Origins: Volume 1

[The Big Pointy One]

I like to think I've recently re-kindled my interest in writing, at least with poetry. I'm now going to try and re-write my origin story for my main character, Stick, aka a lot of different but similar names. Hopefully I can do better than last time (not that it was bad, per se...). My plan is to do this enough times until I can get up to novel length. Who knows how many years that'll take, but one day... ^.^;

 

 

 

 

 

 

Prologue: The Grey Morning

 

One could barely notice the sun rising as the fog rolled in through the hillside. The air was damp and cold, just like every other spring day in Feraus. What little light that could be seen could offer little warmth between the winds from the mountains to the north, and the breeze from the sea to the south. If one wanted warmth, they would have to curl into their blankets in their tents. Or they could huddle around the cooking fires that dotted various intersections between patrolways. The paths lay between rows of neatly organized tents, about two thousand of them.

 

Just outside the hamlet of Vigar rested the camp of the mighty 'Light's Alliance' army. It was a force composed of nearly ten thousand men and women from the three nations: Feraus, Gal-ek-han, and Ikshar. This force was an alliance to deal with the increasing threat of Orc-kin which had been making their presence known within the past two years. To know their presence was to know a swift death, if one was lucky. This particular division of the alliance was posted in the northern section of Feraus in an attempt to reclaim the borders between hill and mountain.

 

On this particular morning a burly blue eyed man with a receding brown hairline accented with lines of grey by the name of Stahl Norelia, a soldier of high regards among his peers, was patrolling the paths between the tents. In a few moments, he'd make his way to the heavy bronze bell which was used to wake up the soldiers for their morning meals. He paused at one intersection, looking to the north at the foggy outlines of the mountains. Admiring a few rays of sun breaking through the fog that illuminated the trees that dotted the hills ever so slightly, he pondered for a moment how he had arrived where he was now. He didn't like being stuck in the hills, fighting some light-forsaken creatures. Then he shook his head. He was a soldier now, he wasn't being paid to think like that and it was breakfast time.

 

After quickly eating his meal of warm gruel and tiny chunks of fatty peppered pork, Stahl along with the rest of the soldiers dispersed and broke camp. They packed up their travelling supplies and donned their armour and weaponry then made their way to the meeting area, where a makeshift stage had been set up. On top of the stage stood the commander of this division of the Light's Alliance army, a stalwart young knight by the name of Revelat Kar. Revelat though only in his late twenties, had proved his worth many times in his strategic mastery and cunning on the battlefield. It didn't hurt that he knew how to wield his sword with admirable skill as well. Stahl stood in the front lines in front of the stage so he could hear his commanding officer properly, not that it was necessary as Revelat's voice carried well over the entire camp.

 

"Good morning, light's warriors. I hope you have all rested well, because today is the final day of our campaign. It is on this day that we make our last stand. It is on this day that we end the threat against our lands. It is on this day that we show the forces of evil that there is no match for the combined might of mankind!" This was met with many cheers, as Revelat's speeches usually did. Stahl applauded a little, but didn't really cheer. He was a farmer, from an area that couldn't be really called a country since it had no king or queen. It was an area with no more than a handful of small villages and farming communities that did not want to belong to any one nation. Because they were prosperous, they somehow managed to avoid being absorbed into Ikshar, the only nation close enough to be a threat. The elves to the Gaian forest of the east showed no interest in the land. To the west, there were only mountains and bogs, just as there were to the south which was also covered with inhabitable, unpopulated woodland. Revelat's speech continued.

 

"Today we will be marching in three groups to attack what we are sure is the central home of our enemies. It is a valley surrounded by the highest peaks of the mountains. We will enter through the caves, and block off the escape routes through the west end of the valley, as our allies already stationed in the cliffs to the east storm the valley. Like hammer to anvil, we shall smash against these fiends, and restore peace to our lands." Again, there was cheers, and Stahl shook his head. This was the last day. No more killing. He could be a farmer again, real soon. He cheered with his comrades and prepared himself mentally for the journey ahead.

 

~

 

 

 

(I'm going to stop for now, but edit this post to resume the prologue.)

[The Big Pointy One]

Prologue, continued...

 

 

~

 

The journey to the goblins' valley seemed like a short one. Shorter yet, was the battle that ensued. As planned, the other half of the Light's Alliance army charged into the valley, driving what remained of the goblin warriors into the swords and pikes of Revelat's division. With archers fanned across the rim of the valley, there were no escapees. Someone from the other division had met up with what must have been the leader of the goblin clans; the goblin's tattered yet somehow elegant robe and circlet made out of animal bones seemed a dead giveaway. This clan leader was brought before Revelat, who tried to question it briefly, but since it could understand the human language its head was quickly severed. The battle, and the war, was now over.

 

 

 

 

 

(just a little tidbit before I have to work tonight...)

[The Big Pointy One]

The victory celebration was a raucous one. Vigar's only tavern was attached to the inn. There was only enough room to admit the higher ranking officers from Revelat's division; the second division had also joined up with this one, so there was no room for any of the lower ranked soldiers inside. That didn't stop them from enjoying their after-battle celebrations, however. To the dismay of the citizens of Vigar, drunken soldiers danced and caroused in the streets, yelling and singing as loud as they could. Stories of battles told by drunken grunts could be heard floating in the air. Feats of near legendary valour were told to clueless villagers who just wanted to be part of the partying. The night air was filled with a buzz of noise that although was somewhat disturbing to those seeking rest, but it carried a breath of relief and happiness that hadn't really been seen in recent months.

 

Inside the tavern, barmaids scuttled about hurredly bringing trays of drinks and delicacies reserved for special occassions. The mixed scents of spiced meats, ale and pipe tobacco floated throughout the room, and even the normally somber Stahl Norelia could be seen smiling and laughing. Of course, Stahl was mostly elated because in the morning he would head back home. With his conscription money, he was going to buy a decent sized plot of land back home. With the money left over, he'd probably be able to buy a few horses and some cattle and enough seed to get him started. If he made it fast enough, he might even have enough time to plant his crops this spring. Suddenly, his commander's voice broke him from his reverie.

 

"...sorry, what was that sir?"

 

"I said come here, you crazy farmer! I saved a wench for you!"

 

Stahl grinned, shrugged and made his way over to Revelat's table. He had a woman by the waist on both sides of him, and another was sitting and looking annoyed accross from him. The commander rattled on, "Like I was saying ladies, for a farmer, Norelia here can handle a sword like something else. I can't how many skulls he split with those plowman's arms of his. Go ahead, give them a feel." Stahl shook his head and went along with it. He hadn't really bothered to fool around with women up until this point in his life, but he figured if he was going to settle down soon, he may as well now. One of the barmaids on Revelat's side reached out and touched Stahl's arm. She cooed, then giggled and took a deep sip of Revelat's ale. Forgetting that Stahl was even there, she went back to braying some sort of praise to the young commander. He said something along the lines of, 'See, I told you so', then also forgot that he had called Stahl over to the table, as he returned his attention to the ladies at his sides.

 

Stahl just shrugged again, and noticed the third woman at the table still wasn't too happy. It was a shame, because she was the prettiest of the three at the table with her long, dark hair, big green eyes and nicely tanned skin. He frowned momentarily, then addressed her. "Hey, what's wrong? Why aren't you celebrating too?" the woman looked at Stahl, and shook her head.

 

"I'm actually not sure what's going on. I'm not from around here, and I was trying to sleep and..."

 

"Not from around here? Where are you from?" Stahl interrupted her.

 

She only looked a little bit annoyed now, "It's a small place, you probably haven't heard of it."

 

"Oh? Try me. I'm from Habpyra." Habpyra was Stahl's hometown, not too far from the southern woods.

 

"Really? I'm from just outside Hamira. That's funny." Hamira was about a day away from Habpyra on horseback, to the east.

 

"Yeah, small world... say, what's your name anyways?"

 

"Aemi. Yours is Stahl, right? I think that's what's his face called you."

 

Revelat quirked an eyebrow; he must have been paying attention to some degree. "Yeah, it's Stahl Norelia. So... do you want to maybe go for a walk, away from the noise? This smoke is getting to me anyways."

 

Aemi took a look around the room, then shrugged. "Sure, let's go."

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bleh. Just about finished... I think. I gotta go though... running late for other stuff. Yikes. I'll try and finish up when I come home in a drunken stupor

[The Big Pointy One]

Stahl and Aemi ended up wandering around the area surrounding Vigar for the remainder of that evening. They talked of different things; of life in the nameless farmlands, meetings with elves, the war, their individual pasts. Aemi ended up inviting Stahl back to her room once they got back to town, and they did end up sharing beds. The next day, the farmer turned soldier didn't really remember much of the celebrations before meeting Aemi, but he was happy. Today was the first day of the rest of his life.

 

After collecting his pay, Stahl packed his things and met Aemi on the edge of town. She was also packed and ready to leave. Stahl offered to escort her back at least as far as Hamira which is where he figured he was going to settle down. Of course, she agreed because she liked Stahl very much and wanted the opportunity to learn more about him. The ride back to Hamira was about three weeks long and along the way Stahl and Aemi became much closer. By the time they actually made it back to Hamira, Aemi decided she would stay with Stahl for a while. She was in no immediate rush to go back to her parents in Habpyra anyways, she said.

 

So, after purchasing some materials and enlisting the help of some of the sturdier villagers still left in Hamira, Stahl had built his very own house. Stahl didn't make it in time to start planting yet, but he resolved to start as soon as spring came around again. Yet he was happy because he could get rid of his sword and happier still because he had a pretty young woman to make his house into a home. By the time fall came around, the two had wed. By next summer, after the first early harvest, they had a son, who they named Dierden, after Aemi's father who had passed away the winter before. Dierden seemed to have his fathers brown hair and his mother's green eyes. He was a healthy baby and in his first year it seemed like he was smiling. Most people noted that he never seemed to cry, which was an unusual blessing.

 

In the year's time it took Stahl to settle in with Aemi in Hamira, the world seemed to move on at it's normal pace. Although the Light's Alliance army was a large success, the nations eventually returned to their old ways of bitterness and uneasiness. The trust that had brought them together soon faded away. Rumours were spreading that their 'holy campaign' wasn't as much as a success as they thought. Word was that a few different rangers had reported seeing goblins in the mountains, and other things they had not seen before. Still, everyone wasn't too worried, as border villages had wisened up from the last attacks. Defensive walls were erected, watchtowers built and guards appointed. The common folk could eat least have some security and peace at night.

 

More interesting still was the rumour that the ancient Gods had returned to bless the lands of Gaia. As the tales go, the higher gods had abandoned the world because of man's fickle ways about 500 years ago, when the major nations were only a dream in a few young men's hearts and the continent was covered in war. It seemed in the present that a knight, Sir Revelat Kar actually, had found a relic of divine nature. No one was really sure what it looked like but in all the rumours it was agreed that it bore the emblem of Poros, the Sun God and that it seemed to shine with a constant brightness of its own. The churches, which had almost been wiped out of existence with most faith had begun to spring up again. Suddenly there were priests and clerics who had miraculous powers of healing. In Feraus, the old city of Onya which was once unpopulated seemed to be bustling with people who claimed to know the arcane arts.

 

Something was happening on Gaia, and whatever it was it meant big changes for the future. Perhaps the start of a new age of prosperity, depending on the wisdom of its inhabitants. Whatever was happening, the question people were asking constantly was "Did the gods give us a second chance? Why?"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I feel kinda bad about the way this prologue turned out, because I took it in a totally random direction, and I don't feel like I tied it up properly. However, I'm trying to avoid being overly cliched like my original plan. For those who read my last effort, you'll notice that Stahl's love interest is human (although I didn't mention that explicitly yet...) and therefore Dierden (Stick) is a full-fledged human as well. Also, I don't think I'm going to do the hero-orphan cliche either. Finally, I may extend the prologue to cover Stick's early years, if I feel so inclined. We'll see.

[The Big Pointy One]

Chapter 1: The Early Years

 

It was a humid summer night, not more than five years after the birth of Dierden Norelia. The sky was clear, although the air was damp and smelled of rain. The moon was bright and shining its beams in through the windows of the Norelia home. An anxious Stahl paced back and forth, hand rubbing his head nervously. His wife Aemi was in the other room with the local wisewoman giving birth. He winced every time she yelled out in pain. Young Dierden just looked to his father, not entirely certain what was going on. His parents had explained that a new brother or sister was coming soon, but he didn't really understand how that worked. Back and forth, back and forth, Stahl paced for what must have been hours at this point. Then... there was silence. He stopped, looking to the bedroom door. It opened up, and the midwife nodded and motion for Stahl and Dierden to enter.

 

Stahl looked to Aemi, who looked exhausted and relieved. She was holding their new son.

 

"A boy then?" he asked.

 

Smiling, she nodded as Dierden climbed into the bed next to her to get a good look at the baby. Stahl took a few steps forward and clasped his wife's hand.

 

"Aidan it is then." he said. They had decided if the child was a girl it would be named Sierra. If it was a boy, Aidan.

 

"Aidan it is." she replied, still smiling and tired looking.

 

"Well, it's been one hell of a night... Dierden, off to bed. You can see little Aidan in the morning. Your mother needs to rest now."

 

"Aw, but dad..."

 

"No buts, son... say goodnight to your mom and off to bed you go."

 

"Okay. Goodnight mom. Goodnight little Aidan."

 

Dierden leaned over to kiss his mom on the cheek then hopped off the bed and scampered off to his room. Stahl made his way over to Aemi and scooped up the baby. He held Aidan up towards the window, the moon illuminating his frail new body.

 

"I've been thrice gifted now Aemi. First, you. Then Dierden, and now, Aidan." he smiled and set baby Aidan into his bed, and then climbed into rest with Aemi. Things had been great the last five years, and they just got better. He offered a small prayer silently that things stayed just as great.

 

***

 

(bleh, to be continued)

[The Big Pointy One]

Slowly, days turned into weeks and weeks to months. Months turned into years as the sun shined and the wind blew. Dierden and his family rolled with the wheels of time in the small town of Hamira. Stahl eventually had a decent sized farm, and Aemi ran a small general store that mostly sold goods from the farm. Shortly after Aidan was born Dierden started taking classes at the local school. He learned to read and write, and seemed to show and advanced understanding of math and science. By the time Aidan had reached his fifth and joined his brother at school, Dierden had managed to skip ahead a grade.

 

Of course, he didn't really care much for school. No, Dierden much preferred the outdoors. He would go hunting and trapping with the men when they would allow him. The rest of the time he and the other village boys would go hiking into the hills and hunt on their own. Dierden was also known for his sense of humour. No matter the situation, he would always find a way to slip in the exact right comment to have everyone laughing at a critical moment. By the time he was 13 and his in school education had stopped (the school wasn't very fancy, it was a one building classroom and the students studied for 10 years in most cases. Most people who wanted to further their education would leave to a larger city with an academy, usually the capital of Feraus, Nargo.) he started to work more on his father's farm. Around this time he had also started to grow quite a bit. He was slim and tall, which combined with his love for the outdoors is how he got the nickname 'Stick'. He wasn't too fond of the nickname, but whatever people wanted to call him, he was fine with.

 

Little Aidan was growing up just fine too, although he had a slightly meaner side to him. Although he was never outwardly rude or mean to anyone, he seemed to lack Dierden's sense of humour. Instead, he was actually more quick to anger. There were a few times that if not for his older brother, Aidan would have been beaten up by some of the older boys at school. But that's how it was. Aidan would get into trouble and Dierden would be there to fix the situation with a sarcastic quip that usually cooled everyone down. Still, Aidan was a good natured boy and he tended to follow his brother around all the time, which is probably how he got the nickname 'Sliver' (not only was he like a smaller version of his brother, but he was kind of annoying if you let him get under your skin... but that didn't really happen that much.)

 

The Norelia brothers, Stick and Sliver as they were labeled were best of friends. Dierden didn't really have anyone that he was truly close with in the village. He had lots of friends, but no one except for Aidan he really called one of his 'best' friends. Whenever he thought about it, he shrugged and remembered some advice his father had given him one day. "Friends will always come and go, Dierden. Remember that. Nothing is forever, except the ties you have with your family." Come to think of it, that was awfully cryptic of him to say, but that's the way Stahl usually talked. He always seemed to have some sort of advice that Dierden didn't really understand but he remembered, because it seemed important.

 

So things were good. Things were peaceful. Eventually though, for Dierden, things got boring. He had explored a lot of the area around Hamira, going even as far as Kelemar Swamp in the west, over The King's Knell Mountains. Still he needed more. He needed... out. So one night, with no advanced warning, no notice, he slipped away into the night, alone and he left. He left his friends, his family, his hometown, he left it all behind. The world was waiting for him, and he didn't care to disappoint.

 

 

 

Edit: a few points in there I could have expanded on, I know... but I want to get to the fun stuff. Background is boring/hard. Anyways, I'll expand one day. Also, I heart commas.

Edited September 12, 2006 by The Big Pointy One