Rayne of Fire
08-01-06, 10:34 AM
[ This one would be closed to Jolie Fairchild. ]
On the streets of Radasanth, on this particular cloudless night, it so happened that one Rayne Illiarus Lunitari strolled leisurely along the walks, lost in his contemplations. Though it had been a few months since his escape from the torment of Haidia, the outside world still didn't quite seem real. It was as if a veil hung over everything, a veil of ash and shadow that blocked out the truth of the cobbles and bricks that made up the world he now lived in. More than a little disconcerting this was, but in the end he was sure it would pass. Eventually that feeling that it was all a dream he was having from inside some cage in the depths of Haidia would disappear and he could once more appreciate the beauty of Althanas.
However it would not be this night. Nor would he find much in the way of peace this night, for it was then that his ruminations were interrupted by the scream of a girl not far away. His head immediately snapped to attention and blue eyes that were now icy and hard scanned the area. An alley just ahead seemed the most likely source. Drawing his gunblade, the Knight stepped forward swiftly and had his suspicions confirmed. Down the alley in the darkness were three rather brigandine looking men who were obviously accosting a young woman. Whether it was simply for her coinpurse or something more precious was not as obvious, not that it mattered. The girl was obviously in trouble and that was reason enough to help.
Giving the cutthroats not even the warning of a battle cry he charged down the alley at them, swinging his gunblade at the torso of the first one, catching him hard with the flat of the blade in the ribs. A loud cracking of bone echoed, but Rayne payed it no mind and simply moved on to the next one. A shot with the flat of the blade to the temple put this one of of commission as well. It would be the third that would give him trouble, for this third ruffian had had the time necessary to produce his weapon - an ugly looking scimitar.
Taking a high guard with his gunblade immediately, he swung out hard. The bandit blocked, but not well enough to stop Rayne. Instead his opponent's blade went skittering across the cobbles and he found himself face to face with the tip of the gunblade. The groans of his compatriots echoed in the narrow alley and Rayne cocked his head to the side questioningly, "Is this girl's purse worth my weapon finding a new home inside your body?"
The man's footsteps quickly carried on down the alley, and Rayne could hear some vague threat about Arnius Sarennica taking care of his men. When would the scum of this planet learn that threatening Rayne Lunitari would not scare him away. Sighing, he accepted the frantic thanks of the girl graciously, and the chaste kiss she insisted on placing on his cheek, though refused her monetary reward offering. A Knight needed no such reward.
Rayne simply continued on into the night, ending his ruminations as he found a suitable inn. It was decided... he would go back to the place he had avoided like the pox since he'd come to Althanas... the crash site.
************************************************** ******************
Rayne stared at the hulk that had once been capable of interstellar flight, now nothing more than a twisted pile of vine-covered metal and glass. It was not what he expected at all. Having expected it to be a heartwrenching and perhaps crushing experience to see what was left of his only possible exit from this world trashed and battered, the warrior was a bit surprised that he did not feel much at all. But it did indeed bring the sense of closure that he'd been seeking.
It had taken him nearly a week to return to this place, due in part to the making of his preparations and due otherwise to his body's seeming lack of want to arrive. Arrive he had though, forcing his way through the underbrush and branches to find once more the longrange tactical starfighter that had carried him in a rain of fire and metal to the crater that still surrounded the small ship.
Stepping up next to the downed craft, he sighed and shook his head. Another reminder of what he had at last come to realize. Althanas was his home now... whether for better or for worse was yet to be seen.
On the streets of Radasanth, on this particular cloudless night, it so happened that one Rayne Illiarus Lunitari strolled leisurely along the walks, lost in his contemplations. Though it had been a few months since his escape from the torment of Haidia, the outside world still didn't quite seem real. It was as if a veil hung over everything, a veil of ash and shadow that blocked out the truth of the cobbles and bricks that made up the world he now lived in. More than a little disconcerting this was, but in the end he was sure it would pass. Eventually that feeling that it was all a dream he was having from inside some cage in the depths of Haidia would disappear and he could once more appreciate the beauty of Althanas.
However it would not be this night. Nor would he find much in the way of peace this night, for it was then that his ruminations were interrupted by the scream of a girl not far away. His head immediately snapped to attention and blue eyes that were now icy and hard scanned the area. An alley just ahead seemed the most likely source. Drawing his gunblade, the Knight stepped forward swiftly and had his suspicions confirmed. Down the alley in the darkness were three rather brigandine looking men who were obviously accosting a young woman. Whether it was simply for her coinpurse or something more precious was not as obvious, not that it mattered. The girl was obviously in trouble and that was reason enough to help.
Giving the cutthroats not even the warning of a battle cry he charged down the alley at them, swinging his gunblade at the torso of the first one, catching him hard with the flat of the blade in the ribs. A loud cracking of bone echoed, but Rayne payed it no mind and simply moved on to the next one. A shot with the flat of the blade to the temple put this one of of commission as well. It would be the third that would give him trouble, for this third ruffian had had the time necessary to produce his weapon - an ugly looking scimitar.
Taking a high guard with his gunblade immediately, he swung out hard. The bandit blocked, but not well enough to stop Rayne. Instead his opponent's blade went skittering across the cobbles and he found himself face to face with the tip of the gunblade. The groans of his compatriots echoed in the narrow alley and Rayne cocked his head to the side questioningly, "Is this girl's purse worth my weapon finding a new home inside your body?"
The man's footsteps quickly carried on down the alley, and Rayne could hear some vague threat about Arnius Sarennica taking care of his men. When would the scum of this planet learn that threatening Rayne Lunitari would not scare him away. Sighing, he accepted the frantic thanks of the girl graciously, and the chaste kiss she insisted on placing on his cheek, though refused her monetary reward offering. A Knight needed no such reward.
Rayne simply continued on into the night, ending his ruminations as he found a suitable inn. It was decided... he would go back to the place he had avoided like the pox since he'd come to Althanas... the crash site.
************************************************** ******************
Rayne stared at the hulk that had once been capable of interstellar flight, now nothing more than a twisted pile of vine-covered metal and glass. It was not what he expected at all. Having expected it to be a heartwrenching and perhaps crushing experience to see what was left of his only possible exit from this world trashed and battered, the warrior was a bit surprised that he did not feel much at all. But it did indeed bring the sense of closure that he'd been seeking.
It had taken him nearly a week to return to this place, due in part to the making of his preparations and due otherwise to his body's seeming lack of want to arrive. Arrive he had though, forcing his way through the underbrush and branches to find once more the longrange tactical starfighter that had carried him in a rain of fire and metal to the crater that still surrounded the small ship.
Stepping up next to the downed craft, he sighed and shook his head. Another reminder of what he had at last come to realize. Althanas was his home now... whether for better or for worse was yet to be seen.