Here is the first chapter of my new story. I recently got back into playing Diablo 3 and thought what a great story it would make in written form. I really hope you all like it and I will be back with the second chapter hopefully soon.
Magic surrounded this town known as New Tristram. Not any sort of magic Li-Ming has ever felt before. This was new, unfamiliar magic. Like when you look upon a new dish that you've never seen or heard of before and you smell it curiously to try and determine if you think you'll like it, it was like that. Only Li-Ming was positive she didn't like the magic she was feeling. It had no form, nothing to trace it, it was just there. But, there was something to this magic. There was a feeling. An emotion to it. Was it vengeance, anger? She couldn't tell at the moment, but none of what the young wizard was feeling had anything that she would call pleasant.
Now that she thought about it, nothing about these past few months classified as pleasant. With everything that had happened back at the Yshari Sanctum that, if anything, reinforced her decision to leave after the star fell from the sky, she hadn't known pleasant for a while now. Some part of her missed it too. She missed her room and her books. She missed the expansive library that had volumes after volumes of texts she still wanted to read, but another part of her was excited about all of this. She was eager to adventure out and prove herself to her former masters who had doubted her every step of the way. She was also eager to go out and prove to the world that magic can be used to help the many people of Sanctuary. To show that wizards were not the bad omens that everyone believed them to be, and above all else; she was more than eager to go out and fulfill her destiny that she had read about and had looked forward too since she first laid eyes on the prophecy.
A foul stench filled her nose with every breath. "This place reeks of the dead." Li-Ming said out loud to no one but herself. She didn't like that smell. It brought back the bad memories of Lut Bahadur. The images of the perfectly frozen, lifeless bodies of that village still haunted her, and worst of all; she could remember as clear as day when she found the body of her teacher and dearest friend, Isendra, lying dead on the floor in the house where they had found her. To this day Li-Ming still blamed herself for what had happened and, if ever given the chance she would try with every inch of her being to save her friends life.
"The fallen star must be near." She said just before she heard people screaming in the distance. She ran down the trail following the direction of the screaming. Her long elaborately made robes flowing behind her. She began to make out the shape of wagon that had be tilted over on its side, a wheel had fallen off the back end, and luggage was splayed all over the place. Li-Ming stopped in her tracks when she saw the people who owned the cart were being eaten alive by the undead.
Li-Ming cringed as she heard the sounds of ripping flesh and breaking bones as the zombies ate the bodies of their victims like wild animals. One of them looked up at her and Li-Ming never saw anything more repulsive in her life. The zombie had half of its face missing with one eye gone. A large hole was in the center of its face where its nose used to be. Its skin was a sickly, pale, grayish, green color like its body had been robbed of air for decades. The zombie got up on its feet, the others following suit and stumbled towards her in a mindless, clumsy manner. Li-Ming felt heat rise up her arms as she formed fire into existence in her palms. The zombies were mere inches from her. They reached out with gangly hands, red with thick, dripping blood. The zombie leading the pack rushed forward as he got close and Li-Ming instantly raised her hands, shooting a beam of fire into the pack.
A new, fouler, stench loomed over her as the zombies burned. Li-Ming stepped back as the zombies continued their march towards her, the fire doing little to slow them down until they finally started dropping on the ground in smoldering, malodorous heaps. "Foul creatures!" She hissed as she rested herself, looking over her handy work. She personally never faced the undead before, but she suspected one day she would after reading countless books on them or reading mentioning's about them in others. She walked past the burnt, rotting corpses, holding her breath so she wouldn't have to inhale their stink. She stopped to observe the bodies they were eating and saw there was nothing left but mangled bodies of flesh and organs spewed about. She could feel the slick thickness of their blood underneath her boots. "I'm sorry I couldn't save you." She said to the bodies with sorrow and regret. "Please forgive me." She lifted her hand and set the bodies ablaze to keep them from turning into the undead as well, and walked on towards New Tristam.
After walking for about an hour, New Tristram could be seen below the trail she was walking. She couldn't get a good look at the town save for lit lanterns that hung on every building that shined past the fog. In the distance Li-Ming heard the sounds of battle taking place. She looked the town over once more. "I better hurry this time." She said running towards the fighting, hoping that she could get there in time.
"Captian Rumford, the undead are over whelming us!" One of the town guards shouted, panting from exhaustion caused by the constant fighting.
"Just keep holding them off! We can do it men!"
The undead were walking towards them in mindless hunger. They didn't have an end, they just kept coming no matter how many they killed. Their bodies littered the outside of the front gate. The ground was coated in blood and body parts that was a mix of Rumford's men's and the undead's. Rumford didn't know how much longer they would be able to hold up. They were all tired and wanted to rest but the undead never rested, they were a like a plague that would consume everything if given the opportunity.
The men were preparing themselves for the next battle as the undead drew near when all of sudden a young woman dressed in a long, lavish, purple and white robe jumped in front of them, swiping her arm horizontally across the undead. A streak of purple light, following the path her hand made, shot towards the undead and cut some of them in half. She followed up by charging an orb of arcane energy with both hands and threw it into the mass of the horde of zombies, exploding as it made contact. By now only a few were left standing and the city guards watched in awe at woman who made this look easy.
"WATCH OUT!" Captian Rumford shouted.
Li-Ming looked down and saw some of the severed torsos of the zombies were at her feet. One of them grabbed her ankle and she quickly shot a pulse of electricity through the ground electrocuting the remains of these undead. She turned her attention to the remaining undead that still stood and began firing arcane missiles at each one like they were easy pickings. Each time one of her missiles connected with the undead, they exploded into a mess of gore. One of the guards freaked out when one the undead's intestines landed on his head. Li-Ming made quick work of them and stopped her relentless attack when the last of the undead was dealt with.
Looking down at her hands, Li-Ming saw that they were trembling from the rush she got from the fight. It wasn't much of a battle since the undead were not sophisticated enough to know how to defend themselves but she got a thrill out of it none the less. She took a deep breath to calm herself. None of the guards could think of anything to say and stood there dumbfounded.
"Prophecy sent me in search of the star that fell on this land." Li-Ming said to Captain Rumford. "Do you know where it is?"
The captain said nothing, he stared at the young lady who looked like she hadn't seen more than twenty winters and yet she made fighting the undead look like child's play. He shook his head and blinked to bring himself back and said, "I'm sorry, but who are you?"
Rumford had never seen this girl before. She looked far too exotic to be from here. She was tall and had long black hair that was held into a ponytail. Her robes were reached passed her knees and down to her ankles. Her armor underneath looked almost like a corset made of white and black leather with cloth of the same colors making up a thin external lair.
"My name is Li-Ming. You may do well to remember it." She said arrogantly, holding out her hand to Captain Rumford.
"Li-Ming." Rumford echoed, grabbing her hand and shaking it. "I am Captain Rumford."
"Pleasure." She responded.
"Why do you wish to find the fallen star?"
"Prophecy beckons me. That star is the beginning, I must find it."
Rumford looked at his men who did nothing but shrug their shoulders. He didn't know what he thought of this woman. She was obviously a mage. He had never met one before but, from what he has heard they were not to be trusted. Word was that magic users only brought misfortune with them everywhere they went, but after she had helped them the way she did, he didn't see it. He would trust her for now.
"It fell on the old cathedral, there was only one survivor - Leah. You should speak with her. You can find her at the Slaughtered Calf inn."
"Much obliged, Captain. Thank you."
"Guards, open the gates!" Rumford yelled.
Loud creaking sounds erupted when the gates opened, revealing the town behind it. Li-Ming stepped through and was faced with the gruesome image of a large cart that was almost over flowing with dead bodies. "Burn those corpses before they rise again!" One of the town guards shouted. Li-Ming noticed there was only one other guard who had the unfortunate task of pulling the dead out of the cart and throwing them into a large fire filled with burning corpses. She could see this man was tired. He walked lazily like he was missing sleep and slowly pulled bodies from the cart like each tug was a great burden.
"Excuse me!" Li-Ming said to the guard giving orders. He turned to face her and she said, "Why don't you give that poor man a rest. Can't you see that he's tired?"
"Ma'am in case it has escaped you, the dead have been a bane on our existence since that cursed fire fell. We have to burn them just to make sure they don't wise from the grave." Li-Ming looked at the man with contempt and scoffed before walking away.
As she made her way, there were town's people running back and forth and some talking among themselves. A local preacher was standing with his arms raised shouting nonsense, no one paid him any mind. She saw two men talking to each other by a well, she went to them and asked, "Excuse me! Can you direct me to the Slaughtered Calf inn?"
"Yes, it's just down the street, it's the big building with the sign and postage box in front of it." The man on the left pointed.
"Thank you very much." Li-Ming said politely and headed the way they pointed.
It wasn't hard to miss. It was exactly as the man described. It was a fairly big building, two stories, and it had a postage box on the left side of it. She went inside and wasn't expecting it to be so crowded. There were wounded lying in a row next to the wall, and those who can still stand were being treated with blankets and a meal.
"May I help you?" One of the waitresses asked.
"Yes. Is there a woman named Leah here?"
"Yes, she's right over there." The waitress pointed to a young woman with a bow strapped around her who looked to be around Li-Ming's age if not at least two or three years older with short brown hair and a homemade, red, long sleeved shirt helping others tend to the wounded. Li-Ming thanked her and headed for Leah making sure not to bump into or step on anyone.
Li-Ming tapped on Leah's shoulder. She turned around, tucked her hair behind her ear then said, "Yes? May I help you?"
"Are you Leah? Rumford said you survived the fallen star." Li-Ming responded.
"Yes. Who are you?"
"I am Li-Ming. I am a wizard of the Yshari Sanctum. I come in search of the fallen star."
"A wizard!" Leah exclaimed. "That's perfect! Perhaps you would be willing to help me?"
Li-Ming smirked. Her pride heightened, proud to see someone who was actually willing to ask her for help. "What is it you need?"
"My uncle, Deckard Cain and I were in the cathedral when the star came down. It blasted him into the depths of the cathedral. I tried to search for him myself but the dead were already rising. I came back here to rally the militia. But the-"
Leah was cut off when one of the waitresses started screaming as one of the wounded was biting into her arm, ripping out a chunk of flesh with his teeth. Some of the other wounded made a break for it but some were caught by others who had turned.
"EVERYONE WATCH OUT THE WOUNDED ARE TURNING!" Leah announced readying her bow. Li-Mind readied her magic. She had to be selective this time. She couldn't use fire without risking setting the whole inn on fire. She instead went in using her Spectral Blade. Leah was in the back, firing arrows into newly risen dead while Li-Ming charged in and swiped her hand, causing the familiar thin, purple wave of arcane energy to shoot forward. She settled for decapitating them this time, so she wouldn't have to worry about them not really being dead.
"SOMEONE HELP!" One of the patron's pleaded, trying to keep one of the undead off of him. Li-Ming rushed to him and pulled the zombie off of him. She looked into its dead eyes before punching it in the nose, effectively breaking it, then using her spectral blade to decapitate it.
"Stand! You have more strength than this." Li-Ming said holding her hand out the man she saved. He took it and she pulled him up.
"Thank you!" The man said appreciatively, embracing Li-Ming with a big hug. She hugged him back and patted him on the back.
"You're alright now. Head on home and rest. You deserve it." The man let her go, wiped away a tear and left. She watched the man leave then turned to see the rest of the dead were taken care of. These people were strong, since she's been here she's been fighting the undead, but these people have been fighting for at least a six days now. Soon this town will be consumed and laid to waste if something wasn't done to quell the oncoming swarms of the undead.
"The dead will overwhelm us all unless something is done." Leah pleaded to Li-Ming.
"I will make certain that doesn't happen. Your town is safe." Li-Ming said confidently
"Thank you. You should speak with Captain Rumford at the gate. He can tell you what to do."
Captain Rumford was found by the cart that was filled with dead bodies, helping that poor man dump them into the fire pit.
"Captain!" Li-Ming said getting his attention. "What can I do to help fight the risen dead?"
The Captain was taken aback by Li-Ming's bravery. He was beginning to think that there was something loose in her head. It was late out and everyone wanted to rest. He couldn't think how this girl could still have so much energy and look so enthused about everything that was happening. Surely even she must be tired from her trip here.
"Look…Li-Ming was it?" She nodded. "I admire your courage but my predecessor and his men were slaughtered by those things. Only I survived."
She had to admit, she felt touched at his concern, but she had no reason to worry. Fate was on her side. "I appreciate the warning, but I won't be dying today."
"Well I have seen you fight." He said admirably. Rumford thought he would like to get to know Li-Ming more if given the chance, but now was not the time for such thoughts. They had a town to defend after all. "If you really want to help. Strike at the wretched mothers and their queen. They're the ones vomiting out these…horrors." He didn't want to send her out. She was capable that much was obvious but she was so young. He would feel bad if she were to die out there.
"Thank you Captain. You're doing a great job." She said genuinely.
"Look I am no soldier." Rumford confessed. "I am-I was a farmer. The man in charge before me and his men died protecting me when we went out to try and stop the horde." Li-Ming looked at him in admiration for his honesty. "At first it seemed as if we were succeeding but they just kept coming! I shouldn't have been out there otherwise they would still be alive!" Rumford clenched his fist in anger. "I have no idea how I made back here alive, but I did. Now somehow I am supposed to lead the militia."
"You're a brave man Captain." Li-Ming said, placing her hand on his shoulder. "You're doing your best. You didn't cower. You stayed and fought by the men you now lead. You will make an excellent leader."
Once again Rumford was caught off guard. Li-Ming came off as an arrogant, self-indulged individual like she had something to prove. But here she was offering to help out people she didn't know and had no reason to care about what was happening to them and she was giving him words of encouragement. She may be young but she had a wisdom that was beyond her years.
One of the guards that were posted outside came running to them in a state of panic. "Captain Rumford! They're attacking the barricade!" The guard motioned for them to follow and they all ran out to see the barricade the guards made being pushed and broken aside as a swarm of the undead came marching through.
"Captain, tell your men to stand back!" Li-Ming ordered. All of the guards stood behind her, all of them worried about what was about to happen. Li-Ming cracked her knuckles and smirked. She was excited, she hadn't had a chance to use this spell in a good while. She focused her arcane power into both her hands, charging it up. The undead made their way towards them and the guards were getting anxious.
"If only they could see me now." Li-Ming whispered to herself. She raised her arms and a large red and orange beam of energy burst through her hands. The guards shielded their eyes and turned away from the heat the beam was emanating. The horde was being reduced to nothing as the beam disintegrated them.
"There that's one of the Wretched Mothers!" Rumford pointed out. In the distance there was a tall, lanky figure standing lazily with who knows what dripping from its mouth. It turned and tried to run away. "Quick! Before it gets away!" Rumford ordered his men. They were about to chase after it until Li-Ming vanished in a ball of light.
She reappeared in front of the Wretched Mother in a bit of pain. Teleporting was still a little new to her since she hasn't been able to do it as often as she would have liked. So it still felt like someone was jamming needles into her body every time she did, but it wasn't intolerable. The Wretched Mother collected bile in her throat and spat towards Li-Ming. She rolled to the right, dodging it and the Wretched Mother tried again. This time Li-Ming jumped back to avoid it. The foul smelling vomit hit the ground where Li-Ming was before she jumped and burned the spot.
"Ugh! That has got to be one of the most disgusting things I have ever seen!" She said in great disgust. The Wretched Mother was about to attack again but Li-Ming shot her hand out and fired a ball of ice at it, causing it to freeze where it stood. The wretched mother was like a statue now made of ice. Icicles hung from its arms and a cool, faint, mist whisped from its body and vanished in the wind. Li-Ming walked up to it with a smirk and met eyes with the Wretched Mother. "How does that feel?" Li-Ming said before shooting a wave of force at the frozen zombie, shattering it into many pieces.
Rumford and his men met up with Li-Ming and observed her handy work. Shattered remains of the Wretched Mother were all over the place and Rumford thought if he wasn't already impressed enough, he didn't know how much more he could be.
"How many more of these things are left Captain?" Li-Ming asked.
"Oh ummm…three I think; and their queen. So that makes four. They should be at ruins of Old Tristram."
"Get back to town. You all deserve a rest."
"Ma'am?" Rumford responded.
"I'll take care of these…Wretched Mothers. You won't be fighting any longer. You have done your part."
"You heard her men." Rumford said. They all were headed back but Rumford turned back to Li-Ming and said, "Take care of yourself."
"Thank you Captain. I appreciate your concern, but as I said, I won't be dying today." The Captain nodded and left with his men. Leaving Li-Ming to fight the rest of the hord alone.
I certainly had fun writing this chapter and I hope I do this character service. Please let me know what you think and again I hope you enjoyed it.