Since the story is told in many viewpoints, I'll tell you right now that Andrew is the main character. It's a lot easier if I tell you now.
Chapter 1:Enter the Players
"Brian. Brian."
Brian winced as the pain in his side throbbed mercilessly. He tossed as he regained conciousness. The voice calling his name grew louder as he awoke.
"Brian. Brian! BRIAN!!!"
"GYAAAAAAH!" he yelled. His eyes snapped open to meet those of his captain. "Uh, hi there, sir. Just taking a small doze..."
His superior's eyes narrowed and his face grew darker with each word. "Just a little doze?!? Have you any damned idea of what went on last night?!?"
He ignored the dagger of pain in his side and tried to remember. He had no clue until he glanced sideways at his companion laying in a pool of blood. "An attack, sir! One of our own knights attacked us and slew Jon!"
The soldier seemed surprised at the news, but only for a second before fury took its place. "And you made no move to stop him or ask him his business!" It was a statement, not a question.
"We couldn't, sir. It was Garland that attacked us!"
This time the captain seemed visibly shaken. He shook his head slowly. "Garland? Of course. Only he could get past you to the princess."
The news took a second to register. When it did, Brian jumped to his feet and ran into the bedroom behind him. "Princess!! Princess Emerald!!!"
Inside, the king and queen had been mourning the loss of their daughter. Seeing the guard that had lost her, the king's face became purple with anger. "YOU!! You were the one that lost her! We have trusted you and you have failed!"
Brian stopped short and bowed to his sovereign. "M'lord, Garland captured the princess! We couldn't do a thing to stop him!"
The king's face became even redder. "Garland, our best knight!...Even if you are telling the truth, you have lost her and you must bring her back!!"
Brian wondered inwardly if this was humanly possible.
Erin looked upwards at the huge tower overlooking the city. The white castle was the tallest building she had ever seen. There was no time to gawk at it though. She hurried to the main gate.
The guard grinned at her from his post. "Well, young lady," he asked, "this the first time at the big city for you?"
She looked up at him and smiled sweetly, remarking, "Don't you call me young lady again, or you won't have any teeth to grin with."
He frowned and let her pass. The streets were crowded inside the city. She hoped that a passing theif didn't think there was anything valuable in her purse.
Because there were four very valuable things.
Alex played his flute near the front gate to the city. Every time someone offered him coin, he refused. He never passed on a good glass of ale at a tavern, though.
Though he seemed a simple bard with little money, he knew things that no mortal should ever know.
Through the corner of one eye, he watched a girl shrouded in a white cloak walk through the streets. He smiled when she threw a gold coin at the ground at his feet. He picked it up and looked around, but she was gone.
/Nothing goes right with my life./ thought Andrew. /All I have are Breath, Blood, and Bane./ He watched the crowd pass him as he leaned against the wall.
He talked to himself for a while, then decided to walk through the crowd, looking for a nice victim. He walked aways before something reached his ears.
He looked at a stall near him and spotted a small mechanical nightingale. The tune was haunting, and seemed strangely familiar. He suddenly wanted to have it. He glanced at the price tag and frowned.
/2000 gold pieces!! How the hell will he ever sell that?!/ He glanced at the crowd again. /Well, better start working so I can at least get some food inside me./
He moved through the crowd silently. /There, perfect. That one will never notice until she counts her money out later./
He moved next to the figure and stuck his hand into her purse. Erin grabbed him by the wrist. He was suddenly sailing through the air.
WHUMPH!!! He landed face-first into the ground.
"Well, still want my money, theif? Give me one reason that I shouldn't crack your skull with my staff."
He replied, "Ow." He looked into the hood of the cloak and stared into deep emerald eyes. Only one thought crossed his mind. /How did I get caught by her? I haven't been caught by anyone yet./
The crowd kept a wide berth from them, but didn't seem to care any more then that.
She studied him for a while, then started to leave. "If you need food, then come with me. I've got more than enough coin for both of us."
He got up quickly and ran to her. "How do you know I won't try to rob you again? And why should I trust you, for that matter?"
She smiled and replied, "One, you already tried, and failed. Two, there is no reason for me to do something to you. I already gave you a mouthful of dirt for what you tried."
He narrowed his eyes, but only said, "Well, then I only need half a meal to satisfy me. Now let's go."
Matt finished the trick and let the children applaud. /If they knew that these tricks aren't illusions, they wouldn't be clapping. They'd be screaming./
He had been chased out of his hometown when he was ten, when the abilities rose in him. Black magic was feared and outlawed throughout the kingdom. Here, in Corneria, he masqueraded as a street magician, working for free. He didn't need coin. He could conjure up enough coin for the food he needed, though the effort usually exhausted him.
He started another trick he conjured three balls of fire and started juggling them. As the crowd passed, a few joined the audience at the sight of him juggling three fireballs, each connected to the other two by bands of lightning. Suddenly he threw all three into the air and caught three large ice crystals, which quickly melted in his hands.
He was bowing when three large soldiers pushed through the onlookers toward him. The first soldier reached him and started blustering through his mustache, "You, sah, are under arrest for the practice of black magic!"
The audience quickly ran from the scene, the mention of magic causing them to panic and run. Matt looked at the soldier and said, "What do you mean, good sir. These are merely illusions. I am but a-"
"ENOUGH!! You are going with us now. You, demon of hell, are going to be locked up for a very long time!"
Matt smiled and said, "I don't think so." He took off like a shot towards the other part of the city. The soldier's shouts followed him.
"STOP!! STOP, VILE DEMON!"
/Vile demon. Do I give him pointless insults?/ He ran through the crowd.
He looked over his shoulder. He ran right into Andrew, who was still sore from his flying lesson;)
"Ow. Again."
Erin looked at the approaching soldiers. She removed her cloak, revealing a blue tunic underneath. "Quick!" she urged. "Put this on.
When the guards passed, they saw only a young couple talking with a man in a white cloak. Erin told Matt to leave the city before something bad happened. He took her advice and left.
A crowd had gathered at the castle. Brian stood alone in the center, facing the wrath of his king.
"Emerald, our only daughter, is the last of the royal bloodline! If she has been hurt in any way because of your mistake, you will be executed at the very spot you are standing now..."
Brian stood, silent, waiting for the reprimanding to end.
"...Now, you are to go forth towards the only place where Garland could hide, the Temple of Fiends. You are to bring Emerald back to me. If you can't, then you are better off taking your own life."
The king looked at the crowd. "Are there any brave enough to help him bring my daughter back?"
A ripple of surprise ran through the crowd.
"What, against Garland!?!"
"I can't face up to a regular knight, let alone..."
"I ain't going into that forest out there!!"
"There are imps, and spiders, and..."
"I'm coming!!!"
Brian looked behind him. A young woman, about the same age as him, walked towards him, holding a long wooden staff in her hand. A boy, also the same age, ran to her. "What the hell are you doing, you crazy..."
"It seems only these two will come with Brian to the Temple. I wish you the best of luck, but you will face the same fate as he if you fail."
Andrew's jaw dropped. "But I...I mean-"
"Go now, and bring back my Emerald to me."
Brian told Erin what had happened the previous night. Andrew followed them towards the front of the city, mumbling. "Stupid, lousy bitch...not knowing what she's doing...risking our lives for nothing..."
Erin stopped Brian and looked over at him. "Is there anything that you want to ask me?"
"Yeah! Why are we going to risk our lives facing the best knight in Corneria for nothing?!?"
"It's not for nothing. I need to ask a favor from the king, but with the princess missing-"
Andrew laughed hysterically. "You want to ask the king a favor? What did you want him to do, lend you a couple hundred gold coins?!"
"No, I need a bridge built." Andrew looked at her strangely, then continued muttering.
They were near the gate when he suddenly flew backwards.
Thomas looked down at the boy on the ground. The boy muttered, "Ow. Again...again."
Erin apologized to Thomas and started picking up Andrew from the ground. "This has not been a good day for you, has it, Andrew?"
He rubbed his head and replied, "What was your first hint? When I was ran over by that mage? or when this guy flipped me over shoulder? or when you did?"
Brian stifled a laugh at that last comment and started talking with Thomas. Thomas had a long rapier in his belt, though he never used it. He had learned how to fight without weapons at a school at a far town called Crescent Lake.
Thomas listened to their story and smiled. "Finally," he said, "something interesting happens. This whole town is way too boring!" He removed his rapier and gave it to Thomas. "Thinking of trying to face Garland without a weapon? You guys definately need help. I'm coming with you."
They walked towards the gate again. They were about exit the city when a bard near the gate stopped playing his flute and looked towards them.
"Dagger bearer leaves his mark, with healer covered all in white."
Both Andrew and Erin stopped and looked at him. "What do you mean by that?" asked Andrew.
"Magician dressed in shadows black and master without sword or spear. A bard whose talents do not lack and fighter trained not to feel fear."
Andrew turned away and started walking. "Stupid asshole, doesn't even know what he's talking about." Erin stopped him and spoke.
"I take it you're the bard, then."
Alex jumped up and bowed. "Exactly, fair maiden. I am Alex, a jack-of-all-trades." He looked elegant in his scarlet cape and clothes. A white feather of some gigantic bird jutted from his ruby red hat.
Erin studied him and asked, "What were you saying before? It sounded familiar."
"The Prophecy of Luhkann. The last thing he had said to his king before he fell, dead, to the ground. It seems familiar because it describes us six." He looked around and frowned. "...or five, it seems. Where is the mage? No matter. We must depart."
Andrew frowned. "What the hell are you talking about? What are these prophecies, where are we going, and how do you know? We, or I, at least, have no idea what the hell you're talking about!"
Alex smiled innocently. "Tut, tut! Such language! The prophecies were told 2000 years ago by the seer, Luhkann. They were to tell of the end of the world and the six to save it. I have no idea where we are going, I just know I am going with you. And the last question, none of you business, Kajidoragon."
Andrew's eyes widened in anger. "What did you just call me?!"
"It does not matter. Let's leave the city."
After a while of walking in the forest, they found Erin's cloak. Inside a pocket, there was a hastily written note.
[Thank you for helping me escape today. Here
is your cloak back.
-Matt ]
Erin donned the cloak once more and the group moved into the forest.
Chapter 1:Enter the Players
"Brian. Brian."
Brian winced as the pain in his side throbbed mercilessly. He tossed as he regained conciousness. The voice calling his name grew louder as he awoke.
"Brian. Brian! BRIAN!!!"
"GYAAAAAAH!" he yelled. His eyes snapped open to meet those of his captain. "Uh, hi there, sir. Just taking a small doze..."
His superior's eyes narrowed and his face grew darker with each word. "Just a little doze?!? Have you any damned idea of what went on last night?!?"
He ignored the dagger of pain in his side and tried to remember. He had no clue until he glanced sideways at his companion laying in a pool of blood. "An attack, sir! One of our own knights attacked us and slew Jon!"
The soldier seemed surprised at the news, but only for a second before fury took its place. "And you made no move to stop him or ask him his business!" It was a statement, not a question.
"We couldn't, sir. It was Garland that attacked us!"
This time the captain seemed visibly shaken. He shook his head slowly. "Garland? Of course. Only he could get past you to the princess."
The news took a second to register. When it did, Brian jumped to his feet and ran into the bedroom behind him. "Princess!! Princess Emerald!!!"
Inside, the king and queen had been mourning the loss of their daughter. Seeing the guard that had lost her, the king's face became purple with anger. "YOU!! You were the one that lost her! We have trusted you and you have failed!"
Brian stopped short and bowed to his sovereign. "M'lord, Garland captured the princess! We couldn't do a thing to stop him!"
The king's face became even redder. "Garland, our best knight!...Even if you are telling the truth, you have lost her and you must bring her back!!"
Brian wondered inwardly if this was humanly possible.
Erin looked upwards at the huge tower overlooking the city. The white castle was the tallest building she had ever seen. There was no time to gawk at it though. She hurried to the main gate.
The guard grinned at her from his post. "Well, young lady," he asked, "this the first time at the big city for you?"
She looked up at him and smiled sweetly, remarking, "Don't you call me young lady again, or you won't have any teeth to grin with."
He frowned and let her pass. The streets were crowded inside the city. She hoped that a passing theif didn't think there was anything valuable in her purse.
Because there were four very valuable things.
Alex played his flute near the front gate to the city. Every time someone offered him coin, he refused. He never passed on a good glass of ale at a tavern, though.
Though he seemed a simple bard with little money, he knew things that no mortal should ever know.
Through the corner of one eye, he watched a girl shrouded in a white cloak walk through the streets. He smiled when she threw a gold coin at the ground at his feet. He picked it up and looked around, but she was gone.
/Nothing goes right with my life./ thought Andrew. /All I have are Breath, Blood, and Bane./ He watched the crowd pass him as he leaned against the wall.
He talked to himself for a while, then decided to walk through the crowd, looking for a nice victim. He walked aways before something reached his ears.
He looked at a stall near him and spotted a small mechanical nightingale. The tune was haunting, and seemed strangely familiar. He suddenly wanted to have it. He glanced at the price tag and frowned.
/2000 gold pieces!! How the hell will he ever sell that?!/ He glanced at the crowd again. /Well, better start working so I can at least get some food inside me./
He moved through the crowd silently. /There, perfect. That one will never notice until she counts her money out later./
He moved next to the figure and stuck his hand into her purse. Erin grabbed him by the wrist. He was suddenly sailing through the air.
WHUMPH!!! He landed face-first into the ground.
"Well, still want my money, theif? Give me one reason that I shouldn't crack your skull with my staff."
He replied, "Ow." He looked into the hood of the cloak and stared into deep emerald eyes. Only one thought crossed his mind. /How did I get caught by her? I haven't been caught by anyone yet./
The crowd kept a wide berth from them, but didn't seem to care any more then that.
She studied him for a while, then started to leave. "If you need food, then come with me. I've got more than enough coin for both of us."
He got up quickly and ran to her. "How do you know I won't try to rob you again? And why should I trust you, for that matter?"
She smiled and replied, "One, you already tried, and failed. Two, there is no reason for me to do something to you. I already gave you a mouthful of dirt for what you tried."
He narrowed his eyes, but only said, "Well, then I only need half a meal to satisfy me. Now let's go."
Matt finished the trick and let the children applaud. /If they knew that these tricks aren't illusions, they wouldn't be clapping. They'd be screaming./
He had been chased out of his hometown when he was ten, when the abilities rose in him. Black magic was feared and outlawed throughout the kingdom. Here, in Corneria, he masqueraded as a street magician, working for free. He didn't need coin. He could conjure up enough coin for the food he needed, though the effort usually exhausted him.
He started another trick he conjured three balls of fire and started juggling them. As the crowd passed, a few joined the audience at the sight of him juggling three fireballs, each connected to the other two by bands of lightning. Suddenly he threw all three into the air and caught three large ice crystals, which quickly melted in his hands.
He was bowing when three large soldiers pushed through the onlookers toward him. The first soldier reached him and started blustering through his mustache, "You, sah, are under arrest for the practice of black magic!"
The audience quickly ran from the scene, the mention of magic causing them to panic and run. Matt looked at the soldier and said, "What do you mean, good sir. These are merely illusions. I am but a-"
"ENOUGH!! You are going with us now. You, demon of hell, are going to be locked up for a very long time!"
Matt smiled and said, "I don't think so." He took off like a shot towards the other part of the city. The soldier's shouts followed him.
"STOP!! STOP, VILE DEMON!"
/Vile demon. Do I give him pointless insults?/ He ran through the crowd.
He looked over his shoulder. He ran right into Andrew, who was still sore from his flying lesson;)
"Ow. Again."
Erin looked at the approaching soldiers. She removed her cloak, revealing a blue tunic underneath. "Quick!" she urged. "Put this on.
When the guards passed, they saw only a young couple talking with a man in a white cloak. Erin told Matt to leave the city before something bad happened. He took her advice and left.
A crowd had gathered at the castle. Brian stood alone in the center, facing the wrath of his king.
"Emerald, our only daughter, is the last of the royal bloodline! If she has been hurt in any way because of your mistake, you will be executed at the very spot you are standing now..."
Brian stood, silent, waiting for the reprimanding to end.
"...Now, you are to go forth towards the only place where Garland could hide, the Temple of Fiends. You are to bring Emerald back to me. If you can't, then you are better off taking your own life."
The king looked at the crowd. "Are there any brave enough to help him bring my daughter back?"
A ripple of surprise ran through the crowd.
"What, against Garland!?!"
"I can't face up to a regular knight, let alone..."
"I ain't going into that forest out there!!"
"There are imps, and spiders, and..."
"I'm coming!!!"
Brian looked behind him. A young woman, about the same age as him, walked towards him, holding a long wooden staff in her hand. A boy, also the same age, ran to her. "What the hell are you doing, you crazy..."
"It seems only these two will come with Brian to the Temple. I wish you the best of luck, but you will face the same fate as he if you fail."
Andrew's jaw dropped. "But I...I mean-"
"Go now, and bring back my Emerald to me."
Brian told Erin what had happened the previous night. Andrew followed them towards the front of the city, mumbling. "Stupid, lousy bitch...not knowing what she's doing...risking our lives for nothing..."
Erin stopped Brian and looked over at him. "Is there anything that you want to ask me?"
"Yeah! Why are we going to risk our lives facing the best knight in Corneria for nothing?!?"
"It's not for nothing. I need to ask a favor from the king, but with the princess missing-"
Andrew laughed hysterically. "You want to ask the king a favor? What did you want him to do, lend you a couple hundred gold coins?!"
"No, I need a bridge built." Andrew looked at her strangely, then continued muttering.
They were near the gate when he suddenly flew backwards.
Thomas looked down at the boy on the ground. The boy muttered, "Ow. Again...again."
Erin apologized to Thomas and started picking up Andrew from the ground. "This has not been a good day for you, has it, Andrew?"
He rubbed his head and replied, "What was your first hint? When I was ran over by that mage? or when this guy flipped me over shoulder? or when you did?"
Brian stifled a laugh at that last comment and started talking with Thomas. Thomas had a long rapier in his belt, though he never used it. He had learned how to fight without weapons at a school at a far town called Crescent Lake.
Thomas listened to their story and smiled. "Finally," he said, "something interesting happens. This whole town is way too boring!" He removed his rapier and gave it to Thomas. "Thinking of trying to face Garland without a weapon? You guys definately need help. I'm coming with you."
They walked towards the gate again. They were about exit the city when a bard near the gate stopped playing his flute and looked towards them.
"Dagger bearer leaves his mark, with healer covered all in white."
Both Andrew and Erin stopped and looked at him. "What do you mean by that?" asked Andrew.
"Magician dressed in shadows black and master without sword or spear. A bard whose talents do not lack and fighter trained not to feel fear."
Andrew turned away and started walking. "Stupid asshole, doesn't even know what he's talking about." Erin stopped him and spoke.
"I take it you're the bard, then."
Alex jumped up and bowed. "Exactly, fair maiden. I am Alex, a jack-of-all-trades." He looked elegant in his scarlet cape and clothes. A white feather of some gigantic bird jutted from his ruby red hat.
Erin studied him and asked, "What were you saying before? It sounded familiar."
"The Prophecy of Luhkann. The last thing he had said to his king before he fell, dead, to the ground. It seems familiar because it describes us six." He looked around and frowned. "...or five, it seems. Where is the mage? No matter. We must depart."
Andrew frowned. "What the hell are you talking about? What are these prophecies, where are we going, and how do you know? We, or I, at least, have no idea what the hell you're talking about!"
Alex smiled innocently. "Tut, tut! Such language! The prophecies were told 2000 years ago by the seer, Luhkann. They were to tell of the end of the world and the six to save it. I have no idea where we are going, I just know I am going with you. And the last question, none of you business, Kajidoragon."
Andrew's eyes widened in anger. "What did you just call me?!"
"It does not matter. Let's leave the city."
After a while of walking in the forest, they found Erin's cloak. Inside a pocket, there was a hastily written note.
[Thank you for helping me escape today. Here
is your cloak back.
-Matt ]
Erin donned the cloak once more and the group moved into the forest.