The Onyx Warrior
Meet the Soldier
...It's snowing...
...It has been a while since I have watched snow fall...
...The perfect white flaks of ice, falling from the skies...
...The way that they just, Fall it is strange...
...Strange how something so beautiful, so perfect, is still so saddening...
...It somehow reminds me of my mother, even though I've never met her before...
Looking down to the ground from where I am, and where I am is in the side of this large pine tree. I'm fortunate I wasn't speared by a branch or a fallen tree. In this snowcapped forest I have been living in for the last twenty-odd years.
The how and reason for this is fairly strange, but before I tell you allow me to introduce myself. My name is Altman Weißenstein, thats All-T-man Why-shin-Stein. I was born on a farming village in Bavaria. The village itself was owned by the familily whom also owned much of the farming land in Bravaria then. The familily had a french name, Jaquez, and for most of the time I lived there, I served them.
But since this tree is becoming increasingly uncomfortable, it is time to pry myself from it. It's taking quite a bit of effort to get out of the hole I've made. After climbing out I thought it best to check for damage to my wardrobe, my black marschstiefel boots are fine if a bit more scuffed, gray wool pants with two thin blue seam stripes, nothing visible.
White cotton shirt under a blue waistcoat with dark onyx buttons and grey trim, waistcoat has a small scratch. And over that is my greatcoat, it is a dark gray, the cuffs are dark blue, and the buttons are onyx as well. The collar, I had extended, is black bear fur. Thankfully, there isn't any visible damage.
Now to the reason I was inside the tree, well thats a bit of an embarrassment. I was walking back to my cabin to finish my chores; feed the horses, empty the cooling tank, make and eat dinner, load casks onto cart, and finally rest up for the trip to town tomorrow.
But I was rudely attacked, by what I'm not sure, but what do know is that it is big, purple, and bolsterious. What I am embarrassed about is that I didn't notice it until it hit me, with a purple, double fist flail. If I where a normal human I would of likely died, but as it is I'm only half.
Mother was a Gem and Father a soldier, I learned of this from a friend of my father's. Later, after telling me of this. Hans, the friend, gave me my father's journal, it explains how his patrol found her and other Gems whom were injured and left behind from a Gem skirmish. And sometime after that I was born and they died.
I felt no sadness, only intrigue from learning my Gem heritage. I was fifteen at the time I could barely read it since my father nor I had a formal education. Soon after I had thought it best to make something of my life other than a servant.
I traveled to Munich, where I joined the Bavarian Army at sixteen, made Lieutenant at twenty-one and shorty after defected to Prussia, along with twenty men whom were in my Regiment. I made Captain in short time with my fellows by my side. At twenty-five I became a major and took command of the Konigsberg 4th Infantry regiment.
If you are confused about the way my life, that is most likely because I was born sometime around the 1780s. Oh yes, I'm quite old, but I am still springy for a man of my age. Unfortunately, I am not ageless, if I were to guess I look, and feel, to be about my mid-30s.
I can feel the vibrations in the ground from my attacker I'm guessing my new and very large friend is on its way to play some more.
Stretching until I felt the satisfying pops from my back, I believe that now is now a good time as any to describe myself dear listener.
I stand at around 2 meters and weigh about 84 kg. Messy black chin length hair that I opted to simply brush back inhabit my scalp. My skin is fair, if a bit on the dark side, like there something dark under my skin. I have a lean muscular build, so I can be fast if I to need be. I have a small pointed nose and a squared jaw dusted with a 5 o'clock shadow.
As for my eyes, well I have been told that they are my most striking features. My left eye is amber other than that, it is normal. But it is my right eye that catches most others attention, my eye is my Gem, it is a Black Onyx. Oh, I can see fine out of both eyes, but I tend to wear an eye-patch over my right. If I don't people tend to stare, past experiences have taught me that. I don't like to be stared at.
From the small quakes that are my soon-to-be opponent's footsteps, they're on the way. Since I wasn't expecting to be in a fight today I didn't bring my pistols with me, pity. And I believe the monstrously purple thing is likely a gem. Hopefully not a feral, I've only ever fought two feral and both almost lead to my demise.
I guess since it has proven to be hostile, along with the fact that it uses a weapons that twice my size, I'll have to bring out 'Mutter'. Like all Gems I too have a weapon, but I use it rarely. The first Gem I've seen in over forty years, and it trying to kill me, how unfair.
"And it was such a Beautiful day too. Well, guess it's time I get ready play with my large new friend." I spoke with a humorless smile. Focusing on my Gem I prepared for battle, summoning my weapon takes seven minutes and thirty-two seconds. "This is going to be a long day."
To be continued...