Quest: Honor's Glory
Author: Ryan (Huckster) Huckle
***Disclaimer***
Though this story may sound vary familiar to most gamers, I am not trying to rip off the Diablo series. I though must admit that I was inspired by their story to write my own. If any other bits of information seems familiar from other pieces of literature, I apologize for this, and wish not to offend people by mocking great authors.
When my peers reviewed my story, they including myself found it inevitable to accept the fact, that this story sounds very much like Diablo. So, now in this disclaimer I will say that this story will be within the same Diablo universe (but in a somewhat "parallel universe") and possibly the same timeline, but the characters are mine and have no relation to the characters in the game unless clarified in later chapters. Diablo and his brothers probably will not make apperances in the story.
Other than that, I own these characters, even if Cain was used by Blizzard. No other name was perfect for the main character in this story. Now enough talking, and lets get on to the story.
~Huckster~
Chapter 1: The Encounter
"Steady, Girl. Steady," Cain assured his horse, Fay. None the less, Cain couldn't blame his horse. The feeling would send any sane mortal home crying. The mutilated bodies of men, women and children laid dead on the ground. Crows were pecking hungrily at the decaying bodies. One crow flew off with an eyeball in its beak.
Cain gave thought of turning back, just pull on the reins and turn around, and ride home. If he rode straight until morning, he would make it home. But only his sense of honor and loyalty kept him going.
Half a year before, Cain's brother, Uther, was called as a knight to resolve a conflict in a settlement in the far east. Uther had sent regular messages home. Then all at once, the letters stopped coming. Weeks went by and yet, no response Then a pageboy delivered a letter to the family saying that on a routine patrol, a group of five men were attacked by assumed rouge bandits that lived in and around the surrounding forests. The whole group of soldiers disappeared. Each and every single knight called had disappeared. Vanished from the settlement without a trace.
Cain's father was too old and weak to search out Uther, so Cain was selected. Now, Cain was riding to a small village known as Sunwater.
Coming over a hill, Cain came to a horrible site. Five men were hanging from an old oak tree. Hands were binded behind their backs as their naked, decayed bodies swayed to and fro in the afternoon wind. Yanking back on his reins, Fay came to a stop as Cain dismounted, and ran to the side of the dirt path and vomited. After a moment or two, Cain returned to his horse. Searching through his saddle bag, he withdrew a mole skinned canteen. Taking a swig, he washed the acrid taste from his mouth. Glancing back at the bodies, Cain discovered his brothers body was not among the dead Returning the canteen, Cain remounted and continued on the path.
The open countryside gave way to lush forest cut in half by the road. A little way s up the road, a fresh path had begun. It seemed to head around the village. Pulling out his map, Cain studied the unfamiliar land. According to the map, on the north was the start of a canyon that stretched around to a large river. The river originates from a small mountain chain that goes around the whole of the west side, joining the canyon to the river. Lucky for Cain, he was around the mountains, coming up through the heavily forested part of the south.
"In came the warriors, one by one. Now that the demons have had their fun, the warriors are done!"
Cain's hand swiftly moved to his sword. "Show yourself or be gone," Cain called out into the forest, more bravely than he felt. Drawing his sword, Cain dismounted off his horse.
A boy of twelve swung down from a tree. "Now a new one is here to test his skill. But it's all the same, your blood is gunna spill."
"You have bold talk for a young boy," Cain said , as he lowered his sword, returning it back to its sheath.
"Go home. We don't want or need your help."
"It seems that your lies are taller than yourself," Cain stated.
"Heh. I've seen things that'll make you wet your tin can," the boy said.
A cluster of clouds began to cover the rising moon.
"Go back to where you came from," the boy said. "Before it is too late."
The nearest bushes to them rustled. Both Cain and the boy's head snapped to its direction.
"Looks like it is too late," Cain mumbled.
Two piercing, red eyes gleamed from the darkness of the bushes. Cain drew his sword from its sheath.
"You should have listened to the boy," a high pitched, demonic voice said. An evil cackling came from the bushes. Then a beast leapt from the shadows with startling speed.
Maybe the boy was right, Cain thought grimly.
A high pitched scream filled the night air as the beast flew at the boy. Putting one foot behind the other the boy braced himself as he pulled out a dagger from his belt.
"Come and get it you filthy demonic bastard," the boy yelled.
The beast landed on the boy, claws out, fangs bared. The boy toppled down under the weight of the beast. Cain stood there, not knowing what to do. Sword in hand, he watched in awe and in horror.
"Eric!" The beast screamed, "I'll gut ya' like your family."
Eric screamed in fury. Gripping the dagger with both hands, he thrusted it up into the belly of the beast. The beast howled in pain as green glowing blood oozed from the open wound. Eric lost grip of the dagger as the beast leapt off of him.
"Cut its head off!" Screamed Eric.
Adjusting his grip Cain charged the beast. Pulling the dagger from its stomach, the beast threw the dagger at Cain. Not having a shield, the dagger caught Cain in the left shoulder and stuck. Yelling in pain, Cain brought the sword down upon the beasts neck, severing it from its body. The artery in the neck continued to pump blood as the body fell limp.
Bending over the beast, Cain examined his fallen foe. Looking at its waist region, Cain noticed something odd. Cain lifted a belt from the beasts waist, and upon opening the pouches, Cain found several handfuls of gold, a jewel encrusted ring and amulet. Cain examined the ring carefully. Cain made a motion to put it on his index finger on his right hand.
"I wouldn't put those on if I were you," Eric stated.
"Why?"
"You don't know what they are or what they do. It could be full of dark magic or curses and poisons."
"Well, what do I do with them?"
"The only sensible thing to do. Take them to be identified by Marcus."
"How far is it to get to this Marcus?" Cain questioned sheathing his sword.
"Not far. But in your tin can, you better find your horse," Eric said laughing.
Following the tracks left by Fay, Cain found his horse in an open field, feeding on green grass beneath the pale crescent moon. Remounting his horse, Cain followed Eric northward.
* * *
Cain groaned in pain. His left shoulder was throbbing, still dripping blood over his chest plate.
"So, do you get many visitors to Sunwater?" Cain asked breaking the silence.
"We used to get many who would pass through, mostly merchants," Eric replied. "But, once they started to arrive, you rust pails came rushing in."
'RUST PAILS!' Cain thought, shifting uncomfortably under his armor plate. 'If only he had met my brother.'
"How much farther?" Cain snapped with a bit of a impatient tone in his voice.
"See the ridge. One more hill and were there," Eric responded.
"Good," Cain said between yawns. "Because suddenly I feel really ti..tired....."
Cain's eyes fell to the top of his cheek bones as he slid off his horse.
* * *
"Cain...Cain....Wake up, Cain!" a calm voice said.
Cain stirred feebly. His head felt woozy and his shoulder kept throbbing. Opening his eyes, he looked up. There in front of him, though it had to have been ten time larger, was a disemboweled head, floating in the air. But more shocking than the head was it was his brothers head.
"Uther?"
"Yes, Cain, it's me," the head said, its voice reverberated in the dark space. The only light was coming from Uther's head itself.
"Uther, we have missed you. Father sent me to get you," Cain said.
"Yes, but I fear I bear bad news. You must return home. It is too dangerous for you to be here."
"What do you mean?" Cain inquired.
"I must congratulate you on killing the beast. But he was simple minded and weak."
"But Uther, I was sent to bring you home!" Cain protested.
"Cain! I SAID, GO HOME!" Uther screamed.
A fire seemed to ignite within Uther's eyes. Then his face began to change. First, the head elongated, and turned a sickly reddish grey colour. Horns sprouted from his forehead, curling up wards. More continued to grow from his cheekbones, and jaw line. The skin began to look as if it had been burned and has rehealed. Then the eyes turned blood red, glowing in the now glowing darkness.
"Run while you can!" The head laughed.
Cain began to scream. The head came closer, the mouth opened, exposing the discoloured, uneven, jagged teeth. Fire flew out as the jaws of death closed over Cain's body.
***Author's Thoughts***
Well, how about that for the first chapter in my first fanfic. I will try to put more chapters up on the net A.S.A.P. So R/R, and tell me what you think.
~Huckster~
Author: Ryan (Huckster) Huckle
***Disclaimer***
Though this story may sound vary familiar to most gamers, I am not trying to rip off the Diablo series. I though must admit that I was inspired by their story to write my own. If any other bits of information seems familiar from other pieces of literature, I apologize for this, and wish not to offend people by mocking great authors.
When my peers reviewed my story, they including myself found it inevitable to accept the fact, that this story sounds very much like Diablo. So, now in this disclaimer I will say that this story will be within the same Diablo universe (but in a somewhat "parallel universe") and possibly the same timeline, but the characters are mine and have no relation to the characters in the game unless clarified in later chapters. Diablo and his brothers probably will not make apperances in the story.
Other than that, I own these characters, even if Cain was used by Blizzard. No other name was perfect for the main character in this story. Now enough talking, and lets get on to the story.
~Huckster~
Chapter 1: The Encounter
"Steady, Girl. Steady," Cain assured his horse, Fay. None the less, Cain couldn't blame his horse. The feeling would send any sane mortal home crying. The mutilated bodies of men, women and children laid dead on the ground. Crows were pecking hungrily at the decaying bodies. One crow flew off with an eyeball in its beak.
Cain gave thought of turning back, just pull on the reins and turn around, and ride home. If he rode straight until morning, he would make it home. But only his sense of honor and loyalty kept him going.
Half a year before, Cain's brother, Uther, was called as a knight to resolve a conflict in a settlement in the far east. Uther had sent regular messages home. Then all at once, the letters stopped coming. Weeks went by and yet, no response Then a pageboy delivered a letter to the family saying that on a routine patrol, a group of five men were attacked by assumed rouge bandits that lived in and around the surrounding forests. The whole group of soldiers disappeared. Each and every single knight called had disappeared. Vanished from the settlement without a trace.
Cain's father was too old and weak to search out Uther, so Cain was selected. Now, Cain was riding to a small village known as Sunwater.
Coming over a hill, Cain came to a horrible site. Five men were hanging from an old oak tree. Hands were binded behind their backs as their naked, decayed bodies swayed to and fro in the afternoon wind. Yanking back on his reins, Fay came to a stop as Cain dismounted, and ran to the side of the dirt path and vomited. After a moment or two, Cain returned to his horse. Searching through his saddle bag, he withdrew a mole skinned canteen. Taking a swig, he washed the acrid taste from his mouth. Glancing back at the bodies, Cain discovered his brothers body was not among the dead Returning the canteen, Cain remounted and continued on the path.
The open countryside gave way to lush forest cut in half by the road. A little way s up the road, a fresh path had begun. It seemed to head around the village. Pulling out his map, Cain studied the unfamiliar land. According to the map, on the north was the start of a canyon that stretched around to a large river. The river originates from a small mountain chain that goes around the whole of the west side, joining the canyon to the river. Lucky for Cain, he was around the mountains, coming up through the heavily forested part of the south.
"In came the warriors, one by one. Now that the demons have had their fun, the warriors are done!"
Cain's hand swiftly moved to his sword. "Show yourself or be gone," Cain called out into the forest, more bravely than he felt. Drawing his sword, Cain dismounted off his horse.
A boy of twelve swung down from a tree. "Now a new one is here to test his skill. But it's all the same, your blood is gunna spill."
"You have bold talk for a young boy," Cain said , as he lowered his sword, returning it back to its sheath.
"Go home. We don't want or need your help."
"It seems that your lies are taller than yourself," Cain stated.
"Heh. I've seen things that'll make you wet your tin can," the boy said.
A cluster of clouds began to cover the rising moon.
"Go back to where you came from," the boy said. "Before it is too late."
The nearest bushes to them rustled. Both Cain and the boy's head snapped to its direction.
"Looks like it is too late," Cain mumbled.
Two piercing, red eyes gleamed from the darkness of the bushes. Cain drew his sword from its sheath.
"You should have listened to the boy," a high pitched, demonic voice said. An evil cackling came from the bushes. Then a beast leapt from the shadows with startling speed.
Maybe the boy was right, Cain thought grimly.
A high pitched scream filled the night air as the beast flew at the boy. Putting one foot behind the other the boy braced himself as he pulled out a dagger from his belt.
"Come and get it you filthy demonic bastard," the boy yelled.
The beast landed on the boy, claws out, fangs bared. The boy toppled down under the weight of the beast. Cain stood there, not knowing what to do. Sword in hand, he watched in awe and in horror.
"Eric!" The beast screamed, "I'll gut ya' like your family."
Eric screamed in fury. Gripping the dagger with both hands, he thrusted it up into the belly of the beast. The beast howled in pain as green glowing blood oozed from the open wound. Eric lost grip of the dagger as the beast leapt off of him.
"Cut its head off!" Screamed Eric.
Adjusting his grip Cain charged the beast. Pulling the dagger from its stomach, the beast threw the dagger at Cain. Not having a shield, the dagger caught Cain in the left shoulder and stuck. Yelling in pain, Cain brought the sword down upon the beasts neck, severing it from its body. The artery in the neck continued to pump blood as the body fell limp.
Bending over the beast, Cain examined his fallen foe. Looking at its waist region, Cain noticed something odd. Cain lifted a belt from the beasts waist, and upon opening the pouches, Cain found several handfuls of gold, a jewel encrusted ring and amulet. Cain examined the ring carefully. Cain made a motion to put it on his index finger on his right hand.
"I wouldn't put those on if I were you," Eric stated.
"Why?"
"You don't know what they are or what they do. It could be full of dark magic or curses and poisons."
"Well, what do I do with them?"
"The only sensible thing to do. Take them to be identified by Marcus."
"How far is it to get to this Marcus?" Cain questioned sheathing his sword.
"Not far. But in your tin can, you better find your horse," Eric said laughing.
Following the tracks left by Fay, Cain found his horse in an open field, feeding on green grass beneath the pale crescent moon. Remounting his horse, Cain followed Eric northward.
* * *
Cain groaned in pain. His left shoulder was throbbing, still dripping blood over his chest plate.
"So, do you get many visitors to Sunwater?" Cain asked breaking the silence.
"We used to get many who would pass through, mostly merchants," Eric replied. "But, once they started to arrive, you rust pails came rushing in."
'RUST PAILS!' Cain thought, shifting uncomfortably under his armor plate. 'If only he had met my brother.'
"How much farther?" Cain snapped with a bit of a impatient tone in his voice.
"See the ridge. One more hill and were there," Eric responded.
"Good," Cain said between yawns. "Because suddenly I feel really ti..tired....."
Cain's eyes fell to the top of his cheek bones as he slid off his horse.
* * *
"Cain...Cain....Wake up, Cain!" a calm voice said.
Cain stirred feebly. His head felt woozy and his shoulder kept throbbing. Opening his eyes, he looked up. There in front of him, though it had to have been ten time larger, was a disemboweled head, floating in the air. But more shocking than the head was it was his brothers head.
"Uther?"
"Yes, Cain, it's me," the head said, its voice reverberated in the dark space. The only light was coming from Uther's head itself.
"Uther, we have missed you. Father sent me to get you," Cain said.
"Yes, but I fear I bear bad news. You must return home. It is too dangerous for you to be here."
"What do you mean?" Cain inquired.
"I must congratulate you on killing the beast. But he was simple minded and weak."
"But Uther, I was sent to bring you home!" Cain protested.
"Cain! I SAID, GO HOME!" Uther screamed.
A fire seemed to ignite within Uther's eyes. Then his face began to change. First, the head elongated, and turned a sickly reddish grey colour. Horns sprouted from his forehead, curling up wards. More continued to grow from his cheekbones, and jaw line. The skin began to look as if it had been burned and has rehealed. Then the eyes turned blood red, glowing in the now glowing darkness.
"Run while you can!" The head laughed.
Cain began to scream. The head came closer, the mouth opened, exposing the discoloured, uneven, jagged teeth. Fire flew out as the jaws of death closed over Cain's body.
***Author's Thoughts***
Well, how about that for the first chapter in my first fanfic. I will try to put more chapters up on the net A.S.A.P. So R/R, and tell me what you think.
~Huckster~
