Rayner
01-22-08, 10:35 PM
Everything is so different within this city compared to the quiet and soothing forests which Luthien had grown up in. All around him buildings stood side by side, obstructing all view other then the long narrow streets which crisscrossed throughout the city. However, even these roads were packed with people as everyone struggled through the crowd, each person with their own ambitions on their mind. Many were simply trying to make a living, but there were the few who had darker ideas in motion. Simply by looking down a street, you could see people being pick pocketed left right at center, whether they realized or not, someone was walking away with their hard earned money and in many cases nothing could be done for the thief who had been there moments before would effortlessly merge back into the surging crowds. Shaking his head, Luthien tightened the strap on his pouch as he continued to push against the crowd heading towards the legendary citadel which existed on the far side of the city.
His footsteps echoed along the cobblestone walkway. The citadel loomed ahead of Luthien as he prepared himself mentally for what as about to happen on the other side of those walls. He had heard stories of the Citadel even in his village when merchants would come by, they would tell the children of great battles where warriors would go toe to toe, in many cases to the death. Then at the end of the battle, the powerful magic of the monks would bring those who fell in combat back to life as if the battle had never happened in the first place. They also spoke of those who were scarred emotionally from the battles. The peoples who took the life of another human whether it was fake or not, and how they were never the same. Thinking about taking a life sent a chill flowing down Luthien’s spine. Shaking the concerns from his mind, he focused on the reason why he was coming to the Citadel in the first place. He promised himself when he left his village that he would come back a stronger man, and this seemed like a good place to start.
Reaching the large doors of the Citadel, Luthien looked at the people who were relaxing outside as if they didn’t have a care in the world. Some sharpened their weapons, where as others were in deep conversations about how they had just ended the ‘life’ of the person they had fought. Taking a deep breath, he could feel his heart pounding as he pushed open the door leading into the entrance hall. As he stepped inside the door swung shot behind him with a dull thud, all around him were people. Some were following the cloaked monks, others were sitting in chairs, and some were even being carried out of the rooms further down the corridor to be what Luthien assumed was healed. Focusing on the nearest monk, Luthien approached him and got his attention by faking a cough.
As the robed figure turned around, Luthien tried to smile despite the wrenching feeling her was getting in his stomach. “I’m new to this whole Citadel scene, and do you think you would be able to help me?” His voice quivered slightly both from excitement and fear as to his upcoming battle.
The monk raised his eyebrow as he looked up and down Luthien, clearly judging his capability. “Well if you’re looking for a battle then follow me and I’ll set you up with an empty room. All you have to do is wait for an opponent who wants a battle.” Before Luthien could answer the monk was already leading the way down one of the many halls, his cloak billowing behind him gently. Rushing to catch up, Luthien thought about saying something but decided against it and simply followed until the monk stopped at a door and motioned for him to step in. “Go ahead, but remember when your opponent steps into the room its not to talk its to fight to the death.”
Stepping over the threshold, Luthien tried to smile but soon found his mouth dry with a new found fear. He had never truly fought against someone, he knew how but he didn’t know if he could actually go through with it and inflict harm upon someone. As the door clicked shut behind him, a flash of light filled Luthien’s eyes. Instantly his hands went to his daggers as the once plain room began to spin. Feeling sick, Luthien closed his eyes preying for it to stop before he screamed in fear. Risking the chance of still spinning, he opened one eyes to find the room completely different. Instead of a plain room with white walls and wooden floor, Luthien was standing in the middle of a barren snow covered land. The cold wind ripped at his face bringing tears to his eyes. As he looked around for the person he was to be fighting he couldn’t help but wonder what he had so foolishly gotten himself into.
((Open to Any)
His footsteps echoed along the cobblestone walkway. The citadel loomed ahead of Luthien as he prepared himself mentally for what as about to happen on the other side of those walls. He had heard stories of the Citadel even in his village when merchants would come by, they would tell the children of great battles where warriors would go toe to toe, in many cases to the death. Then at the end of the battle, the powerful magic of the monks would bring those who fell in combat back to life as if the battle had never happened in the first place. They also spoke of those who were scarred emotionally from the battles. The peoples who took the life of another human whether it was fake or not, and how they were never the same. Thinking about taking a life sent a chill flowing down Luthien’s spine. Shaking the concerns from his mind, he focused on the reason why he was coming to the Citadel in the first place. He promised himself when he left his village that he would come back a stronger man, and this seemed like a good place to start.
Reaching the large doors of the Citadel, Luthien looked at the people who were relaxing outside as if they didn’t have a care in the world. Some sharpened their weapons, where as others were in deep conversations about how they had just ended the ‘life’ of the person they had fought. Taking a deep breath, he could feel his heart pounding as he pushed open the door leading into the entrance hall. As he stepped inside the door swung shot behind him with a dull thud, all around him were people. Some were following the cloaked monks, others were sitting in chairs, and some were even being carried out of the rooms further down the corridor to be what Luthien assumed was healed. Focusing on the nearest monk, Luthien approached him and got his attention by faking a cough.
As the robed figure turned around, Luthien tried to smile despite the wrenching feeling her was getting in his stomach. “I’m new to this whole Citadel scene, and do you think you would be able to help me?” His voice quivered slightly both from excitement and fear as to his upcoming battle.
The monk raised his eyebrow as he looked up and down Luthien, clearly judging his capability. “Well if you’re looking for a battle then follow me and I’ll set you up with an empty room. All you have to do is wait for an opponent who wants a battle.” Before Luthien could answer the monk was already leading the way down one of the many halls, his cloak billowing behind him gently. Rushing to catch up, Luthien thought about saying something but decided against it and simply followed until the monk stopped at a door and motioned for him to step in. “Go ahead, but remember when your opponent steps into the room its not to talk its to fight to the death.”
Stepping over the threshold, Luthien tried to smile but soon found his mouth dry with a new found fear. He had never truly fought against someone, he knew how but he didn’t know if he could actually go through with it and inflict harm upon someone. As the door clicked shut behind him, a flash of light filled Luthien’s eyes. Instantly his hands went to his daggers as the once plain room began to spin. Feeling sick, Luthien closed his eyes preying for it to stop before he screamed in fear. Risking the chance of still spinning, he opened one eyes to find the room completely different. Instead of a plain room with white walls and wooden floor, Luthien was standing in the middle of a barren snow covered land. The cold wind ripped at his face bringing tears to his eyes. As he looked around for the person he was to be fighting he couldn’t help but wonder what he had so foolishly gotten himself into.
((Open to Any)