Devil Horns and Darkened Daggers
Arkon Terria, the Center Plane. A world of magic and monsters, kings and beggars; a world forged by war and conflict with fleeting times of peace. This is our world, and as we come to learn more of it… We only discover how little we truly know. From the Forests of the East, to the Great Mountains of the North, the Dessert of the West and the Isle of the Southlands; each is a puzzle that must be unlocked. How do we manage to live between these vastly different domains? The forest and its elves, the dwarves and goliaths of the mountains, the dragon-born of the sand, and the orcs of the isle all converging here in the center of our little world. The main land as its called, vast with many kingdoms of man appearing with their grand castles and walls to protect their cities, but what of the enemies that lurk below and on other planes? The world and its kingdoms already torn with fighting and hate, how could the denizens of Arkon Terria prepare for the coming storm so many predict in the coming ages? Only time will tell...
"What a load of crap… Of course the crier would call this an arcane tome. He could probably barely understand the words, too big for him I bet. Not to mention this tale of prophecies and how we live through the areas of our plane," rumbled a deep voice. It was from a male, tall and slender, his eyes a deep crimson ringed with black around the pupils, long horns curled back on his head then pointed forward much like a demons, his skin a reddish hue and a long tail from the base of his spine came down with a sharpened tip like a spear, but not a spade. His features were trimmed and his chin had a sharpened look to it flecks of small stone like protrusions making a kind of beard on the being's face; he looked intelligent, a sort of look most teiflings would give, but of course few could actually own up to. The teifling male seemed be a wizard from his cloth garb, with runes etched into them, a small orb hovering around just above his horns as if ready to move at his command. "It was mildly entertaining at least, but for how much It cost me I might as well have asked a bard for a half-witted song!" The male growled again, walking onward. The people around him always gave him looks, both of confusion wonder and fear. His kind was not liked or trusted by many. Teiflings being the offspring of demons, devils, and those wishing to make a pact with them. So of course, a bit of prejudice followed him wherever he went.
"Oi! Horn boy what you doin' in our little town?" A human said from the alley, his features rough, a stubble to his face. His clothes torn and dirty, clearly either some kind of alley rat or simply a homeless drifter. "We don't need yer kind here, too many demons and devils cuasin us trouble. If yer smart you'll take yer business elsewhere and keep walkin, or do I need to run ya out meself!" He barked, his voice clearly of anger and slight stupidity.
"Oh really now, a common thug like you would wish to challenge a wizard… I'll let you off easy rat, scamper off I have no business with you and I don't feel like making a mess. By the way, it's not "horn boy" it's Azzarth." The teifling growled, glaring at the man; the orb around his head moving to his hand as if waiting to be flung or charged. He was glaring daggers, lowering his dark gaze onto the thug waiting.
"Well Azzy boy, I'm gunna carve you a new face for lookin down on me like you're an actual person," he said pulling an old dagger from his belt and running at Azzarth. Azzarth didn't even flinch, instead he tossed the orb; it was barely even a move but the orb leapt from his fingers with great force smashing into the man's face, blood and teeth falling from the impact. The man howling in pain as he rolled on the ground clutching his face, screaming about how much it hurt, his nose shattered and teeth missing the thick crimson staining the ground and his clothes.
"Do you wanna get away with whats left of your teeth little rat or do I need to break more then your teeth and nose?" Azzarth asked, standing over him the orb spinning above his fingers, starting to spin faster, as if eager to further induct pain into the simple man. The human looked up with terror now in his eyes, leaving his belt which had slipped off as he fell behind and darting off screaming in fear and pain. The on lookers had stopped to watch but quickly continued their own business. Azzarth smirked and knelt down taking the old knife and the belt mostly since it had a small coin pouch attached. "I guess my prize for winning," he smirked, leaving the leather belt on the ground, keeping the pouch and tying it next to his own, putting the knife away as well he continued to walk the streets. The kingdom he was in was of great stature but hit hard times as undead now plague its lands. Azzarth came hoping to win some gold and hone his skills but first he needed more coin and some work before he could start anything. Turning, he walked towards the market area, a loud bustling street near the entrance gate, the stone wall standing high with towers standing taller. Archers and soldiers walking their paths, both on the wall and in the streets keeping the peace best they could. The market looked like an unorganized chaotic mess, stands built in rows unevenly and people of all shapes, races and sizes running back and forth; vendors yelling for passersby's attention, even if for a moment, to attempt at selling their wares. "Ah, this must be what the Elemental Chaos truly looks like," Azzarth mused, smirking and walking into the ever moving crowd trying to find a job board and anyone selling some basic supplies.
Azzarth kept going through the cluttered crowd, hearing offers yelled over the masses as people wandered. Sighing some, he kept moving through till he found himself at an old blacksmith stand. The one manning it was an old dwarf, his beard white and braided, his face wrinkled with a scar over his left eye, but without damaging it, and his hands looked calloused and slightly burned, clearly from having worked the forge for many years. "Ah you look tough enough… How'd you like to earn a few coins for helping an old man out?" The dwarf said, his voice scratchy but booming, catching Azzarth off guard. It wasn't often a dwarf would offer coin, let alone be so pleasant to others they had just met.
"I was trying to make my way to the job board but sure," Azzarth said, stopping to smile at him and wait, trying his best to appear friendly.
"Good to hear… I need ore to make weapons and armor and no trader here is gunna give me a good deal like they used to, always asking for favors from the old smith… I'm a man not a miracle worker… Anyway, I need you to follow this map to the mines; bring as much as you can carry back and I'll pay you for the amount and quality you bring me. Ya got it?" the old dwarf asked, pulling a map out and a worn pickaxe as well, setting them on the table towards Azzarth.
Azzarth inspected the map curiously for a moment nodding. "Sure. But you better make it worth my while!" He said, not wanting to do all this work just to be ripped off by some old codger.
"Don't get your tunic in a knot, I'll pay you well once the jobs done. Here's your tools right here, and some packed food, and tent for when your there. I'll be at my forge in town, you can't miss it down in the working sector." The old dwarf said putting a bag on the table with the extra supplies. Azzarth took them and they shook hands striking the deal of working for wages.
"With this I'll be off, don't die before I get paid!" He said jokingly, letting out a deep laugh.
The dwarf smiling and chuckled, "You'd better not die with my bag and pick either! They're worth more than you and more useful to!" He said, going back to working his stand. Azzarth smiled as he left, enjoying talking to someone that actually had their wits about them and not just some raving town rat. With his bag on his back, his map in hand and the pickaxe at his hip, he was ready to leave through those large stone gates he had only met moments ago. It seemed he was going to be getting very well acquainted with those gates.
Hello everyone this is my first story posted here on fanfiction i hope you all enjoyed the first chapter more will come soon enough dont you worry.
I owe a big thanks to my alpha reader Hollowg1rl for checking any mistakes i may have made during writing. Be sure to go send her some love by reading her story lillies to pomegranates. It is a harry potter fic but its really good (and i dont like harry potter that much) anyway see ya next time i post