March Vignette

[Tyr]

Welcome to the March Vignette!


Prompt

Your character encounters an old assumption in a new light, and then must work through this inner contradiction to either redefine their assumption or reaffirm it.


Vignette Close Date

March 31st, 2022 at midnight EST


Rules

1. One submission per character.

2. All entries have to be within the declared period. Editing your post and completely changing your submission is okay as long as all the edits occur before midnight EST on the closing day.

3. The moderator judging the monthly vignette contest may post a vignette at the end, but will not be eligible for first or second place.

4. Only on-topic vignettes are liable for rewards. The topics are broad enough that no character should be particularly limited.

5. PCs must be involved in all vignettes. How "canonical" you choose to have the events of the vignette is up to you.

6. All participants receive EXP. The top two finishers also receive GP. (Clarification: this excludes off-topic submissions, as per Rule 4).

7. Entries are assessed on the following merits:

Use of topic: Did the writer use the topic, or write something completely random and off topic?

Creativity: Did the writer make something unique out of the topic or was it more cliche?

Mechanics: Basic writing mechanics: spelling, grammar, punctuation, word usage, etc.

Notes: Additional comments.

[Umbra]

The chilled night had nothing to do with the icy cold shiver that ran down Umbra’s spine. A grim resolve swelled like a tepid maelstrom that threatened to waver at any given moment as the mercenary beheld the monster clamouring towards them.

Slowly shifting from one foot to the other in an uneasy gait and a fanged grin, the once familiar face stared at the lone warrior with an intensity of a crazed zealot. It was a face that belonged to a now dead person, or rather a person that had faced death twice as far as Umbra knew of.

“We meet again, my little armoured foe.” The man, the vampire, Claude hissed with a savage glee, no doubt he had been searching for the one that had slain him for quite some time, perhaps since before Umbra journeyed to Alerar.

Umbra had assumed correctly that the man they once knew as Claude had died, cut down with his corpse reduced to naught but ash that had been carried off into the wind. An assumption proven wrong?

Umbra regarded the shambling corpse and wondered what other dark monstrosities lurked within the deep dark shadows of Radasanth. Steadily Umbra drew their warped iron sword with a sense of unease washing over them as they regarded the monster.

Was this possible? Had a vampire like Claude found a way to stave off death not once but twice. Sure, probably, maybe? The world was vast and teeming with unknown discoveries that lay hidden in every corner of the world. Who was to say that Claude had not found one such mystery in all his undead years.

Then again…

Umbra examined their foe earnestly, watching their unsteady gait and watched how it’s face twisted into an insane and impossible degree. Umbra watched it for several seconds more before closing their eyes and listened, thought and felt the world around them as the darkness began to close in almost oppressively.

With a deep calming breath, the mercenary sheathed their sword and proceeded to walk forwards mindful as the demented creature that barred their path. Claude screeched in delight, their nails extending into wicked talons before they assailed Umbra with a ghastly inhuman shriek that ultimately did nothing.

Umbra stepped through the apparition and paid no heed as Claude’s warped form faded once more into dust. Umbra sighed, feeling naught but pity at their once childhood friend.

There could have been a way that Claude may have cheated death, possibly, but Umbra had known the type of person Claude had once been, ambitious yet slothful and lazy. Claude would never have unearthed such a miracle on his own.

Better still, who was sending Illusions Umbra’s way, Remnants of the Higanbana perhaps?