Post by vainadaite on Jan 15, 2014 18:44:38 GMT 8
The campsite was half hidden by a fringe of wicked underbrush. The dead willow tree was leaning half across it at a despondent angle, as if petrified mid-flight, straining away from Kaer Maga. Beyond, the decaying forest loomed, exposing knotted roots and tangled vines, creating a web of darkness that seemed to consume and devour the weak dwindling flames of the campsite. Hector Melandru shuddered involuntarily, grasping the edges of his tattered blanket, shielding himself from the merciless onslaught of the wind. The flames sputtered, as burning embers and ash scattered through the air, waving and whispering among themselves as the wind crescendoed into the howling of a jackals, their cry like a death call in the pale autumn sky.
"The cry of Lamashtu," Hector whispered, his voice quivering as it escaped his parched, cracked lips. "The sooner we leave, the better." He ran his fingers absently down the scabbard of the long sword that lay in his lap, his gaze fixed upon the sky.
His two companions look at him quizzically, neither of them seemed perturbed by the harsh weather. "What are you running from Hector?" The shorter of the men asked, sipping from his decanter, "You seem good in a fight, wouldn't have hired you otherwise. Kaer Maga is dangerous, but not a problem for someone of your caliber."
Hector shuddered, "it's not the city. It's what's in the wind."
The two merchants looked at each other, speaking in a foreign language unknown to Hector, but it was obvious from their tone and demeanor that they didn't take him seriously. Who would? A squire without his knight? He drew the hilt of the long sword free from it's scabbard, "she called it 'The Redeemer'. Ironic really," he lamented, pulling the once magical cold iron long sword completely free of his scabbard.
"Damn thing's broken!" The fatter merchant exclaimed at the broken blade that lay in Hector's lap.
Hector sighed, "We met a long time ago, when she was but a silly girl. Daughter of a farmer, with grand notions of becoming a Paladin. She even carried around this ridiculous looking lamp wherever she went, 'Paladin's always uphold the light'" He mimicked in a high pitched tone. "Damn girl took things too literally. I remember the day we met, had a bunch of townspeople ready to lynch me for the sale of some ah... less-than-accurate maps to non-specific places. Barely managed to escape, posing as her squire. Silly girl was delighted, and made me carry around her even more ridiculous over-sized lance. Not too sure why I was her squire, I exceeded her kill count 2 to 1 on every battle!" Hector grinned, remembering his travelling companion fondly.
"Anyhow, that damned girl eventually managed to wrangle herself a Unicorn, and suddenly, from the skinny little wannabe in tin-foil armor, she became a half-decent Warrior of the Light. Still had a stupid name though, 'Princess Unicorn Unicorn, Protector of the Light'. We called her Puupol for short. We had fun times. Vanquishing evil, rescuing those in trouble, and then she'd spend every free moment trying to set me up with some REAL Princess or another. Wasn't bad though, some were quite pretty."
Hector paused, looking up as the moon began to rise in the night sky. Time passed faster than he'd expected, or was it the dark manifestation of evil slowly creeping over Golarion? It took him a while to notice tears forming in his eyes, and he wiped them away with the practice of a seasoned swindler, masquerading as a dramatic flick of the hair.
"What happened to her?" The merchants asked, transfixed on his tale. Their decanters remained in their hands, caps in the other, letting the angels have their share of the fine liquid within.
"She became pretty famous after that, went to the Worldwound, and killed a couple thousand demons. Met this half crazy, ridiculously charming spirit-talking lady, who we soon found coerced into her employ. Puupol ended up commanding the defenses of Drezen against the demons of Baphomet, and I ended up as Captain of the Guard. Pity, the charming lady seemed to have gotten stuck in the Abyss somehow, and we left. Puupol was a real poster girl for the Pathfinder Society, she and that Unicorn of hers, they awarded her this sword for all her heroics." He sheathed the broken blade, and gingerly wrapped it back in it's protective cloth. "Some artists even included her in a poster contained within their 'EXCLUSIVE SUPER LIMITED EDITION SCROLLCASES'. I was in the picture too, but damned publishers cropped me out of the photo, said 'my ugly mug' detracted from the focus. They were just jealous."
One of the merchants looked up grinning, and pulled an ornate scroll case out of his bag, he opened it and carefully removed the picture from within, a painting of a beautiful knight, clad in silver armor, riding a unicorn into the heat of battle against hordes of demons, the scroll-makers's logo UNICON, emblazoned across the top.
"Aye, that's the one. You can make out the tip of the lance I was carrying in the bottom left corner - " Hector bragged, as the merchant squinted looking for the non-existent trace of the supposed 'squire'.
The fat merchant chimed in, "you think you could get us an autograph? My boy's half mad in love with this girl. He'll be thrilled to find out she's real, maybe we could set up a little -"
Hector cut him off, "I don't think that's such a good idea. Butt Stallion - yes that's the Unicorn's name, I think he wasn't right in the head either, was fiercely protective of his mistress, anyhow Paladin's have to remain celibate in order to claim a Unicorn as their companions, don't know why anyone would take up that ridiculous oath, but well, we all know Puupol was dropped on a head too many times as a babe. Anyway, it's getting late, we should best sleep and set off again at first light." Hector finished abruptly, making a huge show of turning in for the night.
"You can't just leave us hanging, where's Puupol now?" The shorter man berated, eager for the rest of the story.
Hector turned to them, the campfire light illuminating his face, revealing numerous scars, freshly inflicted, in various stages of healing. His eyes looked old, far older than he was, as if they have seen evils and atrocities beyond what a mortal would see. "We got caught, and the followers of Lamashtu don't treat prisoners very well." He removed a small bag from his waist, its once sparkly fabric embroidered with the unmistakable childlike skill of a pixellated unicorn, now weathered and torn beyond repair. Inside was a small book, equally old and filled with pages of calligraphy, obviously written by the same person over many years. Hector flipped through the diary, turning to a fairly recent page and passed it to the merchants, "Why don't you see for yourself."
-------
?? Rova 4710 AR It's been ages since I've seen the last ray of sunlight. I don't know how how long it's been since we were caught by these Lamashtu cultists. They keep us here, herded like cattle, stuffed shoulder to shoulder in small cells with barely enough to live by. There were over 20 of us when we first got here, now there are less than half. Hector's in the next cell, we whisper through the cracks, that alone is the one thing keeping me sane. I feel myself weaker by the day, even if I were to reclaim Redeemer, I doubt I'd have to strength to fight back. Butt Stallion give me strength. I will escape here, some how.
?? Rova 4710 AR Monsters! All of them, they returned Leigh to my cell last night. She was covered in welts and blood, her clothes torn and soiled. She screamed for her child. All night, all day, she screamed. I saw her eyes, filled with despair, with agony. Her feet were burnt with hot coals, her backed torn to shreds, sitting down, lying, standing... even breathing caused her so much pain. I couldn't let her suffer like that. I couldn't see her spend the rest of her days in such a state. Even now, in the quiet of the night, I can hear her screams inside my head, I can see her eyes penetrating the depths of my soul. Iomedae forgive me for what I have done. They will bow at my feet and seek forgiveness for their sins. I vow, they will all pay.
?? Rova 4710 AR They took Elise, Leira and Deidre. I know what they will do to them, and I am afraid. Iomedae give me strength, for I have none left. The hosts for Children of Lamashtu rarely survive, and even then, it's a tormented path I wouldn't wish on even the greatest of my enemies. I dare not tell Hector, for I am his light in the darkness. Paladins always uphold the Light... Iomedae, save me. I don't want to die.
The ink is smudged by a mixture of blood and tears.
?? Rova 4710 AR It is done, and the nightmares will never cease. I see their yellowed eyes, gleaming out like the coals of hell from behind their Jackal masks. I hear the screams around me, the wails and cries of the hundreds that have died in this place. I feel no longer the warmth of Iomedae, or the link to my dearest friend. My body is unworthy of you virtuous one. I am sorry. I am sorry.
2 Lamashan 4710 AR Why have you forsaken me Iomedae? Why have you kept me here, left to rot, to decay, to suffer. Am I not your chosen one? Am I not the harbinger of Justice? I will not end my days in this cell. I will not let them starve me here to death. They will pay. They will ALL pay.
The next few pages are bathed in blood, and what looks like bits of dried skin and bones
6 Lamashan 4710 AR I heard her voice in the dark. I felt her embrace. My eyes grow accustomed to the darkness, and I pass each day eagerly, waiting. I grow stronger, for I've found sustenance. So much flesh, such a waste for them to simply rot away. I feed, and I will conquer this darkness. The Thaumathurges and Clerics know nothing, and they will soon regret their ignorance.
8 Lamashan 4710 AR They'll come for me in 3 days. I heard the Clerics discuss it. They know nothing. I will not simply adhere to their plans like a sick mewling girl. They will seek glory, but only find shame, for the Demon Queen, The Mistress of Insanity, the Mother of Perversion does not smile on them fondly. They seek the child the in my belly, and they will not have it. I will carve it out, and offer it to Lamashtu myself, for I am her chosen, and I will carry on her will. They know nothing of her purpose, of her intention, and for their folly, and for their transgressions upon her chosen, they will all die. DIE. DIE. DIE. DIE. DIE. DIE DIE DIE DIE DIE DIE DIE
The final page in this book is written entirely out of blood
RECKONING COMES TOMORROW. YOU WILL SEEK DEATH. IT WILL NOT COME. YOU WILL PRAY FOR DEATH, INSTEAD YOU WILL BE GRANTED ETERNAL SUFFERING.
-------------
"How did you ..."
"She killed everyone. Everything. I don't know why she lost her faith, why she would betray her god, why she became the monster she is now. I don't know why she let me live, but one thing I know, that would be the first, and last mercy ever granted by Lyseth Silverhair."
The woman walked out of Kaer Maga, in armor of shining black, a falchion glistening with blood in her left hand. Her angel-blooded ancestry, now tainted by the darkness and evil of the Demon Queen. She revels in violence, intoxicated by despair, and screams of terror are but music to her ears. She's found the error in her ways, and seeks the ones she brought salvation to, and will now repay them with the gift of the end. She travels first to Ustalav, to seek an old friend, and to help him, like her, ascend and become favored in Lamashtu's eyes.
Read more: pfs-singapore.proboards.com/thread/185/singapore-best-character-background-competition?page=1&scrollTo=877#ixzz2qSk3Ewqq
"The cry of Lamashtu," Hector whispered, his voice quivering as it escaped his parched, cracked lips. "The sooner we leave, the better." He ran his fingers absently down the scabbard of the long sword that lay in his lap, his gaze fixed upon the sky.
His two companions look at him quizzically, neither of them seemed perturbed by the harsh weather. "What are you running from Hector?" The shorter of the men asked, sipping from his decanter, "You seem good in a fight, wouldn't have hired you otherwise. Kaer Maga is dangerous, but not a problem for someone of your caliber."
Hector shuddered, "it's not the city. It's what's in the wind."
The two merchants looked at each other, speaking in a foreign language unknown to Hector, but it was obvious from their tone and demeanor that they didn't take him seriously. Who would? A squire without his knight? He drew the hilt of the long sword free from it's scabbard, "she called it 'The Redeemer'. Ironic really," he lamented, pulling the once magical cold iron long sword completely free of his scabbard.
"Damn thing's broken!" The fatter merchant exclaimed at the broken blade that lay in Hector's lap.
Hector sighed, "We met a long time ago, when she was but a silly girl. Daughter of a farmer, with grand notions of becoming a Paladin. She even carried around this ridiculous looking lamp wherever she went, 'Paladin's always uphold the light'" He mimicked in a high pitched tone. "Damn girl took things too literally. I remember the day we met, had a bunch of townspeople ready to lynch me for the sale of some ah... less-than-accurate maps to non-specific places. Barely managed to escape, posing as her squire. Silly girl was delighted, and made me carry around her even more ridiculous over-sized lance. Not too sure why I was her squire, I exceeded her kill count 2 to 1 on every battle!" Hector grinned, remembering his travelling companion fondly.
"Anyhow, that damned girl eventually managed to wrangle herself a Unicorn, and suddenly, from the skinny little wannabe in tin-foil armor, she became a half-decent Warrior of the Light. Still had a stupid name though, 'Princess Unicorn Unicorn, Protector of the Light'. We called her Puupol for short. We had fun times. Vanquishing evil, rescuing those in trouble, and then she'd spend every free moment trying to set me up with some REAL Princess or another. Wasn't bad though, some were quite pretty."
Hector paused, looking up as the moon began to rise in the night sky. Time passed faster than he'd expected, or was it the dark manifestation of evil slowly creeping over Golarion? It took him a while to notice tears forming in his eyes, and he wiped them away with the practice of a seasoned swindler, masquerading as a dramatic flick of the hair.
"What happened to her?" The merchants asked, transfixed on his tale. Their decanters remained in their hands, caps in the other, letting the angels have their share of the fine liquid within.
"She became pretty famous after that, went to the Worldwound, and killed a couple thousand demons. Met this half crazy, ridiculously charming spirit-talking lady, who we soon found coerced into her employ. Puupol ended up commanding the defenses of Drezen against the demons of Baphomet, and I ended up as Captain of the Guard. Pity, the charming lady seemed to have gotten stuck in the Abyss somehow, and we left. Puupol was a real poster girl for the Pathfinder Society, she and that Unicorn of hers, they awarded her this sword for all her heroics." He sheathed the broken blade, and gingerly wrapped it back in it's protective cloth. "Some artists even included her in a poster contained within their 'EXCLUSIVE SUPER LIMITED EDITION SCROLLCASES'. I was in the picture too, but damned publishers cropped me out of the photo, said 'my ugly mug' detracted from the focus. They were just jealous."
One of the merchants looked up grinning, and pulled an ornate scroll case out of his bag, he opened it and carefully removed the picture from within, a painting of a beautiful knight, clad in silver armor, riding a unicorn into the heat of battle against hordes of demons, the scroll-makers's logo UNICON, emblazoned across the top.
"Aye, that's the one. You can make out the tip of the lance I was carrying in the bottom left corner - " Hector bragged, as the merchant squinted looking for the non-existent trace of the supposed 'squire'.
The fat merchant chimed in, "you think you could get us an autograph? My boy's half mad in love with this girl. He'll be thrilled to find out she's real, maybe we could set up a little -"
Hector cut him off, "I don't think that's such a good idea. Butt Stallion - yes that's the Unicorn's name, I think he wasn't right in the head either, was fiercely protective of his mistress, anyhow Paladin's have to remain celibate in order to claim a Unicorn as their companions, don't know why anyone would take up that ridiculous oath, but well, we all know Puupol was dropped on a head too many times as a babe. Anyway, it's getting late, we should best sleep and set off again at first light." Hector finished abruptly, making a huge show of turning in for the night.
"You can't just leave us hanging, where's Puupol now?" The shorter man berated, eager for the rest of the story.
Hector turned to them, the campfire light illuminating his face, revealing numerous scars, freshly inflicted, in various stages of healing. His eyes looked old, far older than he was, as if they have seen evils and atrocities beyond what a mortal would see. "We got caught, and the followers of Lamashtu don't treat prisoners very well." He removed a small bag from his waist, its once sparkly fabric embroidered with the unmistakable childlike skill of a pixellated unicorn, now weathered and torn beyond repair. Inside was a small book, equally old and filled with pages of calligraphy, obviously written by the same person over many years. Hector flipped through the diary, turning to a fairly recent page and passed it to the merchants, "Why don't you see for yourself."
-------
?? Rova 4710 AR It's been ages since I've seen the last ray of sunlight. I don't know how how long it's been since we were caught by these Lamashtu cultists. They keep us here, herded like cattle, stuffed shoulder to shoulder in small cells with barely enough to live by. There were over 20 of us when we first got here, now there are less than half. Hector's in the next cell, we whisper through the cracks, that alone is the one thing keeping me sane. I feel myself weaker by the day, even if I were to reclaim Redeemer, I doubt I'd have to strength to fight back. Butt Stallion give me strength. I will escape here, some how.
?? Rova 4710 AR Monsters! All of them, they returned Leigh to my cell last night. She was covered in welts and blood, her clothes torn and soiled. She screamed for her child. All night, all day, she screamed. I saw her eyes, filled with despair, with agony. Her feet were burnt with hot coals, her backed torn to shreds, sitting down, lying, standing... even breathing caused her so much pain. I couldn't let her suffer like that. I couldn't see her spend the rest of her days in such a state. Even now, in the quiet of the night, I can hear her screams inside my head, I can see her eyes penetrating the depths of my soul. Iomedae forgive me for what I have done. They will bow at my feet and seek forgiveness for their sins. I vow, they will all pay.
?? Rova 4710 AR They took Elise, Leira and Deidre. I know what they will do to them, and I am afraid. Iomedae give me strength, for I have none left. The hosts for Children of Lamashtu rarely survive, and even then, it's a tormented path I wouldn't wish on even the greatest of my enemies. I dare not tell Hector, for I am his light in the darkness. Paladins always uphold the Light... Iomedae, save me. I don't want to die.
The ink is smudged by a mixture of blood and tears.
?? Rova 4710 AR It is done, and the nightmares will never cease. I see their yellowed eyes, gleaming out like the coals of hell from behind their Jackal masks. I hear the screams around me, the wails and cries of the hundreds that have died in this place. I feel no longer the warmth of Iomedae, or the link to my dearest friend. My body is unworthy of you virtuous one. I am sorry. I am sorry.
2 Lamashan 4710 AR Why have you forsaken me Iomedae? Why have you kept me here, left to rot, to decay, to suffer. Am I not your chosen one? Am I not the harbinger of Justice? I will not end my days in this cell. I will not let them starve me here to death. They will pay. They will ALL pay.
The next few pages are bathed in blood, and what looks like bits of dried skin and bones
6 Lamashan 4710 AR I heard her voice in the dark. I felt her embrace. My eyes grow accustomed to the darkness, and I pass each day eagerly, waiting. I grow stronger, for I've found sustenance. So much flesh, such a waste for them to simply rot away. I feed, and I will conquer this darkness. The Thaumathurges and Clerics know nothing, and they will soon regret their ignorance.
8 Lamashan 4710 AR They'll come for me in 3 days. I heard the Clerics discuss it. They know nothing. I will not simply adhere to their plans like a sick mewling girl. They will seek glory, but only find shame, for the Demon Queen, The Mistress of Insanity, the Mother of Perversion does not smile on them fondly. They seek the child the in my belly, and they will not have it. I will carve it out, and offer it to Lamashtu myself, for I am her chosen, and I will carry on her will. They know nothing of her purpose, of her intention, and for their folly, and for their transgressions upon her chosen, they will all die. DIE. DIE. DIE. DIE. DIE. DIE DIE DIE DIE DIE DIE DIE
The final page in this book is written entirely out of blood
RECKONING COMES TOMORROW. YOU WILL SEEK DEATH. IT WILL NOT COME. YOU WILL PRAY FOR DEATH, INSTEAD YOU WILL BE GRANTED ETERNAL SUFFERING.
-------------
"How did you ..."
"She killed everyone. Everything. I don't know why she lost her faith, why she would betray her god, why she became the monster she is now. I don't know why she let me live, but one thing I know, that would be the first, and last mercy ever granted by Lyseth Silverhair."
The woman walked out of Kaer Maga, in armor of shining black, a falchion glistening with blood in her left hand. Her angel-blooded ancestry, now tainted by the darkness and evil of the Demon Queen. She revels in violence, intoxicated by despair, and screams of terror are but music to her ears. She's found the error in her ways, and seeks the ones she brought salvation to, and will now repay them with the gift of the end. She travels first to Ustalav, to seek an old friend, and to help him, like her, ascend and become favored in Lamashtu's eyes.
Read more: pfs-singapore.proboards.com/thread/185/singapore-best-character-background-competition?page=1&scrollTo=877#ixzz2qSk3Ewqq