, and Leanna