Post by King Roxa Hiaten on Oct 17, 2011 8:17:17 GMT -5
This story is for a character who won't be appearing until later on in CR. It is the first of two stories and follows the life of a young creature. From scum of the earth, to determined bodyguard.
“Get out of the way ya’ little Imp!” a man growled as he pushed the short black furred creature out of his path, the little being stumbled for a while before falling into the slimy wet gutter with a small grunt, letting plenty of sludge fill his mouth. Crawling onto his knees he wretched as the nearby people pointed at him as they walked past, laughing at the pathetic little creature before them, using him as a source for their own entertainment. Well, he wasn’t having it any more, turning around he growled and snapped a finger, a ball of flame appearing at the tips of his fingers as he pointed the magical sphere at a laughing woman “You wanna’ keep laughin’ at me?!” he roared as he aimed at a man who had seemed to be enjoying himself too much “How about you huh? You wanna’ go?!” the man shook his head hastily before backing away from the little creature. The furry beast growled once more before extinguishing the flames and turning around, heading into a dark back alley it found a sufficient place where it could lay its head for the night.
The little creature was nearly completely covered in black fur, save for a small patch of white fur on it’s face, with pointy ears, clawed feet and a pointed tail, the being looked every bit an Imp “That’s all I am…” it muttered to itself as a single tear trailed down his face “Just an imp… But I used to be so much more…” his mind drifted off into thoughts of his past, of him being a powerful warrior whom no-one would dare to laugh at, his face being the last thing his opponents ever saw and his weapon bringing the last piece of pain they would ever feel. Now however, he was but a remnant of what he once was, he was forced to stand in his own shadow as he silently drifted off to sleep.
His dreams revolved around his former strength, how he used to dominate all in combat with but a swipe of his hand. Leaving the enemy dead in his wake and standing tall amongst the strongest warriors in Allorum, like one of the denziens of old who used to rule Allorum. The dreams soon turned to nightmares as he remembered being locked away in the Tower of Salvation, his will and spirit slowly being broken down as his body changed shape to accommodate his new found weakness and low self-esteem. Tossing and turning, the small creature grunted and groaned at his nightmares before someone shook his shoulder, trying to wake him up. The little being awoke startled, at first, trying to get away from what he assumed would be an attacker, but then, he saw it was a young teenage boy with a smile on his face "Sorry if I scared you!" the boy said warmly as he gave a big grin, he looked grimy and dirty, no doubt a street urchin "I'm Keb!" he continued "What's your name?" the question threw him, he didn't wish to be known by his old name, he was too weak for that right now, no he should embrace his new nature with open arms "It's uh... Impiel! Yeah! Impiel!" he said as he eyed the kid suspiciously. Why was he being so friendly? Normally people avoided him outright but he was sat here in front of him, actively engaging him in conversation.
"So..." Keb said with the same warm smile "How are you?" once again Impiel was thrown off by the question completely, not only was he talking to him, Keb was showing actual interest as well! "I uh... I guess I'm okay... Been better but I suppose I've been worse too" Keb nodded "I know the feeling! Say, do you live out here?" once again Impiel nodded solemnly "I do... Why? Do you want the space?" he said with a sigh, used to being asked by the larger homeless men to move from 'their space' but Keb shook his head "I just wanted to know if it would be okay for me to stay here the night with my little brother..?" Another surprising request from Keb but uncharacteristically he jumped at the chance for the company "Sure!" he proclaimed "Uh yeah! Just come on down, I'll, uh, clear some space out for the two of ya'!"
A few minutes later, Keb and his younger brother Oz had moved down into Impiels back street. The young child took an instant interest in Impiel and immediately started asking Keb if 'they could keep him' much to Impiels dismay. The boy backed down slightly when informed that they were Impiels guests and not the other way around. All the same, Oz clung on to the small creature like a boy to a dog and made sure he was well looked after, and despite his protests... Impiel actually liked the closeness of it all, and in turn he kept the two of them safe from the prying eyes of bullies, strict and vicious guards and dangerous stray animals. But despite his new found comfort in these two friends, Impiel would learn that one can never expect paradise to be free of fighting.
One day, after scrounging up some stale bread, Impiel returned to find Oz on his own, tears streaming down his face "Keb!" he cried "Keb! Bring him back!" when Impel approached and asked what was wrong, Oz explained that some local guards had beaten up his older brother and gone off with him! Impiel appeared concerned "Is there anywhere or anyone you can hide with?" Oz nodded "I know some friends who'll hide me..." Impiel told him to go hide before they found them. When Oz asked him what he was doing, he told him he was going to find his brother for him. He wouldn't be searching for long, Impiel found the guards standing in a circle jeering. Instictively, he launched a fireball into the back of a guards head, knocking him to the floor. The guards all turned around shocked to find the little dark creature with a fireball in his palm growling at them. Had he not caught them by surprise they would probably have killed him, but in fear they picked up their wounded comrade and fled. Impiel jumped down to Keb and gave him a shake, just like he had done to him a few months beforehand "Keb! Hey Keb! Wake up, they're gone!" but Keb didn't move. He was scared, yeah that was it, he was just scared the guards were nearby is all. "Keb! Come on buddy, I kicked their butts! They won't bother us again..."
For hours, Impiel sat next to the corpse of his best friend, trying desperately to coax him out of his 'hiding' knowing what was really wrong but refusing to admit it. Eventually, he gave up, he moved the body to outside the guardhouse with a note about what had happened, maybe they could get some revenge out of this... Afterwards, he headed back to where Oz was hiding, just before stepping inside, he caught the tail end of a conversation.
"Give it up Oz" one voice said "Both your brother and your friend are probably dead..."
"No!" Oz cried "Impiel isn't going to let my brother die! He'll bring him back, he will! He promised!"
Impiel stood outside the door, tears welling in his eyes. Turning away, he left the area and clambered onto a roof near the edge of the city and sat down, legs dangled over the edge of the building. And he cried. He sobbed, calling his friends name repeatedly, hoping that someway it would bring him back from the dead.
He couldn't stay in Nerezza. The memories were too painful, and he couldn't risk running into Oz in the streets. He headed to the dock to catch a boat to anywhere where he could ride for free, he found one such journey on a fishing boat that was taking a few people across to Alberisato. It was cramped, to say the least, and he sat with a man who was covered in a black overcoat and carried a large package over his shoulder "What's your name..?" the man asked "Impiel.." he replied with a sniffle "What's yours?" the man chuckled "I go by many names... But most nowadays call me, Paradox..."
Humble Beginnings
“Get out of the way ya’ little Imp!” a man growled as he pushed the short black furred creature out of his path, the little being stumbled for a while before falling into the slimy wet gutter with a small grunt, letting plenty of sludge fill his mouth. Crawling onto his knees he wretched as the nearby people pointed at him as they walked past, laughing at the pathetic little creature before them, using him as a source for their own entertainment. Well, he wasn’t having it any more, turning around he growled and snapped a finger, a ball of flame appearing at the tips of his fingers as he pointed the magical sphere at a laughing woman “You wanna’ keep laughin’ at me?!” he roared as he aimed at a man who had seemed to be enjoying himself too much “How about you huh? You wanna’ go?!” the man shook his head hastily before backing away from the little creature. The furry beast growled once more before extinguishing the flames and turning around, heading into a dark back alley it found a sufficient place where it could lay its head for the night.
The little creature was nearly completely covered in black fur, save for a small patch of white fur on it’s face, with pointy ears, clawed feet and a pointed tail, the being looked every bit an Imp “That’s all I am…” it muttered to itself as a single tear trailed down his face “Just an imp… But I used to be so much more…” his mind drifted off into thoughts of his past, of him being a powerful warrior whom no-one would dare to laugh at, his face being the last thing his opponents ever saw and his weapon bringing the last piece of pain they would ever feel. Now however, he was but a remnant of what he once was, he was forced to stand in his own shadow as he silently drifted off to sleep.
His dreams revolved around his former strength, how he used to dominate all in combat with but a swipe of his hand. Leaving the enemy dead in his wake and standing tall amongst the strongest warriors in Allorum, like one of the denziens of old who used to rule Allorum. The dreams soon turned to nightmares as he remembered being locked away in the Tower of Salvation, his will and spirit slowly being broken down as his body changed shape to accommodate his new found weakness and low self-esteem. Tossing and turning, the small creature grunted and groaned at his nightmares before someone shook his shoulder, trying to wake him up. The little being awoke startled, at first, trying to get away from what he assumed would be an attacker, but then, he saw it was a young teenage boy with a smile on his face "Sorry if I scared you!" the boy said warmly as he gave a big grin, he looked grimy and dirty, no doubt a street urchin "I'm Keb!" he continued "What's your name?" the question threw him, he didn't wish to be known by his old name, he was too weak for that right now, no he should embrace his new nature with open arms "It's uh... Impiel! Yeah! Impiel!" he said as he eyed the kid suspiciously. Why was he being so friendly? Normally people avoided him outright but he was sat here in front of him, actively engaging him in conversation.
"So..." Keb said with the same warm smile "How are you?" once again Impiel was thrown off by the question completely, not only was he talking to him, Keb was showing actual interest as well! "I uh... I guess I'm okay... Been better but I suppose I've been worse too" Keb nodded "I know the feeling! Say, do you live out here?" once again Impiel nodded solemnly "I do... Why? Do you want the space?" he said with a sigh, used to being asked by the larger homeless men to move from 'their space' but Keb shook his head "I just wanted to know if it would be okay for me to stay here the night with my little brother..?" Another surprising request from Keb but uncharacteristically he jumped at the chance for the company "Sure!" he proclaimed "Uh yeah! Just come on down, I'll, uh, clear some space out for the two of ya'!"
A few minutes later, Keb and his younger brother Oz had moved down into Impiels back street. The young child took an instant interest in Impiel and immediately started asking Keb if 'they could keep him' much to Impiels dismay. The boy backed down slightly when informed that they were Impiels guests and not the other way around. All the same, Oz clung on to the small creature like a boy to a dog and made sure he was well looked after, and despite his protests... Impiel actually liked the closeness of it all, and in turn he kept the two of them safe from the prying eyes of bullies, strict and vicious guards and dangerous stray animals. But despite his new found comfort in these two friends, Impiel would learn that one can never expect paradise to be free of fighting.
One day, after scrounging up some stale bread, Impiel returned to find Oz on his own, tears streaming down his face "Keb!" he cried "Keb! Bring him back!" when Impel approached and asked what was wrong, Oz explained that some local guards had beaten up his older brother and gone off with him! Impiel appeared concerned "Is there anywhere or anyone you can hide with?" Oz nodded "I know some friends who'll hide me..." Impiel told him to go hide before they found them. When Oz asked him what he was doing, he told him he was going to find his brother for him. He wouldn't be searching for long, Impiel found the guards standing in a circle jeering. Instictively, he launched a fireball into the back of a guards head, knocking him to the floor. The guards all turned around shocked to find the little dark creature with a fireball in his palm growling at them. Had he not caught them by surprise they would probably have killed him, but in fear they picked up their wounded comrade and fled. Impiel jumped down to Keb and gave him a shake, just like he had done to him a few months beforehand "Keb! Hey Keb! Wake up, they're gone!" but Keb didn't move. He was scared, yeah that was it, he was just scared the guards were nearby is all. "Keb! Come on buddy, I kicked their butts! They won't bother us again..."
For hours, Impiel sat next to the corpse of his best friend, trying desperately to coax him out of his 'hiding' knowing what was really wrong but refusing to admit it. Eventually, he gave up, he moved the body to outside the guardhouse with a note about what had happened, maybe they could get some revenge out of this... Afterwards, he headed back to where Oz was hiding, just before stepping inside, he caught the tail end of a conversation.
"Give it up Oz" one voice said "Both your brother and your friend are probably dead..."
"No!" Oz cried "Impiel isn't going to let my brother die! He'll bring him back, he will! He promised!"
Impiel stood outside the door, tears welling in his eyes. Turning away, he left the area and clambered onto a roof near the edge of the city and sat down, legs dangled over the edge of the building. And he cried. He sobbed, calling his friends name repeatedly, hoping that someway it would bring him back from the dead.
He couldn't stay in Nerezza. The memories were too painful, and he couldn't risk running into Oz in the streets. He headed to the dock to catch a boat to anywhere where he could ride for free, he found one such journey on a fishing boat that was taking a few people across to Alberisato. It was cramped, to say the least, and he sat with a man who was covered in a black overcoat and carried a large package over his shoulder "What's your name..?" the man asked "Impiel.." he replied with a sniffle "What's yours?" the man chuckled "I go by many names... But most nowadays call me, Paradox..."
