This is a work of fiction using the world and mythos of the Path of Exile video game. I do not own these things.
Let me know if you like the story or any advice or criticism you may have. Thanks!
Varga lay sprawled among the ruins of what was once a small village. The signs of violence and horror were present in everything from the turned and scorched earth to the shattered remains of people and houses. His breath came hard as he tried to calm himself down, some measure of sanity returning to his features. His last memory was a shadow approaching him from behind, then a small street urchins scared face as he pierced through Phase Run's effect and picked up the would be thief. The child had struggled, he remembered that, but then it was all a haze. It wasn't too hard to guess the rest though. The stupid kid, or maybe one of his brethren, must have tried to use some other gem against him, the rage must have overtaken him and then he leveled the place. Varga had no space for guilt in his mind. It would have overwhelmed him if he allowed it in, so instead he bemoaned the poor judgement of the street children and heaved himself into a sitting position.
He had come here to track down the gems and stop their spread, looking around, he supposed that was unquestionably done. He would have to search the rubble for any gems that were not destroyed in the fighting and make sure they would not fall into the wrong hands. Who was giving them to children anyway? He would have to look out for any overly ambitious figures, it would not do to allow another Piety to rise.
Feeling himself calmed and more alert he rose to his feet. Briefly, he considered dusting himself off, but that would have been a fruitless endeavor. Instead he opened his aura and tried to feel for any gems in the area. There were several scattered close to him, and a powerful cache slightly north and possibly underground.
Varga let his aura guide him in cleaning up the gems nearby, careful to pick up even the slightest sliver he could find. The smaller slivers wouldn't be able to call forth any true powers, but they could still drive a man mad, and with o benefit. The world was cruel and unfair. Having cleaned up the battlefield, he assumed all the gem users in the city had come out to try and stop him, he headed in the direction of the hidden cache.
It took some searching but he found an entrance to what must have been the cellar of a house. Varga was not ready for the sight that greeted him as he went down the stairs. A small girl no more than 8 years old was passed out on the floor of the little cellar, an inlaid box open beside her.
The box held several gems each sparkling in his aura. It was clear some were missing, those must have been the ones the villagers had used against him. This girl had been witness to the gems power, she may have been infected by their madness. He snapped his fingers and an ethereal blade appeared hovering above his palm.
"Not again… not so soon, he sighed and let the blade disappear. He was in no state to murder again. He was mentally exhausted, he could not win a contest with his rage if it was unleashed again. She's only a child he thought to himself, She won't even remember these things. He placed the box of gems in his bag and made his way back to the surface.
Prologue complete, more to come!