Post by Saber on Sept 10, 2015 21:31:48 GMT
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[attr="class","titleBox"]This broken glass is all I've got left!
[attr="class","textBox"] The sound of a blade being sharpened screeched out from the lair beneath Londinium, the scratching of metal billowing out like a sinful curse as the blacksmith worked the large whetstone. It was soothing to the ears as the many invisible layers of blood were stripped off the man’s sword. Its black sheen returned and its deadliness once more reached its peak. The weapon was a handcrafted masterpiece by the same Elf who was carefully massaging its edge and it was one of the best tools he had ever made. The other was already cleaned up and nestled happily in its resting place just off to Saber’s left. Having returned recently from his travels to the west, Saber took some time to tend to his equipment and also used the time to rest. It was a long journey and one that truly had not even ended. The only reason Saber returned was due to fatigue and lack of supplies. The lands to the West were brutal and his supplies had run thin. If he remained, he would have become stranded until other Adventurers had caught up. Thus, Saber elected to return to London, if only for a short amount of time.
While he was gone, Londinium had not changed at all. People were still happy to be alive, went out on adventures without a care in the world, and continued to level at their own steady paces. The average level that Saber saw now was much higher than it was before, but it was all the same; the same people, the same quests, and the same boring sky. The lands Saber ventured too were far different than Londinium and a lot less friendly. Beyond the rolling green fields were lands ravaged by war, forests inhabited purely by vicious creatures, and caves stuffed to the brim with the smell of death. Even for Saber, it was a tough place to survive in. Londinium was a joke compared to those lands. Yet, he thirsted for more. As he sat and sharpened his blades, Saber envisioned his battles from the West. They were tough, pushed his limits, and required all of his focus. The monsters were smart and learned even as they fought; one slip and it would have been the end for the courageous Assassin. Saber had found himself stuck in a corner several times, only to escape by the skin of his teeth. But here in Londinium, the simple creatures were nothing but cannon fodder. It was pathetic.
“Maybe I should build a house out west.” Saber mused as he sheathed the last blade he needed to sharpen. It wouldn’t be a bad idea, going out West and living there. The monsters were savage beasts and the terrain was rough but survival was not impossible. Saber simply needed more time to adjust to it all. He had the knowledge, the skills, and the adaptability but he did not bring enough supplies during his first go around. Next time, he would be ready. He wouldn’t be caught off guard again.
Just as he was thinking of leaving just as soon as he had returned, Saber heard a familiar sound in his ears. It was the sound of him receiving a message. The noise caused Saber to pause and he glanced down at the flashing red signal on his display, staring at the icon for a few moments, and then he opened it. It was a message from one of the underground informants he had worked with closely as a Mercenary; Lotus. She kept in touch and continued to feed the Assassin job offers and information on the world so he didn’t mind when she disturbed him (most of the time). Though, this time around her message was quite ominous. Rather than just slap an offer into the box or say that she had found out something new, she was asking if he had returned to Londinium. It was strange; usually her messages didn’t require his response unless he wanted to, this one almost demanded his answer. Of course, Saber obliged to the order and said he had. Unbeknownst to him, the next message he would receive would throw him into another tale… One that he would find himself tested once more.
“The hornets’ nest has been stirred and the stones have been turned; the Sages of Messier have found something.” Saber’s eyebrows narrowed as he read the name and he clutched his left hand into a fist. The Sages of the Messier Order, a group of Landers who seek knowledge about the world’s past and the history of the land, yes Saber had heard of them but kept his distance; a good distance. They tinkered with things that Saber believed should be left to rest and messed with magic that could cause serious damage. They were also far more aggressive with their diggings, damaging some temples and artifacts in their excursions, while Saber took the softer approach. What could they have found now?
“Location?” Saber keyed in swiftly and began to gather his gear. Once the message was sent, he was forced to wait. However it was not long before he heard the notification sound again. Lotus must have been waiting for him.
“Londinium Garden Square. Find the Sage and then head to Thames. Shall I gather the Ravens?” Saber wiggled his nose as he thought of bringing in the others, causing him to pause again. Would he need help? If the Sages were toying with the world, there was no doubt in his mind that something would move to stop them but the only question was what? Moving the Ravens could also stir the other faction he was keeping an eye on, and that would bring something much worse to Londinium then some upset Sages.
“Alert them but keep them on standby. For now, I will do this myself.”
“Understood. Good luck.” And just as quickly as she had contacted him, Lotus was gone. But that was fine. Judging by her lack of information, she didn’t know much anyways or the messages would have been larger.
After putting on his armor, Saber readied his arsenal for war. At the same time he prepared his weary mind for another long trek. He had only slept for a short amount of time since he returned, but it would have to do. The world would not wait for him to recover. No, if he took even a single day to himself then the world would leave him behind. It would spin without him, undisturbed by the single missing body. Saber was just another number to the world, but he was slowly carving his name into its stones. Soon, he would drive his knife straight through the bedrock. He could feel it in his bones; something was coming and Saber was going to be at the forefront when it happened. Whether that something was a complete collapse of the world as he knew it, or all-out war between the factions in the Western zones, Saber did not know. But he was ready.
Heading out of his underground library, Saber left his furnace kindling as to keep the silent bookshelves warm and marched out onto the streets of Londinium. The air was just as stale as he could remember and the overwhelming peace was suffocating. The Assassin released a light, bored huff as he looked around himself, taking in the familiar sights of the vacant buildings and empty streets around his shop. It was quiet, as it always was. At least he still had that to rely on. Yet that silence did not last. Saber picked up his feet and made his way back to the central area of Londinium, exchanging silent familiarity for a black mask.
The further he moved from his workplace, the more populated and noisy the streets became. Not only that, but the entire landscape shifted as well. On the outskirts of the city, very few buildings were inhabited and barely any were fixed up due to the lack of activity in those zones. In the center of Londinium and towards the more active areas, the buildings had been worked on and some even reconstructed as to make the area more comfortable and better on the eyes. As Adventurers developed their technologies, the buildings changed and were built even better. However, the slums remained untouched and slowly those who could not afford the lavish lifestyle were pushed out and left behind. And much like any city; those who were pushed into the slums became outcasts and nobodies. They were forgotten.
As Saber walked through those slums towards his destination, taking the same route he always had, he saw the same familiar faces. There were no shining knights here, no powerful rangers, and no masterminds of war. Here, there were only men in rags holding bottles of alcohol, children with only a few pieces of stale bread to eat, and women who sold themselves off for even the slightest bit of coin. This was the dark, unspoken side of Londinium… and Saber found a haven within its cold embrace. Those who lived in the other zone did not know true hardship and they did not know what it truly meant to fight for survival like these people did. The wide rift that separated the two classes was an impossible one to see across and it was sickening. With all of his heart, Saber yearned to bring change to the pitiful looking faces but he was not strong enough yet. As a warrior, he would face any enemy even if it cost his life. But as a man, he was nothing more than a soldier of fortune. He was no politician and he was no leader. He had tried that once and his House had crumbled. For now he could only hide his heartache and kept his mouth shut as he marched.
“This world is pathetic.” Saber thought as he glanced to his left. There, a little girl was curled up on her side. Her hair was dirty and her fair skin darkened by the filth she lived in. Her clothes were tattered, ripped, and holed. Bugs crawled on her skin, but she did not move. She simply stared towards the dark clothed Assassin as he walked passed her on the opposite side of the street.
“I’m sorry.” Saber tore his eyes away from the little girl and pulled his lips into a firm line. His body burned and ached as he held himself back from running over and tending to the little one. Yes, Londinium had not changed one bit, and there wasn’t a damned thing he could do about it. Not yet.
The Londinium Garden Square was around the central circle of the city and Saber was not far off once he reached the actual middle. It only took him a few minutes of slithering through the crowds before it finally came into view. However, once he reached it he noticed that he was not the first on the scene. Much like he had guessed a large crowd had gathered around a shouting Sage, listening to his words as he called out to the heavens, declaring that his fellows had found a powerful object that would prove the existence of an old civilization. His words brought silence to the group. Many were curiously listening, contemplating whether they should aid the man or not. Others were trying to figure out what the man was talking about. Saber on the other hand considered slitting his throat and silencing him forever, but that would not fly. There were too many eyes, and Saber himself was curious. Could what this man was saying be connected to the activities in the West? Could the Sages have triggered something? And what civilization was he talking about?
“Maybe there’s only one way to find out.” But first, Saber needed information. For that he needed to return to what he knew. The Assassin slipped into the shadows of the crowd and moved through the garden, easing into the darkness in plain sight.
While he was gone, Londinium had not changed at all. People were still happy to be alive, went out on adventures without a care in the world, and continued to level at their own steady paces. The average level that Saber saw now was much higher than it was before, but it was all the same; the same people, the same quests, and the same boring sky. The lands Saber ventured too were far different than Londinium and a lot less friendly. Beyond the rolling green fields were lands ravaged by war, forests inhabited purely by vicious creatures, and caves stuffed to the brim with the smell of death. Even for Saber, it was a tough place to survive in. Londinium was a joke compared to those lands. Yet, he thirsted for more. As he sat and sharpened his blades, Saber envisioned his battles from the West. They were tough, pushed his limits, and required all of his focus. The monsters were smart and learned even as they fought; one slip and it would have been the end for the courageous Assassin. Saber had found himself stuck in a corner several times, only to escape by the skin of his teeth. But here in Londinium, the simple creatures were nothing but cannon fodder. It was pathetic.
“Maybe I should build a house out west.” Saber mused as he sheathed the last blade he needed to sharpen. It wouldn’t be a bad idea, going out West and living there. The monsters were savage beasts and the terrain was rough but survival was not impossible. Saber simply needed more time to adjust to it all. He had the knowledge, the skills, and the adaptability but he did not bring enough supplies during his first go around. Next time, he would be ready. He wouldn’t be caught off guard again.
Just as he was thinking of leaving just as soon as he had returned, Saber heard a familiar sound in his ears. It was the sound of him receiving a message. The noise caused Saber to pause and he glanced down at the flashing red signal on his display, staring at the icon for a few moments, and then he opened it. It was a message from one of the underground informants he had worked with closely as a Mercenary; Lotus. She kept in touch and continued to feed the Assassin job offers and information on the world so he didn’t mind when she disturbed him (most of the time). Though, this time around her message was quite ominous. Rather than just slap an offer into the box or say that she had found out something new, she was asking if he had returned to Londinium. It was strange; usually her messages didn’t require his response unless he wanted to, this one almost demanded his answer. Of course, Saber obliged to the order and said he had. Unbeknownst to him, the next message he would receive would throw him into another tale… One that he would find himself tested once more.
“The hornets’ nest has been stirred and the stones have been turned; the Sages of Messier have found something.” Saber’s eyebrows narrowed as he read the name and he clutched his left hand into a fist. The Sages of the Messier Order, a group of Landers who seek knowledge about the world’s past and the history of the land, yes Saber had heard of them but kept his distance; a good distance. They tinkered with things that Saber believed should be left to rest and messed with magic that could cause serious damage. They were also far more aggressive with their diggings, damaging some temples and artifacts in their excursions, while Saber took the softer approach. What could they have found now?
“Location?” Saber keyed in swiftly and began to gather his gear. Once the message was sent, he was forced to wait. However it was not long before he heard the notification sound again. Lotus must have been waiting for him.
“Londinium Garden Square. Find the Sage and then head to Thames. Shall I gather the Ravens?” Saber wiggled his nose as he thought of bringing in the others, causing him to pause again. Would he need help? If the Sages were toying with the world, there was no doubt in his mind that something would move to stop them but the only question was what? Moving the Ravens could also stir the other faction he was keeping an eye on, and that would bring something much worse to Londinium then some upset Sages.
“Alert them but keep them on standby. For now, I will do this myself.”
“Understood. Good luck.” And just as quickly as she had contacted him, Lotus was gone. But that was fine. Judging by her lack of information, she didn’t know much anyways or the messages would have been larger.
After putting on his armor, Saber readied his arsenal for war. At the same time he prepared his weary mind for another long trek. He had only slept for a short amount of time since he returned, but it would have to do. The world would not wait for him to recover. No, if he took even a single day to himself then the world would leave him behind. It would spin without him, undisturbed by the single missing body. Saber was just another number to the world, but he was slowly carving his name into its stones. Soon, he would drive his knife straight through the bedrock. He could feel it in his bones; something was coming and Saber was going to be at the forefront when it happened. Whether that something was a complete collapse of the world as he knew it, or all-out war between the factions in the Western zones, Saber did not know. But he was ready.
Heading out of his underground library, Saber left his furnace kindling as to keep the silent bookshelves warm and marched out onto the streets of Londinium. The air was just as stale as he could remember and the overwhelming peace was suffocating. The Assassin released a light, bored huff as he looked around himself, taking in the familiar sights of the vacant buildings and empty streets around his shop. It was quiet, as it always was. At least he still had that to rely on. Yet that silence did not last. Saber picked up his feet and made his way back to the central area of Londinium, exchanging silent familiarity for a black mask.
The further he moved from his workplace, the more populated and noisy the streets became. Not only that, but the entire landscape shifted as well. On the outskirts of the city, very few buildings were inhabited and barely any were fixed up due to the lack of activity in those zones. In the center of Londinium and towards the more active areas, the buildings had been worked on and some even reconstructed as to make the area more comfortable and better on the eyes. As Adventurers developed their technologies, the buildings changed and were built even better. However, the slums remained untouched and slowly those who could not afford the lavish lifestyle were pushed out and left behind. And much like any city; those who were pushed into the slums became outcasts and nobodies. They were forgotten.
As Saber walked through those slums towards his destination, taking the same route he always had, he saw the same familiar faces. There were no shining knights here, no powerful rangers, and no masterminds of war. Here, there were only men in rags holding bottles of alcohol, children with only a few pieces of stale bread to eat, and women who sold themselves off for even the slightest bit of coin. This was the dark, unspoken side of Londinium… and Saber found a haven within its cold embrace. Those who lived in the other zone did not know true hardship and they did not know what it truly meant to fight for survival like these people did. The wide rift that separated the two classes was an impossible one to see across and it was sickening. With all of his heart, Saber yearned to bring change to the pitiful looking faces but he was not strong enough yet. As a warrior, he would face any enemy even if it cost his life. But as a man, he was nothing more than a soldier of fortune. He was no politician and he was no leader. He had tried that once and his House had crumbled. For now he could only hide his heartache and kept his mouth shut as he marched.
“This world is pathetic.” Saber thought as he glanced to his left. There, a little girl was curled up on her side. Her hair was dirty and her fair skin darkened by the filth she lived in. Her clothes were tattered, ripped, and holed. Bugs crawled on her skin, but she did not move. She simply stared towards the dark clothed Assassin as he walked passed her on the opposite side of the street.
“I’m sorry.” Saber tore his eyes away from the little girl and pulled his lips into a firm line. His body burned and ached as he held himself back from running over and tending to the little one. Yes, Londinium had not changed one bit, and there wasn’t a damned thing he could do about it. Not yet.
The Londinium Garden Square was around the central circle of the city and Saber was not far off once he reached the actual middle. It only took him a few minutes of slithering through the crowds before it finally came into view. However, once he reached it he noticed that he was not the first on the scene. Much like he had guessed a large crowd had gathered around a shouting Sage, listening to his words as he called out to the heavens, declaring that his fellows had found a powerful object that would prove the existence of an old civilization. His words brought silence to the group. Many were curiously listening, contemplating whether they should aid the man or not. Others were trying to figure out what the man was talking about. Saber on the other hand considered slitting his throat and silencing him forever, but that would not fly. There were too many eyes, and Saber himself was curious. Could what this man was saying be connected to the activities in the West? Could the Sages have triggered something? And what civilization was he talking about?
“Maybe there’s only one way to find out.” But first, Saber needed information. For that he needed to return to what he knew. The Assassin slipped into the shadows of the crowd and moved through the garden, easing into the darkness in plain sight.
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