Alrighty, this is all coming out on practically a whim. Been toying around with the idea of posting a few short stories up, at the very least just for some enjoyment. This is going to be loosely based off of the game Guild Wars, with more of the spirit of the game being instilled in it than the more technical aspects. Now don't get me wrong, if you keep your eyes open, you'll definitely spot the references, but that's about it. All the more reason for non-Guild Warriors to still understand and enjoy the story. I currently am unsure of what continent to have this all take place in, but I'll go into specifics when needed.
This will also be a story of OCs. Guild Wars, while having a solid story, stuck most of NPCs in the backseat and let you be the star in the cutscenes. Familiar faces and races will pop up of course, but that'll all come up when it comes up.
All in all, I hope you enjoy this little experiment in insanity on my part. Oh, and of course, aside from the original character concepts and ideas, I own absolutely jack-squat of the Guild Wars franchise. Though I may invest in some of their stocks now that I think about it...
Stepping out of the gloom, a massive giant stood before them. Easily three times the height of any normal man, it wielded a petrified tree trunk in one hand as if it were no more than a simple cudgel. It batted it lightly against an up-turned palm, as if asking the intruders to give him a reason.
"So Lise, Wallace, any bright ideas?" asked a young, shaved head monk to his companions, conjuring a protection glyph reflexively. He wore flowing cloth pants dyed in a deep red, a simple pair of sandals, and bore a large and intricate tattoo design which completely covered his upper torso. While lacking any formal armor as his allies wore, his tattoos were imbued with divine protection, designed to ward and deflect any harmful blows from reaching him.
A slightly older woman, covered in leather and hides of creatures and animals personally defeated, pulled back on her bowstring, nocking an arrow and setting her sights high. The bow, made out of a single drake bone, creaked at the stress. Even after alchemical treatments and runes of reinforcement, the weapon still gave way to the ranger's strength.
"Well Tion, I say we bugger it up, make sure it can't harass any others who decide they want to pass," the archer suggested to the monk, a cocky grin covering her face.
"Bad idea Lise," spoke out a man encased in steel. The man stood from head to toe in hand-forged plate mail, crafted by his family of smiths several generations long. Thicker than any average warrior could pierce, the armor none the less showed wear. Each dent and scratch though, was to be considered a mark of retribution. Every blow nullified had saved the bearer from grave injury and certain death. Those who had dealt such marks against it surely do not live to this day.
"We're separated from everyone else as it is," the dreadnought stated. "We can't engage. Not with only the three of us and no idea where we are."
The giant ahead of them began to look impatient. It may have been only used as a deterrent, but with a fight so close at hand, even it could barely contain itself.
Before the either side could make a final move, a crack of thunder paired with a flash of lightning blasted out from the shadows of a nearby portcullis, smashing into the backside of the giant. The large creature stumbled forward in a cloud of smoke, clumsily turning about to see what had attacked it.
From behind the giant, a shadow jumped out of the smoke; as it came into clear view, it revealed itself to be a wiry man. Wearing leather armor much as a second skin, he was adorned with many assorted blades, each differing in shape and size. Quickly performing a short set of hand seals, he drew a pair of serrated daggers, the cold steel crackling with unbridled energy.
"You three, quickly, through the gate! Your friends await for you on the far side of the chasm," the nameless rescuer yelled out, preparing one last spell.
Wallace, still surprised by this man's sudden appearance, called back, "We all should…"
"No!" the man yelled back, cutting Wallace off. "Go now, while you have the chance." Not waiting for any sort of reply, he immediately leapt onto the giant, which had just gotten its wits about it.
"Well, let's not just ignore the man Wallace," Tion called back, him and Lise already running ahead, "Let's get a move on!"
Not too particularly happy about the situation, Wallace sprinted forward to catch up to the others. The last thing any of the three saw of the nameless warrior was his daggers in a blur of flashing steel and arcs of electricity coupled with the giant's cries of pain and anger.
A few moments passed, and the din of the deadly duel long behind them, the three travelers slowed their pace to a walk.
"So any idea who the nutjob was back there?" Lise inquired to the other two, her hands resting casually behind her head. Wallace gave no acknowledgement while Tion simply shrugged.
"You really have got me on that one," Tion began, "but whoever he is, he must be either very brave, or borderline insane."
"Or more appropriately, brave AND insane," Wallace said, clearing the way of some spider webs. He silently hoped they would not have to meet the webs owner, fearing that they would have the size to match their homes.
Nearly a half-hour later, still advancing forward through the cave network they traveled, the three pushed onward, continuing their search for their friends.
"Jeez, I've always hated caverns like these," Tion remarked off-handedly as he lead the way. Wallace in the rear only grunted his agreement as Lise cocked her head to the side in curiosity.
"Really?" she began, "I would've figured the musty halls of your monastery would be a close match for a place such as this."
"Yeah right Lise," Tion snorted his distaste, "the monastery may be old, but it's at least kept in good use and cleaned daily. Though I do imagine it could get this way if left…" The young monk began as he rounded a corner, somewhat lost in thought of home.
Distracted by his own memories, Tion managed to walk his way right into a truly massive spider web. Caught instantly, he reactively flinched, causing himself be become even more entangled in the translucent trap, losing his footing in the process and become suspended in mid-air. Following shortly behind, the other two warriors had to take a moment to stop and gawk at their friend. Lise could only barely contain her laughter as Wallace managed only a simple sigh.
"Alright you two," let out a disgruntled Tion. "Enough laughing at me and get me down." The archer was practically incapacitated at this point trying to maintain relative silence, leaving the steel bulwark to cut his friend loose.
"And you wonder why we don't like you leading?" Wallace mused out loud.
Their way forward was relatively uneventful from there. Aside from Tion experiencing a few complications with the giant webbings and what little hair he had on his head, along with Wallace making a small slip down a stairwell, was all just a prelude to the small band's entrance into the main hub of the cavern they explored.
The clearing they had entered was enormous. Stretching upwards for at least a hundred yards, the floor ahead was broken neatly in half by an impossibly deep chasm. Nearly fifty yards wide, the chasm continued on far into the darkness, leading to who knows where.
"So, we're here," Lise began bemused, "but where's everybody else?"
A sharp whistle came from across the chasm. Straining their eyes, they were greeted by the sight of a long, natural stone bridge, along with a familiar face merrily waving over to them.
"So nice of you all to join us," the young woman yelled over, a wide grin spread across her face. "Everyone else is around on the far side waiting for you guys!"
Taking care across the ancient bridge, Wallace especially, the trio met up with a red haired beauty who wore a striking silk dress adorned with flame motifs and wielded a long staff with a captive flame at one end.
"So Angela, I take it you're the rearguard?" Tion asked with a smile, giving the lovely lady a warm embrace.
"Hey, easy there Tion," Angela replied, slightly flustered, "It hasn't been that long that you guys got separated has it?"
"Tch, been long enough for the two of you to get all lovey-dovey," Lise pointed out. Angela replied by simply sticking her tongue out at the archer.
Moving up to the rest of them, Wallace cleared his throat, "So, if it isn't too much trouble, can we get a move on and meet up with everyone else? Kinda want to get back outdoors sooner rather than later." Everyone nodded their agreement, as the fire mage lead the way to the rest of their comrades.
After a short fifteen minute walk, the four came across a large stairway carved into the stone. Around the base, stood roughly two dozen warriors, no two looking quite the same. From the center of them, a short and stocky weathered old man in robes approached, holding out his arms to welcome the stragglers back.
"We've been waiting for a time for the three of you," the older man began, "Some of us were beginning to get afraid that you ran into trouble."
"We did run into some trouble Tolin," Wallace greeted the other man, gripping his hand in a sturdy shake, "But some brave man came and distracted it." Tolin looked slightly puzzled as Lise scoffed.
"A crazy is more like it," she said matter of factly. The weathered sage nodded his understanding. Before Tolin was able to elaborate, a figure walked out of the shadows of the dark.
"I take it that I would be that crazy?" the man from before asked, devoid of any scratches, scuffs, or other signs that he had been recently in a fight. The trio that had been rescued by him, along with Angela and Tolin, turned to greet him proper.
"This here is Arkis," Tolin began to explain, "He's on…loan, from the Guild of Shadows." Tion and Angela looked a mix between surprised and impressed. Wallace nodded his acceptance. Lise looked like she had just been slapped in the face.
"From the Guild of Shadows?" the archer began dumbfounded, "that bastard is from those sons of…"
"While I would love to hear you bash my employers," Arkis began quickly, cutting Lise off, "but we really should get moving. It shouldn't be long before company arrives." The other four who had just returned looked at him confused. The assassin rescuer simply sighed.
"One giant is easy enough of a target to distract and eliminate," he explained. "A whole tribe on the other hand? Not even the greatest of warriors could walk away from that fight unscathed."
As if on cue, war drums echoed through the chasm and flickering light from torches came into view.
Simply dusting his hands off, Arkis approached the stairway leading to the outside, "Well, time to go."
Guild Wars Corner: The after notes
Tion, Lise and Wallace: A Monk (healer), Ranger (ranged support), and Warrior (melee tank) respectively. Nothing else much needed for elaboration there methinks.
Arkis: An Assassin (melee damage) who has some training in Air (lightning and wind based) Elementalist skills.
Angela: A Fire Elementalist (ranged damage). Again, kinda universal.
Tolin: The Guild leader. Nothing much else on him at the moment.