Disclaimer: I don't own Ragnarok, however I own these characters.
Characters
I have changed the names of certain characters, hope that did not hinder your reading pleasure. Those with amended name are marked with an asterisk. I will also put their original name so you will understand who the original person was as you read was. Those in square brackets are pronunciations. Due to a hiatus between chapter 53 and 54, I decided to make some changes and so the amended names are only effective as of chapter 55 onwards. Changing the names all over the story will probably make me age faster than light. Sorry for any inconvenience and confusion caused.
Cerberus Twinedge CER-BER-RUS TWEEN-EDGE
Leader of the Avenger, wields two swords, fireblend and ice falchion. Birthplace in Izlude, however he was treated as an outcast. His brother, Cranius Twinedge, serves as high military overseer. Cranius detests Cerberus for handling his own guild instead of being part of the Izlude riders and participate in the defense of the city. The unequaled knight finds no solace in Izlude for the people dislikes him due to Cranius's spreading of rumors about him
despicing the Izlude Riders. Willingly leads his guild to greater heights. He seeks comfort in his guild. The fact that Cerberus's father bequeathed him the two swords infuriated Cranius further, making him to sever ties with the knight.
Sagis (Sagizelus) SAY-JEES
A wizard unusually powerful for his young age, he finds himself clamped in between Avenger and Overlords. Recalls nothing of his parents. Enrolled to Geffen Sorcery Instituition by a man who took him in. As long as he has not decide on where his loyalties lie, this dilemma will continue to gnaw at him, and his conscience. People considered a renegade wizard for his uncanny level of sorcery at such young age of 20, shunning him at his sight. Usually talks to settle things when caught in a predicament. Only fights back when driven to a corner. Wears black robes.
Yeven Dekon (Piffy) YE-VEN DEE-KEHN
Although an alchemist, this long time friend of Cerberus indulges in smithing and forging business. Known to brew potions for multiple purposes and forge flawless weapons that can rival one of a veteran blacksmith. His origins traces back to Alberta, but moved to reside in the capital city of Prontera because of the guild. Bans anyone from entering his kitchen, or rather workshop that proves to be more hazardous than the Dark Lord's lair in Glast Heim.
Koju a.k.a Skull (Immuonnas) KO-JU
The assassin is mostly known to everyone outside of Morroc as Skull. Borned in Morroc but moved to Prontera with his sister. Unless in the desert city, where the people call him by his Morrocish name, nobody will address him as Koju. Stubborn by nature, refuses to listen, headstrong. Fights skillfully, but impulsively. Lost his sister, a priestess, when he was a child. He vows to murder Galor, the person responsible of his sister's death. Carries the Infiltrator katars as his weapon. Close companion of Reka since they share the same hometown.
Pay Skysight
Comes from the town of archers, Payon, where it is believed to have chinese origin. Feels somewhat nostalgic about the old Payon, before it was re-constructed due to damages caused by frequent attacks by demons from the cave. The assault had now died down, leaving Payon peaceful once again. The hunter shares a house with his mother in Payon. At certain points of time he feels homesick. Attacks with an Arbalest specially forged by Yeven to him, as well as his 'mad' falcon, he always calls it. Trained his own falcon rather than renting one for 2500z. The cheerful and confident hunter is also a childhood friend of Mariane.
Mariane Holycross (Manald) MAR-RIAN HOLY-CROSS
The young priestess is protective of the Avenger especially. Believes strongly in God and fights for holy causes. Served in the Prontera church when she was a very young acolyte. Although fun-loving, she looks out for other members and ensures their safety with curative spells. She feels that it is her job to protect anyone from the harm of demons and other malevolent beings. Other acolyte on their way to priesthood looks up to her, and many enjoys her company. Has quite a handful of admirers. Usually has to rely onReka for help to get rid of the persistent group of them.
Reka a.k.a Zerin (Maraulea) REE-KA ZER-RINE
The female rogue is another member from the deserts of Morroc. Adopted a hobby of looting and cutting her victim's zeny pouch strings since young. Though she's the main reason behind Avenger's high income, her fellow mates deem those as 'illegal zeny'. She's the only person in the guild who calls Skull by his Morrocan name. Again, only the people of Morroc address her as Maraulea, though the other Avenger members occasionally call her so. Carefree, frivolous and adventurous, she likes hiding during battles to amuse herself since her opponents always flustered after that. Keeps with her a zeny knife all the time, for this dagger is the only way to bring her 'legal zeny', despite the fact that she uses that knife to cut purse strings. Close friend of Mariane.
Tien Rockfist TIAN ROCK-FIST
Descendent of his family of monks. He is the leader of the Overlords, in cahoots with Sagizeulus after he persuades the wizard to join him. Impulsive and irascible by nature, he duels with his Kaiser Knuckles. Despises Avenger, and hopes to destroy them in time to come. His fists comes before he thinks. For some reason, his eyes glows an unholy green when entering into a rage during battles. The Payon-born monk findsPay somewhat familiar...
Elemire Nightfletch (Trueye) AL-MAYIR NIGHT-FLETCH
A huntress in the Overlords. Incredibly accurate with her aims and firepower. Snipes with the rare Ballista crossbow. Her revealing huntress attire and slim figure has a tendency to leave in a wake of lusty glares fixed and glued tight onto her.
Agis & Wart Raenore EY-JEES WART
The two knight brothers under the Overlords. Agis and Wart were frequently picked on by their leader despite their endeavors to improve their work efficiency, proving their worth. This caused a spark between the brothers and Tien. Under certain circumstances they almost wanted to defy the monk and leave the guild.
Galor "Lady's Men" Oreheind GAIR-LOR OREE-HIND
A malicious crusader fighting for the Overlords. Also notorious for causing Inneavil's death, sister of Immuonnas. Given the title "Lady's men" since
he was always spotted behaving intimately with a group of tavern girls almost every night. Likes to prey and cheat on wealthy and innocent girls. Because of that, the heavy alcoholic was always confronted in taverns and bars, getting into brawls.
Opium Goldsteel OPEE-UM GOLD-STEEL
An experienced forge-smith with vast knowledge on forgery. His products are almost, if not better than Piffy's. Both alchemist and blacksmith competed over the superiority of their forges everyday on the Prontera Business square, where all merchants and blacksmiths opened their stalls.
Von Vulj VON VALCH
A white robed wizard in the Overlords, sometimes looked upon as a saboteur who harasses Avenger through stealth attacks and magical traps.
King Tristan III TRIS-TAN
The emperor of Prontera, helming the capital city of Rune-Midgard.
Larzen Blaedmight LAR-ZEN BLADE-MIGHT
One of the two Prontera Warlords. Carries a large, two-handed Zweihandler sword.
Smith "the hobbit" Hammertop SMITH HAMMER-TOP
One of the two Prontera Warlords. Carries a hammer and an axe into battles.
- 1 -
"Hurry, be done with it quickly."
The assassin gave a quick nod. Snatching the flask of acidic potion from his accomplice's gloved hands, he disappeared away into the darkness. The man started to repeat the instructions, but then he suddenly realized that the spot where the assassin had stood a split second ago became air. Good luck, you dolt, he thought with a sneer. Turning to leave, he collided into something. Or rather, someone.
"Where do you think you're going?" croaked the mysterious figure.
The assassin, known by his guild as Skull, leaped and ducked without the slightest noise into the Creamhilt base. Despite the impenetrable darkness, his keen sense of his surroundings and his marvelous agility guided him safely into the base. He moved as swift as the breeze and landed so silently that a thief bug would not have heard it. He slipped past the snoozing guards and literally glided into the armory room like a wandering ghost. A satisfactory grin formed on his masked face, amused by the thought that his guild's antagonist is going to find their battle gears utterly deformed and damaged beyond repair by the corrosive concoction. Uncorking the plastic flask eagerly with a "pop" that echoed loudly throughout the base, he started to dump the contents onto the weapons but he stopped abruptly, fearing that the echo might arouse the guards.
"Damn Piffy, can't you loosen up the cork? Some alchemist you are... Damn, this is gonna get messy," he muttered. Just as he had expected, torches were lit and light flashed, the still of the night overwhelmed by the growing commotion. Heavy footfalls approached his direction, nearing him every second. Reacting instinctively, he made use of his assassin abilities and clocked himself into the wall. He held his breath and stood very still, watching silently as a group of five guards charged into the room but did not find a single soul around.
"Who's there?" a tall guard boomed threateningly. When there was no response, the same guard repeated the question, this time in a louder volume, hoping to draw the intruder out. Again no reply was made. The irate guard then ordered the rest to search the large room piled with battle gears ranging from large two handed swords to muddy war boots, while he exited the room to inspect other areas. After a futile search, the four guards muttered complains that sounded something like "woke up for nothing", as far as Skull could hear.
All was quiet and still again, when the guards were assertive that they were hearing things. The scheming assassin materialized out of the wall, this time uncorking the flask of greenish acid cautiously and quietly as possible. The metal sizzled and hissed with the powerful corrosion, the metal started bubbling furiously. He had a queer feeling that as if the room was imprisoned with a few dozen pythons. Skull started to feel nauseous and giddy due to the strong acidic odor that tainted the air in the room. He gagged, dropping the bottle onto the floor with a loud clank and fumbled his vest pocket for a butterfly wing. He knew the clanking of the bottle would arouse the guards once again; therefore he quickly pulled the wing out and crushed it in his palm, sprinkling the powder over himself as he suddenly became diaphanous before disappearing into thin air.
"You don't look familiar to me, now reveal your identity, as well as your motive," the tall figure Piffy bumped into asked. Piffy, the alchemist, dismissed his question with a wave of his hand. The man grabbed him by the collar and intimidated him. Even in the dark night, he managed to see his ugly snarl.
Thinking quickly, he said, "Of course I don't look familiar, dear sir. I...I'm just a newly employed cleaner! What motive could a poor cleaner harbor, sir?"
The man raised an eyebrow skeptically. "Oh... Indeed? I've never come across any cleaners carrying potions that certainly don't look like detergent, kid. You can fool anybody else, but me. Now – "the man stopped when he heard a commotion within the Creamhilt base. Light flashed and guards awoke with a start, rushing into the castle base. Sensing trouble, he released Piffy and left for the castle base, not before saying "count yourself lucky, kid."
Skull emerged into the Prontera square, where the statue of Odin rested on a fountain. His dizziness escalated as he was not used to teleporting around to get to his destination. Steadying himself, he scanned the area when an excited squeal caught his attention. Spinning around, he saw Manald, the priestess of his guild grinning mischievously at him. Beside her was the happy-go-lucky hunter, Pay, named after his hometown, Payon.
"That was long, if you must know. Because of that, I became her toy," Pay complained as he raised his forearm, which was full of pinch and bite marks. "This girl's insane when she loses patience. Damn."
"How'd it go?" the zealous priestess asked.
"Where's Piffy?" Skull evaded the question he deemed meaningless. "He's supposed to return earlier than I do."
"Not around, you can see for yourself," Pay answered.
"You haven't answered my question, Skull," Manald pursued.
The assassin removed the mask off his face and tucked it away. "I can't be standing here before you if I failed, am I not right?"
The constant splashing of water at the fountain reverberated through the capital city of Rune-Midgard. It was the only sound heard in the still night other than Skull's heavy breathing. The sky was a deep blue shade, an indication that dawn was arriving. The three sat at the square, Skull relating the little adventure he had just a moment ago, slightly irritated at Manald's unnecessary admiration and her endless questions. Pay merely sniggered at her silliness. They then proceeded to discuss about the upcoming guild war, at the same time joking about the humiliation State Overlord will receive when they find their gears now nothing but useless waste metal.
But Skull was not in the mood for jokes. He sensed Piffy's jeopardy. The alchemist was probably discovered and now imprisoned by the guards for intruding their premises. Otherwise, he would have been back by now. There was nowhere he would have gone in the middle of the night. I overestimated him, and trusted him too much, he thought bitterly.
Dawn broke and the sky was now shades of orange and violet, but Piffy had yet to return. The city started to liven up, contrary to the scene in the night as the first rays of the sun bathed the busy city. Ambitious novices started their training routines just outside the city gates, slicing Porings and stabbing Fabres with their standard novice knives. Enterprising merchants quickly set up their stalls early in the morning, hoping their effectiveness could outdo and outsell their just as tough competitors. Some even offered discounts or undersell other merchants on purpose to increase their sales figures.
"Hey two of you," Skull called out to his two companions. "I should really get going. Piffy might be in danger. Cerberus should come sooner or later, just don't wander off."
Piffy ran as fast as his legs would take him even though he was long out of Creamhilt, more importantly, freed from the man's threats. He had wandered aimlessly in the night, slightly traumatized by fact that he almost got himself captured. If they were vicious, he might even be killed. He got himself lost in the wilderness through the night and he was not able to figure out his bearings until dawn broke. The quick-witted alchemist breathed a sigh of relieve when he caught sight of a few swordsmen training novices in the vicinity. He approached them and asked for the way to Prontera.
One of the swordsmen chuckled and replied, "Lost? Just follow this trail here. You should see Prontera. Shall I accompany you, in case you lose your way again?"
The other swordsman and novices laughed uproariously at their friend's indirect mockery. Growling in disdain, he followed the trail as instructed and sure enough, he saw the tall, brown towers of the city in the distance. The fatigue alchemist trudged towards the city with his head down, complaining about not getting enough sleep for the night. In the midst of his contemplations, he knocked into someone for the second time. Raising his head, he saw a familiar face. Skull's face.
"Hi mate, gonna get some sleep," Piffy said as he yawned. He started to proceed to the gates when he was barred by his guild mate.
Skull face grew red in exasperation. "Where do you think you're going? I was worrying all night, for Odin's sake. You're supposed to return to Prontera straight after giving me the potion!"
"You sound just like that lad, you know. Alright, enough nonsense. Gotta go catch my winks for the fight. Make way," Piffy pushed Skull's hand away.
"What lad?" Skull pulled Piffy back and scowled.
"I was caught. I'ma pray to Odin, that lad ran off to deal with some business in the house and let me off. Now lemme go, you're nagging like my granny, have you any idea?"
Straightening his clothes, he entered the gates and could not be bothered to answer the Kafra's greeting.