sweet_oblivion
04-11-09, 03:02 AM
((closed))
To continue with ones future sometimes one must look to the past for answers. To begin on the path to ones future, one must first set in place a past.
Things had grown somewhat dull for the boy of seventeen. The last few years had been spent researching, a process that proved a lot less fruitful then he had hoped. Upon finding a simple text, he had increased upon his knowledge but lacked the ability to use it: as of yet. Still, knowledge alone would not be enough to continue traversing the world of Althanas, with its many dangers and perils. His only means of defense were what little he could do with increasing the output of his own body, a giant tortoise who acted as transport and body guard, and a whip formed of his own spirit through a crystal medium belonging to a set he had yet to unlock. His skill with the weapon was none existent. His overall combat ability was lacking to say the least. As for the tortoise, Genbu would not always be able to save his hide.
These were harsh times, and Dino had little to his name. His only belonging consisted of an annoying tome which usefulness did not keep the biologist from dreams of setting it ablaze. He was lucky enough to not take this course of action this night. The Tome of Knowledge as it had been renamed by Dino in its own disgust toward its former title was a quite reliable alarm system. While Dino slept quietly the Tome patrolled the manor in its boredom, doing whatever it was floating books did in their spare time, and happened to come across a number of intruders. It hurried back to the study, awaking Dino by slamming into the sleeping youth and informed him of the situation. As his luck would have it, a stick situation would of course arise his first night staying in this damned estate.
Calling the manor an eye sore could have been taken as a compliment. Long since forsaken by its original owner, it had become infested by all manner of pest years ago as a slightly deranged alchemist practiced his craft here. Many parts of the building had long since become dangerous to even explore much less occupy. The pest problem was not so much a burden as it had once been, though the rats were noticeably larger than they had once been, fewer creatures preyed upon them than in past years. It had been three years since Dino had last visited this place but it was hard to forget where you began your life’s work. For nearly a year this manor, though in slightly better condition, had been his home.
Things had remained as he left them for the most part, though the lake had broken through into the east wing. Dino became almost hysterical upon finding this as he had bugged his master about an indoor pool so he and Genbu could enjoy a light swim without worry of Gil’bron. His master would then smile at the thought of the boy and his then small pet being devoured, for minutes even, before replying with a stern no, and returning to his work. The man was a drunkard and a bit of an ass, but even he did not deserve the fate he received. A few blood stains still remained from the mess that he left behind.
History aside, Dino had more important matters to attend to.
-I saw two of them, but I am almost positive there are more from the way they spoke- The books text appeared and faded in a form Dino had grown accustomed to reading on the fly. The boy ran from the study, the fire places warm glow escaping from the room as the doors bashed against the walls behind him. He was on the second floor, rushing to the staircase that would lead blow where the tome had first seen the intruders. Under normal conditions Dino would not bother making such a fuss about adventurers or even thieves coming along as he held interest in anything here, but the fact that someone was searching this place made him uneasy, especially since Genbu had not alarmed him of people in the area. The tortoise had slept the day away and it was unlike him to slouch about. Furthermore there were wards set in place to protect against unwanted guests. Dino had learned to bypass these with a simple command, but he had a feeling these intruders had done so by other means.
Coming to the staircase he was just as shocked to see the two intruders as they were of him or at least it would seem, the moons glow being the only lighting available. “Evening mates, now mind if I ask what your business here might be?” He broke the silence but had a feeling these two were not as interested in small talk, what with one pulling a set of daggers from his side. “Oy, I guess a round of ale is out of the question then?” He sighed as the armed assailant came at him. He dodged the first strike, a combination straight punch for his face with the right arm, the blade used as an extension. Moving to his left was Dino’s only option as the attacker was already in the process of swinging his left arm at the boy’s belly. Each blade missed, his mantle defending against the strike at his torso while he could hear the wind breaking just past his ear from the first. “Little help here!” Dino shouted as the tome sprang into action, flying into to the man’s face a loud smack. Dino followed up with a kick to the outer knee bringing him down and a tightened fist to his opponent’s chest. There was no time to follow with his attack as the second intruder decided to join in on the brawl.
He was sent through a wall, taking a strong kick to the face before landing on his back covered in debris. “Much thanks on the assist.” One of the assailants said, he figured the one holding the blades. “Still looking for a round o’ ale mate?” The same voice said with a laugh Dino found a bit snobbish. He pushed a few pieces of wood off of his person and attempted to get up but was forced back down by powerful leg firmly set upon his chest. “Looks like you boy’s found something?” A feminine voice asked from the hallway. Coming out of his daze, Dino looked to see the first two attackers bathed in moonlight. On top of him stood a large man, somewhere over six feet though from this angle it was hard to tell, as for his features they were hidden under a black leather like mask though the substance seemed much thinner and formed quite well across his face, though not well enough to allow for detailed description, at least in this lighting. His outfit consisted of the same material it seemed, though his fore arms, shins and chest were exceptionally guarded by a thin plate of dark metal. The knife wielder was dressed similar to the first though his lower garments were more common wear and he bore not mask. His face was youthful, looking to be about the same age as Dino though his skin was much farer in tone. There were a few scars under his chin that looked as if they were fresh, and one across his right eye that one would guess reached further up his brow but would remain a mystery as long as he continued to wear the deep red headband that brought more attention to his lighter right hair.
“Put those things down Ollin before you hurt yourself.” The female voice scolded the unmasked one whose expression quickly shifted to that similar of a small child who had just been caught doing something they knew they had no business doing. “So what did you find this time Daruin?” He could hear the new addition to the group passing through the hole that he had created in the wall, obviously watching their step as they leaped around the broken wood. The name sounded awfully familiar. Dino began to lift his head up to look at this newcomer but the one he assumed to be Daruin applied more pressure to his chest keeping him pinned to the floor. “Hmm, he’s not as cute as the other one we found but maybe he knows where we can find what we are looking for.” The girl said, still out of sight. “Mom and the others are waiting outside with that turtle thing, so bring him out there. I’ll meet you once I’m done looking over things here.” The girl began to exit the room, but stopped momentarily before tossing something to Ollin. He caught it with one hand, returning both knives back to the sheaths on his thighs as he now held the Tome of Knowledge in his possession.
“Worthless piece of scrap.” Dino moaned under his breath as Daruin lifted his foot. In one fluid motion the man brought his leg back, foot rolling off Dino’s chest and flipping him off his back and with a simple kick launched the boy four feet off the ground. Even through the mantles plating, he could feel pressure being applied to numerous parts of his body while airborne before he was grabbed by the back of his collar and lifted onto Daruin’s shoulder. The will to break from his captures hold was present but the ability to do so was out of his reach. A surge of something he could not be sure of ran through his body in constant intervals, negating any attempt and controlling his own bodily functions. Whatever Daruin had done, it had effectively immobilized Dino, while severely impairing his senses. His ability to perceive his surroundings was also greatly altered, as within seconds it seemed they had exited the manor and was thrown next to a roaring lakeside fire.
To continue with ones future sometimes one must look to the past for answers. To begin on the path to ones future, one must first set in place a past.
Things had grown somewhat dull for the boy of seventeen. The last few years had been spent researching, a process that proved a lot less fruitful then he had hoped. Upon finding a simple text, he had increased upon his knowledge but lacked the ability to use it: as of yet. Still, knowledge alone would not be enough to continue traversing the world of Althanas, with its many dangers and perils. His only means of defense were what little he could do with increasing the output of his own body, a giant tortoise who acted as transport and body guard, and a whip formed of his own spirit through a crystal medium belonging to a set he had yet to unlock. His skill with the weapon was none existent. His overall combat ability was lacking to say the least. As for the tortoise, Genbu would not always be able to save his hide.
These were harsh times, and Dino had little to his name. His only belonging consisted of an annoying tome which usefulness did not keep the biologist from dreams of setting it ablaze. He was lucky enough to not take this course of action this night. The Tome of Knowledge as it had been renamed by Dino in its own disgust toward its former title was a quite reliable alarm system. While Dino slept quietly the Tome patrolled the manor in its boredom, doing whatever it was floating books did in their spare time, and happened to come across a number of intruders. It hurried back to the study, awaking Dino by slamming into the sleeping youth and informed him of the situation. As his luck would have it, a stick situation would of course arise his first night staying in this damned estate.
Calling the manor an eye sore could have been taken as a compliment. Long since forsaken by its original owner, it had become infested by all manner of pest years ago as a slightly deranged alchemist practiced his craft here. Many parts of the building had long since become dangerous to even explore much less occupy. The pest problem was not so much a burden as it had once been, though the rats were noticeably larger than they had once been, fewer creatures preyed upon them than in past years. It had been three years since Dino had last visited this place but it was hard to forget where you began your life’s work. For nearly a year this manor, though in slightly better condition, had been his home.
Things had remained as he left them for the most part, though the lake had broken through into the east wing. Dino became almost hysterical upon finding this as he had bugged his master about an indoor pool so he and Genbu could enjoy a light swim without worry of Gil’bron. His master would then smile at the thought of the boy and his then small pet being devoured, for minutes even, before replying with a stern no, and returning to his work. The man was a drunkard and a bit of an ass, but even he did not deserve the fate he received. A few blood stains still remained from the mess that he left behind.
History aside, Dino had more important matters to attend to.
-I saw two of them, but I am almost positive there are more from the way they spoke- The books text appeared and faded in a form Dino had grown accustomed to reading on the fly. The boy ran from the study, the fire places warm glow escaping from the room as the doors bashed against the walls behind him. He was on the second floor, rushing to the staircase that would lead blow where the tome had first seen the intruders. Under normal conditions Dino would not bother making such a fuss about adventurers or even thieves coming along as he held interest in anything here, but the fact that someone was searching this place made him uneasy, especially since Genbu had not alarmed him of people in the area. The tortoise had slept the day away and it was unlike him to slouch about. Furthermore there were wards set in place to protect against unwanted guests. Dino had learned to bypass these with a simple command, but he had a feeling these intruders had done so by other means.
Coming to the staircase he was just as shocked to see the two intruders as they were of him or at least it would seem, the moons glow being the only lighting available. “Evening mates, now mind if I ask what your business here might be?” He broke the silence but had a feeling these two were not as interested in small talk, what with one pulling a set of daggers from his side. “Oy, I guess a round of ale is out of the question then?” He sighed as the armed assailant came at him. He dodged the first strike, a combination straight punch for his face with the right arm, the blade used as an extension. Moving to his left was Dino’s only option as the attacker was already in the process of swinging his left arm at the boy’s belly. Each blade missed, his mantle defending against the strike at his torso while he could hear the wind breaking just past his ear from the first. “Little help here!” Dino shouted as the tome sprang into action, flying into to the man’s face a loud smack. Dino followed up with a kick to the outer knee bringing him down and a tightened fist to his opponent’s chest. There was no time to follow with his attack as the second intruder decided to join in on the brawl.
He was sent through a wall, taking a strong kick to the face before landing on his back covered in debris. “Much thanks on the assist.” One of the assailants said, he figured the one holding the blades. “Still looking for a round o’ ale mate?” The same voice said with a laugh Dino found a bit snobbish. He pushed a few pieces of wood off of his person and attempted to get up but was forced back down by powerful leg firmly set upon his chest. “Looks like you boy’s found something?” A feminine voice asked from the hallway. Coming out of his daze, Dino looked to see the first two attackers bathed in moonlight. On top of him stood a large man, somewhere over six feet though from this angle it was hard to tell, as for his features they were hidden under a black leather like mask though the substance seemed much thinner and formed quite well across his face, though not well enough to allow for detailed description, at least in this lighting. His outfit consisted of the same material it seemed, though his fore arms, shins and chest were exceptionally guarded by a thin plate of dark metal. The knife wielder was dressed similar to the first though his lower garments were more common wear and he bore not mask. His face was youthful, looking to be about the same age as Dino though his skin was much farer in tone. There were a few scars under his chin that looked as if they were fresh, and one across his right eye that one would guess reached further up his brow but would remain a mystery as long as he continued to wear the deep red headband that brought more attention to his lighter right hair.
“Put those things down Ollin before you hurt yourself.” The female voice scolded the unmasked one whose expression quickly shifted to that similar of a small child who had just been caught doing something they knew they had no business doing. “So what did you find this time Daruin?” He could hear the new addition to the group passing through the hole that he had created in the wall, obviously watching their step as they leaped around the broken wood. The name sounded awfully familiar. Dino began to lift his head up to look at this newcomer but the one he assumed to be Daruin applied more pressure to his chest keeping him pinned to the floor. “Hmm, he’s not as cute as the other one we found but maybe he knows where we can find what we are looking for.” The girl said, still out of sight. “Mom and the others are waiting outside with that turtle thing, so bring him out there. I’ll meet you once I’m done looking over things here.” The girl began to exit the room, but stopped momentarily before tossing something to Ollin. He caught it with one hand, returning both knives back to the sheaths on his thighs as he now held the Tome of Knowledge in his possession.
“Worthless piece of scrap.” Dino moaned under his breath as Daruin lifted his foot. In one fluid motion the man brought his leg back, foot rolling off Dino’s chest and flipping him off his back and with a simple kick launched the boy four feet off the ground. Even through the mantles plating, he could feel pressure being applied to numerous parts of his body while airborne before he was grabbed by the back of his collar and lifted onto Daruin’s shoulder. The will to break from his captures hold was present but the ability to do so was out of his reach. A surge of something he could not be sure of ran through his body in constant intervals, negating any attempt and controlling his own bodily functions. Whatever Daruin had done, it had effectively immobilized Dino, while severely impairing his senses. His ability to perceive his surroundings was also greatly altered, as within seconds it seemed they had exited the manor and was thrown next to a roaring lakeside fire.