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Hi guys, i know alot of u are anticipating new chapters of Prisoners of War(at least in the egotistical part of my brain neway) and just wanted to post this story up here for you guys to read. Its a story i'm writing for a writing contest for an Everquest 2 beta account, and as such it has nothing to do with drugs or anything, but if your a fan of Everquest or fantasy in general you might like it.

(Yes i will return to writing PoW as soon as I finish with this, which is pretty soon actually)

I-Memories


My story is a long one, and while I'm not sure if it is an interesting one…it is one I feel I must tell. I do not have a name for this story, I would feel wrong to allow it to defy the nature of its teller.

I don’t know where I was born. Most likely it was Freeport, as my first clear memory was in a tavern in Beggar’s Court. It is a fuzzy memory but I was surrounded by a host of different races, all making faces and smiling at me. Their smiles didn’t make me feel better though, they scared me.

I eventually found my way out, and in Freeport the first thing a person learns is how to defend himself…I had to be constantly on guard, hiding in abandoned houses and sleeping in gutters. Few people helped me, and the ones who did I resented for their wealth, if you could even call it that.

Most of my time I spent in Beggar’s Court, where wealth was considered two meals a day with enough money left over for clothes that fit. I of course would wander around eventually as I grew up, seeing the city and all the towns therein. I would observe but never interact; I always kept to the shadows, becoming more and more withdrawn as I grew.

I decided that I would only have myself in this world, never knowing my parents or how I came here might haunt me till the day I die, but I couldn’t let that ruin it. There must have been a reason I survived, even if it was just to kill.

I had gotten a taste for blood early, at the young age of seven. I had been taken in by one of those wealthy people mentioned earlier, and stayed in room all to myself. They actually had two rooms to their house! I was extremely mad, mostly at myself for letting myself give up and get help from them, when they came to me about some missing copper coins.

I denied it of course, but as you’ll see again in this tale I am not a very good thief. They searched me down and found them quite easily and the husband began to hit me and push me down as the wife threatened to call the guards.

I couldn’t believe how mad he was because of a few copper coins, I mean after all he said he wanted to help me didn’t he? With their money I didn’t even think they’d notice it. I pushed the man away which surprised him, as well as me. I wasn’t an exceptionally large kid, in fact I was pretty skinny, yet I was able to push him away with no problem at all.

It was when I saw the tinge of fear in his eye that I realized that I did have power, I did have a reason to live…I realized how I had survived, and how I would continue to survive.

I clenched my fists and punched him in the kneecap. He screamed out and fell down to face level, enough for me to swing again, hitting him square in the nose and sending him sprawling back.

I heard a crack as he screamed out in pain even more, his wife coming back. She started screaming at the site of her husband and I simply hopped up on his stomach and using him to jump even higher to roundhouse kick her down.

She was knocked out, he had passed out due to pain, and I was enthralled. I had never felt so alive. I looked down at them knowing that I could end their lives, but still fearing the guard I just stole whatever coin I could find and left.

__________________
Every living creature on earth dies alone.

 

Lyte it up 420

II – Time passes

I got used to hiding after that night. She had in fact called the guards and I saw them rush inside as I walked down the street in the shadows. I would do it again soon enough, the feeling of power that came with it I couldn’t help but crave again and again.

I usually didn’t do it at Beggar’s Court since that was my hiding place; Temple Street was always my favorite place. The gnomes and Ratonga were oft to busy with their experiments to notice me most of the time, and while I’m not the best thief, they threw out plenty of machinery that I was able to carry off and sell in other districts.

Being a military town I did have to sneak around and my distance to others did help me avoid their gaze most of the time. Unless I needed something, which is to say I believed I could gain something by approaching them by means of force or not, I would remain away from them. I was an outcast, and I accepted it. And with the growing cold war with Qeynos most of Freeport’s armies had little concern with a kid stealing from gnomes.

The militia was another story. The guards were a constant thorn in my sides, they were always on patrol and not being a good thief I wasn’t good at hiding and sneaking around people who were actively looking. I usually stayed out of trouble, not doing anything serious unless I was sure none were near. If they caught me with Gnomish machines they usually just took it from me with a scowl, probably to pawn it for themselves. I dreamt of the day they would bow to me.

I continued to get stronger as I grew, even venturing into Big Ben when I needed a thrill. Ogre’s and trolls were the only creatures that could seem to match my strength it seemed, which although did puzzle me it just became so normal that I soon forgot to question it. I would spar with ogre children where their parents couldn’t see, honing my skills and becoming even stronger.

I would get injured quite a bit, which brings me to a rather important part of the story, depending on which way you look at it of course. When I was around eleven I was in Big Ben, fighting with Grol, a local ogre child who although was much older and bigger then me I would pick fights with in the interest of getting stronger.

“Yuu shood know betta buy now.” He said laughing that annoyingly arrogant laugh he and all trolls seemed to share. I just smiled back and prepared myself. I could never afford a weapon, so I was sort of forced into becoming adept with my own hands. Grol never had that problem, and today he had a surprise for me, pulling out a small hand axe from behind his back.

“What’s that?” I asked raising my eyebrow.

“Yuu tink me stuupid?” He asked, my smile staying as I restricted myself. “Me see gone coin! Yuu take!”

“Why I don’t know what you are talking about.” I said calmly, keeping my eye on the axe.

“Me teech yuu lesson. Yuu not come here no more!” With that he ran at me swinging the axe wildly. I was able to dodge out of the way fairly well, diving under his big body and kicking him before landing on my back. I quickly rolled over and got up as he held his stomach in pain. As he caught his breath and turned around his face turned to shock seeing my fist an inch from his face.

He flew down with a large bang onto his back, which was something I was especially proud of. Not many human’s I knew could say they could knock an ogre off his feet. His piercing scream shook me back to the moment as I realized he had fallen into the axe. I shook my head walking up to him. “Never were very agile were you Grol?”

I patted down his clothes, relieving him of his coin and patting him on the stomach as he struggled to move his arms. “Oh and you were right, I did take your money.” I said with a smile, waving the few silver pieces in his face.

My head jerked up as a loud bellow echoed through the open road like a clap of lightning. I looked up to see a large ogre, Grol’s father rushing towards us, his eyes burning with hatred. As smug as I was right now I knew I couldn’t handle him, but pulled the axe out of Grol’s back to at least defend myself with.

Seeing me do this must have made his father even mad, because he pulled one off of a little strap that connected a whole set of them to his belt and threw it at me. This took me by surprise, and his father was obviously a much better warrior then Grol because with the little time I had to move it hit me in my shoulder.

I cried out ducking down to my knees as another one whizzed by my head and pulled it out before my shoulder became dislodged. Then I ran, as fast as I could and as far as I could. I looked back and saw him stop and kneel near Grol, then let out another loud howl, but by then I was far enough away that he would never find me.

I made my way back to Beggar’s court, glad that I was able to get these coins or I would have had to deal with it myself. I had been hurt before fighting with the ogres and trolls, but never anything this bad.

It wasn’t long after getting there till I saw something that caught my eye, a man in his thirties sneaking around in the shadows at the side of the tavern. I looked him up and down, seeing him in a long flowing light robe that looked rather expensive, I wondered why he would need to be hiding, and since he looked actually wealthy, how I could use that to my advantage.

I decided to put off my health for a little while in the hopes of my coin and approached. He heard me coming before I got close enough to make a move and turned around, looking me up and down as I froze in place. “So, do you want to mug me?” He asked calmly.

The question took me by surprise as I looked at him more closely. His face was long and stern, he looked as if he had lived more years then his age let on, and yet at the same time looked incredibly youthful. His head was shaved under his hood, part of the nice white robe that he wore. “I was thinking about it.” I said suddenly uncomfortable, for some reason I seemed unable to lie to this man.

He gently smiled at me. “You shouldn’t be doing this son.”

“I’m not your son.” I said, for a moment doubting that statement.

He laughed. “I know.” He looked at my arm, which was still bleeding pretty badly. “Do you need some help with that?”

Lyte it up 420

III – An unexpected proposal

I swallowed hard as it hit me fully, I did need help. My head began to feel cloudy and all I could do was nod. “Come.” He said gently placing his hand on my unhurt shoulder and guiding me down the alley. “I’ve rented a room at the hotel.”

I didn’t argue or fight as the blood loss became more apparent and I began to sway. I don’t remember what happened next but the next thing I remember is waking up in his hotel room, a small one room place with one bed that I slept on as he sat with his eyes closed his arms crossed and his head lowered.

“Good morning.” He said not looking up. He wasn’t wearing a robe this time, I could see it hanging on the wall and I again marveled at how nice his clothing looked. He wore a nice clean white short sleeve shirt and long white pants of material that I could only guess with patterns trailing the corners and a large symbol on his back.

“Uh…yea.” Was what I came back with sitting up and rubbing my shoulder, which was now all bandaged up. “You did this?” He nodded. “Why?”

He looked up at me finally opening his eyes. “Would you rather have had me leave you there to die?”

I clenched my jaw swallowing hard. “I don’t like getting help.”

He smiled. “You’re very proud, which is astonishing for someone with so little.”

“Listen here, I don’t know who you are but you can’t talk to me like that!” I said standing up angrily, preparing for a fight. Whatever effect the blood loss had on me was over and I was no longer under any spell from him.

“Calm down that was a compliment. Being happy with nothing is close to enlightenment. To be one with everything around you and need nothing for your physical body.”

My face changed from anger to confusion. “What are you talking about?”

He smiled. “Maybe that was coming on too strong. Have you ever heard of a monk son?”

I looked him up and down again my anger only fading slowly as I shook my head. “Stop calling me son.”

He nodded. “Alright I’m sorry.” He smiled which again seemed to oddly calm me. “A monk is a holy man. We hone our bodies into weapons for our God.”

I scoffed. “God?” I rubbed my chin. “A holy warrior, you mean like a Paladin?”

“Sort of, but while they use weapons and armor enchanted by their magic…Monks train our minds to be able to use our body more efficiently then anyone else on Norrath.” He paused. “And yes I do still worship my God, and although there aren’t as many true Monks anymore they do exist.”

“In Qeynos.”

He nodded. “Mostly yes, Freeport sort of shuns the practice.”

“More like its illegal.” I said smugly. Growing up on the streets of Freeport and surrounded by the constant talk of how horrid Qeynos is I naturally grew to hate them as well. I had never met anyone from Qeynos, but justified it as being loyal to my city.

“Yes I suppose.” He said as I smiled. I finally knew why he was sneaking around.

“You know I should probably turn you into the nearest guard.” I said with a smirk

He smiled right back, looking me strait in the eye. “I think what you meant to say is you should extort me for whatever you can get in return for not turning me in.”

I chuckled rubbing the back of my head. “That’d work too.”

He nodded. “It would, I would be glad to oblige, but…

“And what?” I said interrupting him getting angry. “You save my life, tell me some nice storys, and what? You expect me to start believing in God? Become a Monk?” I shook my head. “I am not a Monk, I do not believe in any God…and I never will.” I said harshly.

He was quiet as he walked closer, not breaking eye contact. “I sense something within you. Something special.” He said softly. “I know you feel it too, you’re way beyond your peers. You’re smarter without having to study, stronger without having to work out. Do you really want to become another street brawler? Just some thug when you could be something special?”

I bit my lip; it took all of my restraint not to punch him in the face at that moment as I pointed my finger at him. “I will be something special.” I said firmly.

He nodded with a smile taking a few steps back to give me space. “I know, I can feel it…and I can help you get there.”

“And you just want me to betray my city, abandon my life?”

“What kind of life do you have son…what do you even know about it?”

“What do you know about it!” I said walking back up to him. “And I told you not to call me son.”

“I don’t know, but we can uncover your past and your future together. I can mold you into a good fighter, a good thinker, and hopefully a good person.” He said. “Let me give you the tools you need to be great, and not just a thug who goes around mugging people.”

I stopped, switching my train of thought. I saw the other way I should be seeing this. He was offering to train me an ancient art to make me even stronger. I would have a place to stay, food to eat and I would be getting trained by a Monk. Then when I was strong enough, when I didn’t need him anymore I would leave.

Lyte it up 420

IV – Training for better or for worse?

And so I trained. I trained hard. Most of the day he would have me work around town doing odd jobs, and I never knew why. He said it was to learn how to keep busy, that always having a goal would always keep my mind out of the gutter. I just smiled and nodded, waiting for the day I would learn the big secret to power.

I waited and waited, but the secret never came. Day after day of working and coming home exhausted just to hear him go on and on about the God’s and our duties was having my toll on me. “When will we start training?” I asked him one day.

He put down the book he was reading to me and looked at me smiling. “We have been training.” He said simply smiling. “We’ve been training for years.”

I shook my head. “I’ve been studying and working for years. I haven’t fought once yet.”

“Training is not all fighting.”

“But you said that Monks perfect their bodies into finely tuned weapons?”

He nodded. “They do. And they do this with the sheer power of their mind. We must train your mind before we can train your body.”

“And all the work?”

He got up walking to the counter and picking up a piece of bread. “The work is for food. You like to eat don’t you?” He took a bite smiling. “You have to work to get ahead in this life; you can’t just go around trying to steal everything you need. If anything else that is what I’m trying to teach you the most.”

I looked at him with a smirk. “Mugging people is work.”

He shook his finger at me. “Not the work to be doing if you want to be great! You want to be known don’t you?” He said staring at me. “You don’t want to be nameless and unknown forever do you?”

I shook my head. “No.” Was all I could silently muster as he looked away getting me a piece of bread.

“I can get you you’re name. But you must trust me.”

I had never trusted anyone in my life and he knew this. But living with him for years had softened me up a bit, and so I agreed that day to trust him, agreed to do as he instructed without question. But still I was harboring thoughts of my own. In Freeport being good and nice only got you killed or worse.

It was soon after my fourteenth birthday that he had taken me out in back of the store that he had bought and told me that it was time.

“Time for what?” I asked wiping my hands. The store was a bakery; one of my many jobs was to learn to cook, so I wouldn’t have to steal. Again a lesson I never really understood…but one I put up with to get stronger.

“Time to fight me.”

I looked at him to see if he was serious, a little surprised. “What?”

He smiled. “You heard me.” He looked at me. “Prepare yourself!” His voice denoted his seriousness as I held up my hands just in time to block a punch. It pushed me back against a nearby wall and the suddenness of the pain shook me.

I hadn’t fought in so long I had almost forgotten about the pain, and after feeling it the memories came flooding back, and with them the urge. I pushed off the wall jumping at him with a barrage of punches that he never saw coming. He was able to block a few but surprising to even me I was able to get most of them few.

He came back at me of course, but I was too quick for him, easily able to avoid his bigger body and retaliate hitting him in the side or back as he shot past me. It was almost too easy as I took a step back and held up my hand. “You’re playing with me.” I said.

He wiped some running blood from his nose. “Why do you say that?”

“You tell me how powerful monks are, how powerful you are…and then I fight for the first time in three years and am able to win against you?” I shook my head with a frown. “I don’t buy it.”

“I am trying to test you, not kill you.” He said simply, neatly rubbing the dirt and wrinkles out of his vest.

“No!” I screamed, my eyes tearing. I was hit with a flood of emotions that I had no explanation over, and it was his fault. “You lied! You said we were going to fight, and by holding back you are lying! And you wanted me to trust you…” I trailed off at the realization that I did actually trust him, I did actually care…and this is what was causing all these feelings.

“And do you trust me?” He asked, still completely calm as if these feelings were his intention.

I shook my head blinking away the tears. “I don’t think I will anymore.”

“Well we can’t have that.” He said cracking his knuckles. “You truly want me to fight you fully?” I looked at him again to make sure he was honest, and then solemnly nodded raising my fists. He nodded and sighed. “To keep your trust.” I nodded again. “Ok.”

He nodded slowly and raised his fists again, but this time he didn’t come at me, but stayed there still. I remember rushing him with a smile, the feelings of power and the rush of excitement pumping through me, then so quickly fading away as he completely dodged out of the way of my punch. I remember it so much probably since it was the last thing I remember before I blacked out.

Lyte it up 420

V – An unexpected end

I woke up back in his apartment, with the greatest pain I had ever felt piercing through my entire backside. He explained to me what happened, that he dodged my blow and struck the back of my neck, which must have knocked me out. I had never felt weaker in my life, but at the same time never had such a desire to become stronger.

After I recovered we began physical training. The time that I had waited for had finally come and it was more then I expected. We made due with little to no equipment, making training dummies from old crates from the store or just having him spar with me since he was so able to modify how much of his strength he would use.

I still worked and studied of course, but not for as long. And it became less and less as that year went on and I was fighting more and more. I was continually getting stronger at a pace that astonished not just me but him as well.

The next major event of my life was well into my fifteenth year. We were sparring out back on a break from the shop, if you could call it a break. The bakery had become more of a training place then a working place after customers died down to the more accessible shops of Freeport, in fact it was a rarity to even see a customer around this time, so we spent most of our time studying. Fighting was my break from that.

I was getting better and I knew it, each day I would notice more and more sweat form on his forehead. More and more he would call off the sparring early and have me practice meditating. By this time now I was pretty sure he was using his full power, though I could never be sure.

I was meditating when it happened. A loud explosion ringed through my ears as I was shook back to reality and stood up following him through the shop. I could hear people screaming and looking down to my right I could see the militia gather.

I looked to my left to see fire take to the shop from the burning building next door as a group of people ran up to us. “Come, hurry!” The one who seemed in charge said coming up to us and holding out his hand. He wore a white robe like the others, but his markings clearly indicated a higher position.

I yelled to the captain as I readied myself, not about to be taken capture by anyone. “No!” The monk said to me, his face stern. “We must not fight here.” He said nervously looking at the guards approaching.

I sighed but complied, lowering my arms and following the men down an assortment of alleys. I had no idea where we were going, and we eventually made our ways down into the sewers. “Stop!” I cried out finally when we made a few turns underground. “We don’t have to worry about the guards anymore, let’s take care of them!” I said to him.

He sighed, giving the others a look and then turning to me. “No.”

I arched my brow. “What? Why not?”

He sighed. “These men are part of the Tunarian Alliance.”

“So? Even more reason to kill them, who knows what they are doing here!” I said, my arms still not lowered.

“They are here for me.” He said quietly.

“What?” I was sure that I had misheard him.

“I am part of the Tunarian Alliance as well.” He said a little louder.

“What?” I screamed out, my confusion turning to anger.

“I was sent here to spy on Freeport’s armies, to find out if they are planning any sort of attacks on Qeynos…” He paused sighing. “…and to possibly recruit others to help with our goals.”

I said nothing else, silent for a moment while I let it settle in. I then looked up at him and sprang forth, punching him right in the face. The guards were taken aback and quickly ran to his aid as I turned my rage to them.

There were three of them including the captain, who I quickly jabbed in the knee before tumbling forward and popping up behind the two lackeys. “Stop!” The monk cried out as I grabbed their heads and slammed them together.

As they fell to the floor unconscious the leader took out a knife backing up to the monk. I eyed them both my eyes burning with hatred. “Please, calm down.” He pleaded holding his arm out.

I shook my head. “This is what I get for trusting people.” I ran forward ready to kill them both, but my anger blinded me of my abilities, and together I stood no chance against them. The monk may not have wanted to kill me, but I knew the captain did, and with a weapon he was the one I went after first.

He stabbed at me a few times which I easily avoided and punched him a few times in the chest and back. He was weakening but as the monk grabbed me to get me to calm down the captain came up and stabbed me in the stomach. “No! Don’t!” The monk cried as he let go and I fell.

I quickly rolled over, using my feet to trip the captain. He got up whispering with the Monk as I leaned against the wall. “There they are!” I heard come from above as I realized the guards had found us.

“We must go!” The captain said frantically, throwing his dagger at me and turning to run. I gasped as time seem to slow down, and I watched as the dagger came at me, and as much as I tried I couldn’t move…seeing it come closer and closer to my head.

It hit me in the top of the cheekbone, and I winced in pain as I realized it had stopped. I looked ahead at the monk, who with a strained face held out both hands towards me. He was sweating profusely and his face looked completely red as I noticed a faint blue glow around his body.

It was then I realized that time wasn’t going slow, the dagger was. He had somehow taken control of it, and I screamed out as he dropped his arms and the dagger went tearing down through my face, mimicking the movement of his arms as he fell to the ground.

I held my bloody cheek as the militia came rushing through the tunnels and the monk looked up at me. “Don’t forget what I said…” Was all he could manage to choke out before the Militia placed a halberd’s blade into the back of his skull.

 

Lyte it up 420

VI – Back to work

The guards had me taken care of since I had help subdue the intruders, some of them even joking at how good of a guard I would be. It was the first time in years I had seen an ogre, and it reminded me of the night I met the monk. Just thinking about him filled me with rage; I couldn’t believe I had fallen for his act. I would never trust another again.

As they healed me I was informed that the cut on my face would leave a scar that would probably be permanent. I shrugged the comment off as I looked at it in the mirror. I guess his arms must have swayed as the scar curved up slightly to the right from the top of my cheekbone, and after maybe an inch curved down left all the way to the side of my chin.

When they asked for a name for the records I just told them scar with a smile. After all the monk did live up to one thing, he did give me a name…

After I was healed they sent me on my way, and with the shop burnt down and no money to pay for the apartment I was again forced back to my old life where I hid around the Beggar’s Court, sneaking into the other districts to steal and mug whenever I needed any food.

Knowing how to cook my own food was a plus, trying to get legitimate jobs to pay for a place to stay, but I always came back to the illegitimate. ‘Scar’ had become well known on the underground able to do the most ruthless of jobs needed as long as the money was good.

“Ah it’s the famous scar!” The dark elf came through the double doors of his large office out into the hallway where I stood. He wore fancy leather armor and greeted me with a smile and a handshake, his cold dark skin feeling quite unpleasant. “You know who I am correct?” He asked after leading me into his office and offering me a seat.

I nodded. “Yes.” He was a leader of one of the biggest black market operations Freeport had ever seen. He was one of the militia’s most wanted, and in fact the only reason he hadn’t been caught most likely was a deal that he had with Lucan to share his profits. Of course that was just a rumor that floated around.

“Do you know why I’ve called you here?”

“No.”

He smiled looking at my scar. “Well scar you’ve become quite a name in the underworld, which is rare for someone so young.”

“And you need me to do something for you.”

He nodded his smile keeping. “Yes, you are a bright young man as well aren’t you?”

“I’ve been told so.” I said keeping calm, even though I was uncomfortable in such a fancy place. “What is it you want?”

“Well I’ve been having some trouble with the Freeport Militia recently. They came across a shipment of goods from Qeynos and have confiscated it.” He paused and stood up walking closer. “I’m sure you’ve heard rumors of a deal between me and Mr. D’Lere?”

I nodded. “It’s going around.”

“Well it’s true.” He said smugly. “But the militia, while of course always true to Lucan will sometimes do things under the radar if it can get them a quick profit. They have their loyalties to Lucan, and they have their loyalties to themselves you understand.”

I nodded. “They plan to pawn off what they can without even letting Lucan know of the confiscation, and while I could go to him directly and work something out it would be such a hassle when the result would be obvious. Officially he sides with his militia not me, and he would confiscate it himself anyway...so either way I lose.”

“Unless of course you hire someone to go in there and steal it back for you.”

He laughed. “Exactly, the only problem is there are few people who would take that kind of risk.”

“No kidding.” I said with a smile sitting forward. “What is it I’ll get for doing this?” He nodded with a smile reaching into his pocket and pulling out two platinum coins, softly placing them on his desk.

“Have you ever seen a platinum coin before?” He asked seeing me eyeing them.

“I don’t’ like your presumptions.”

He laughed holding up his hands. “Fair enough.” He paused. “So what is your answer?”

I thought for a minute. “Well how big is this shipment I have to get? If this place is heavily guarded it will be hard enough to get in without having to worry about bringing a whole shipment back out.”

He walked back around his desk sitting down pulling out a scroll and looking it over. “They are holding it a local guard tower in Big Ben. The ogres there will be tough to get past, but if you do accept I will have a few people waiting behind the tower to bring the shipment back.

If my information is correct, which it usually is then they have it held up in a storage room in the back, just one hallway away from the side exit here.” He pointed to the map and I saw a layout of the building. The side door was very close to the storage cell.

“The bad news is the side door is securely locked from the inside, it is a door there only for the quick movement of their loot, and will not open from the outside. It is most likely guarded as well.

You will have to go in the front and make your way to the back, open the back door and let my guys get the shipment out…and for that you get two platinum.”

I thought for a minute fingering my scar. “Ok, I’ll do it.”

Lyte it up 420

VII – Down to business

“Of course this should go without saying but whatever was said in this room stays in this room, or you won’t live too long once out of it.” Those words echoed in my ear even the next night as I peered down the large streets of Big Ben.

Not that I would have told anyone anything anyway, it was the fact he had to presume I didn’t have enough class to be loyal to who I worked for. I kept my mouth shut, but after a look I think he caught the idea.

I watched across the street as a group of dark elves and humans hurried down to the guard building, to wait outside for me as I prepared myself, the rush beginning to course through my body once again. I walked calmly down the road, the one or two ogres still out giving me strange looks that I ignored, my eyes fixated on the guard tower.

It was huge, with bricks that looked like it could have been as old as the town and I stood and marveled at it for a moment, never having come to this part of Big Ben before. I rubbed my scar wondering how I was going to manage this, and peeking through the open archway in the front I saw only three guards walking around.

Shrugging off any doubt I had I walked into the building as their eyes fell on me. “What yuu want?” One of them asked roughly walking up to me and fingering his sword. I said nothing but punched him again and again in his two sides about ten times very fast, watching as I dented his plate mail armor to the point of breaking through and hitting his hard filthy flesh, ending the barrage with an uppercut that sent him flying into the far wall.

The other two by now had gotten on their feet and grabbed for their weapons. I quickly ran across the room to them, kicking one in the shin while jabbing the other in his armor less neck, spinning between the two as they sloppily swung their swords. One fell to his knee and I spun around kicking him in the back of the head while the other one swung his sword in the gap I made by spinning.

I slapped my hands down grabbing the sword as the other ogre fell and pulled at it to steady myself, once getting my footing I jerked even harder forcing the ogre to stumble towards me as I let go and punched him in the face and jumping twirled around kicking him in the chest sending him crashing down into a desk, breaking it.

I bent down and picked up the sword, turning around and in one quick motion jabbing it down into the ogre’s neck. I pulled it back out and walked over to the other, carefully avoiding the broken desk and did the same, and again with the final one at the other corner of the room.

As it was the first time I actually killed someone I would have expected to think more of it then I did, but at the moment it was just something that had to be done. There could be no witnesses if I was to keep living in Freeport after this, so every unfortunate guard that ran into me tonight would be dead.

After the third was dead I took another closer look around the room to make sure no one had heard anything. Luckily for me the ogres weren’t too smart and they didn’t call out for help in the short amount of time that I gave them. I dropped the bloody sword and took out the scroll that the dark elf had given me from the pouch the dark elf had given me. I took another look at it and walked across the room heading down the western hallway.

The building was as huge inside as it was out, but the layout was pretty simple, and I was able to sneak my way down the big hallways pretty easily, with most of the guards asleep or lounging in other rooms. When I turned the final corner though I noticed two of them talking in front of the treasure room.

I smiled ready for it. I expected there to be guards, and was actually happy. I truly enjoyed fighting and the thrill that came with it, but nervous that there might be more guards around the corners or in the room stopped me from attacking head on.

I fingered my scar trying to think of something I could do, and taking another look behind me I whistled towards the two. As I peered down the hall I saw them look and talk to each other, grabbing their weapons. They made their way down the hall and I smiled seeing that no one else followed.

I waited there until they were close enough, then before they could even turn around struck the closest one to me. He was pushed back, turning and tumbling into his friend, his sword going strait through the other’s stomach.

The fallen one let out a scream of pain as the other rolled off and stood up, too far away from the body now to retrieve his weapon. I smiled raising my hands as he scowled and lunged at me.

Avoiding him was no problem, punching him in the side as I moved out of the way and he regained his footing. I punched at him but hit only his metal bracers as he blocked and punched me square in the face.

I flew back hitting the wall hard and shook my head just in time to see him charge at me. I held out my hands grabbing him by his shoulder as he pushed me against the wall. My hands moved until I had a good hold on his neck, then being partially in the air already I pushed his head down and kneed him in the face.

He weakened but continued to push, so I kneed him again, and again, and again until he finally went limp and I fell to the floor on top of him. I groaned rolling off of him and getting up next to his friend and caught my breath grabbing the sword. I especially enjoyed plunging it into this one’s neck, this one who gave me so much trouble…I loved ending his life.

I again discarded the sword as I walked down the hallway to the treasure room, peering down the hallway to the right where the side door was. Another guard stood watch there, apparently not concerned with the whistle of before. The other way was another hallway that led to another part of the building, but I could see no doors or no ogres, and could only hope there were none around the corner. With only one left I was pretty confident and just turned around the corner and watched as his face turned to shock, and then anger as he grabbed his sword and charged at me.

I had become pretty adept at these ogre’s tactics and again was easily able to dodge his attacks, while always connecting with mine. This one seemed to have the best armor of all of them, and it took quite a lot to put him down. He even got a few slices into me, which again gave me great joy when I was able to end his life.

I patted down his body for keys and ran down the hallway to the side door, unlocking it and swinging it open peering out into the dark night. I waited there for a minute and just when I thought that they had left I heard rustling in the bushes nearby. “Good job scar, we didn’t think you could do it.” A young dark elf said coming up out of the shadows. “We’ll get the shipment now. You’re job is done.” He said smiling and placing two platinum coins in my hand.

Lyte it up 420

VIII – Money equals happiness…right?

Yea I guess I was a mercenary and just biding time doing the illegal for whoever would pay me until I was old enough to do it for the city, but I did enjoy it. I had the thrill of the fight and the feelings of power that came with it. After the job I did I gained even more credibility in the underworld, able to afford an even better apartment in Longshadow Alley under the protection of the black market crime boss since I continued to do jobs for him.

I began to socialize a little more, but socializing with Dark Elves could be considered withdrawing even more from society with how secretive and sly they all are. I fit in surprisingly well though, maybe originally getting in because of their boss but earning their respect in time.

I was freelance, I still did the occasional job or two for others if the opportunity came along, and never actually joined with the dark elves gang, since I wasn’t a Dark Elf they never asked and I was ok with it, each morning I was reminded not to trust anyone by seeing my scar.

After the big job Lucan started to crack down. He learned what had happened and why, and any deal between him and the dark elf was officially canceled, with more and more guards poking around each day. Just when I had started to feel comfortable I felt the need to move away to get away from this hassle.

I returned to Beggar’s Court, and still having close to two platinum saved up was able to get a place pretty easily, returning to my underground life. I didn’t even bother with legit jobs anymore since my reputation was good enough to get more jobs then I would even need.

I began to train again, wanting to be stronger and stronger, eventually venturing outside of the city and hunting some of the weaker orc tribes, which turned out to be a good source of money as well.

“You sure you’re old enough to be fighting these guys kid?” A large Kerra said resting a large sword on his shoulder.

“You sure you’re smart enough to use that mouth?” I came back with, the surrounding party chuckling.

“You sure you want to live little kid?” The Kerra said readying his sword.

“Now now, the orcs are our enemies.” The other human of the group said stepping forward. “Save your energy for them.”

The Kerra nodded and broke eye contact as a young looking dark elf smiled at me. “You’re scar right?” I nodded. “I’ve heard of you. Was hoping to meet you, why did you move out of Longshadow Alley?”

“Too much heat.” I said as we walked through the Commonlands.

He nodded. “I hear you…Lucan is really bringing the brick down. The word is there will be a new crime boss pretty soon.” He said with a wink.

“And that’s good news?”

He shrugged. “If whoever it is pays better it is.” The human hushed us as we crouched and looked over the hill we stood on. Two small tents were to the side of one larger one, with a campfire going in the center.

“How many do you see?” He asked the Dark Elf who studied the camp without trouble even in the dark night. “Nine, maybe ten.” He said finally looking back at us. “Maybe a little too much?”

“If we got a real fighter instead of a kid maybe not.” The Kerra said sarcastically.

“You’re pushing my patience.” I said angrily.

“Quiet!” The human said. “We can do it and we will if we don’t kill each other first.”

We were able to calm down enough to get a plan together. The Kerra would wait here as we snuck around to the other side of the cliff behind the camp. He would then start sniping at them with his bow, hopefully taking out a couple of the fighters as they ran for him, as we snuck up behind and killed the archers who stayed behind.

It was a good plan, a plan that worked perfectly thanks to the stupidity of the orcs, but it lacked one very important thing, the sharing of the loot. “I say we just split it up evenly.” The dark elf said.

“I agree, I don’t see what the problem is.” The human said.

He looked at me angrily, as if he was mad that I was able to prove him wrong. “I don’t share so well with kids.” He sneered.

“And I don’t share too well with death men.” I said not breaking his stare.

“Scar…”

“What? The orcs are dead…let me take care of him.”

The dark elf smiled. “I don’t have a problem with it.”

The human sighed rolling his eyes. “Whatever, just make it fast before more orcs come.”

The Kerra snarled at me pulling a dagger from his belt. He was fast and took me by surprise swinging it at me, but I was able to move mostly out of the way, only getting a slight cut on my arm. As I moved back I twirled around and kicked in him the face, sending him falling back and allowing me the time to regain my bearings.

This time when he came at me I was ready, blocking his arm and punching him back again. He fell to his knees and got up slowly, the hate in his eyes all consuming as he came at me again.

He was tired now, and I easily avoided his stab, punching him in the gut, kneeing him in the face and then punching him again in the face. He fell hard on his back dropping the knife and the dark elf clapped. “Good show.” He said sneering.

The human rolled his eyes. “Can we just split this up and say goodbye now?”

Lyte it up 420

IX – Alone again

Yes I had money, I had respect, I had food and a place to stay…but I wasn’t satisfied. I wasn’t happy. The people who knew me were barley known themselves so what I had couldn’t have been called fame. I made my money breaking the laws of the city I wanted renown in, which probably wasn’t a good idea, so soon after I turned seventeen I stopped.

I dropped off the radar, took the money I had and retreated to my apartment. I trained harder and longer every day, only hunting when I needed to test my limits. I this I was the most withdrawn during this point in my life, most of my thoughts only of power, and the ways I could get it.

The guards never stopped bothering me though. Dropping off the radar didn’t get rid of my reputation; in fact it seemed to even make me a little more popular, and unbeknownst to me, Lucan was putting a lot of pressure for the militia to find me. Maybe he wanted someone so efficient doing jobs for himself and not the criminals of the city.

I remember my eighteenth birthday. I was punching the wall of my apartment, which was a hobby that I took up when I couldn’t find anything else to punch when I heard knocking at the door. I hesitated wiping the sweat from my brow as knocking at the door was a rarity since it never happened. Not once has anyone visited me in this apartment, so I was obviously wary.

“This is the Freeport Militia. Open this door!”

I cursed to myself as they continued to bang, and I looked around for any way I could escape. Of course there wasn’t, and I was forced to just stand there and wait for them to break the door down and come barging in. A dark elf captain followed by two ogre guards, all clad in shiny plate mail armor stood now in my small apartment eyeing me up and down. “Are you the man with no name?”

I nodded. “What is this about?”

“You are hereby ordered to come with us for execution by command of Lord Lucan D’Lere.”

“Execution, what for?” I said calmly weighing my options. The two ogres both had a belt full of throwing axes, one wielding a halberd and the other a large double bladed axe. I could see two sword handles sticking out the back of the dark elf’s back, but who knows what else he hid.

“You’re under suspicion of robbing a guard’s tower in Big Ben.”

“You kill people for suspicion?”

He took a step closer with a smile as he leaned closer and nodded. “Of course, where have you been living?”

“Well there must be a way I can prove myself, I didn’t do that…I was even planning on joining the militia today, my eighteenth birthday.”

“Don’t try and defend yourself scar, I know that you did it…I used to work for the crime boss who sent you on the mission.”

“Used to?”

“D’Lere took him down.” He said smugly. “He gave you up to avoid execution…not that it worked” he chuckled. “I feel for ya kid, I really do. If it weren’t for these ogres here I’d probably let you go, you’ve done a few jobs for some friends of mine.” He said looking at me strangely.

It took me a moment to return the look, and he nodded stepping aside to reveal the two ogres standing there staring vacantly ahead, probably not even paying attention to the conversation.

I went right to it, taking a quick three steps to my left going towards the ogres. He let out a gasp of surprise and I jumped to the side even further as he swung his axe down over his head, hitting and wedging it into the floor.

With him leaning down trying to pull it out I quickly kicked him in the face as I leaned back barley being missed by one of the other’s throwing axes. He came at me jumping over his fallen friend and swinging the sword at me again and again. I maneuvered around my room using my size to my advantage, easily avoiding all his stabs and swings.

While we fought I kept my eye on the dark elf, who stood at the same place watching us with his arms crossed and a smile on his face. I didn’t know if he was just messing around with me, but I was prepared to kill him as well if I needed to.

Either way I decided it was time to find out kneeing the Ogre in the gut chopping at his main hand causing him to drop his sword and then jabbing up into his neck. He staged back choking as I picked up the sword and rammed forward through his chest.

After it fell the dark elf began to clap, slowly walking towards me while avoiding the fallen bodies. “Good show.”

I just looked at him sternly, still trying to figure out his game. “And you wanted me to do that?”

“I wanted to see if you could do that.” He responded as he dropped his arms. “The militia doesn’t give chances to just anyone. If you died then we tell Lucan you resisted, which he expected anyway.”

“And so now what that I’ve earned that chance?”

He said nothing but motioned for me to follow him as he left the apartment and we walked down the hallway. He knocked on the next door in the apartment and soon enough a human around my age opened up, his face showing fear once seeing the guard and me. “Y-Yes?”

The dark elf said nothing but pulled a short dagger from his belt that I had not seen before, a dragon imbued into its long curved blade and sliced up through the man’s chest, then back again across his throat.

The man fell down slowly as the dark elf turned to me, his bloody knife at his side. “Give me your papers.” I said nothing and obliged as he went into the apartment searching the man lying in the pool of blood.

He found his papers and switched the two, ripping up the ones from the man he just killed as he stood up and walked over to me. “Now your dead. Lucan will be told you resisted, killed both of my guards before I was able to kill you.”

“Won’t he want to see me?”

“He doesn’t know what you look like, you really think he concerns himself too much with these matters?” He smiled.

“Then what about the guards?”

“Most guards haven’t been in an underground crime guild.” He said with a wink putting his hand on my shoulder. “You have a second change, get some fake papers…I’m sure it won’t be hard for you, and start over. Scar is dead.”

Lyte it up 420

X – Escape from normality

I was alone again, I couldn’t go back to my apartment for any of my things…and without my papers I couldn’t access my bank account with all my money in it. The little I had on me I was forced to spend on a set of fake papers, pretty easy to get with no name…in fact the ones that I had before were fake as well.

So after all that I was back where I started. I found a small abandoned building to stay in while I thought about what I was going to do. I could easily make my money back again by returning to the underworld…I’m sure my notoriety didn’t disappear over night, but did I really want that? To be known only by criminals?

I had dreams once of being known by the entire city, being feared for my power but respected for my skills. Maybe I would just join the militia, start working for the city I had been stealing from my entire life. My thoughts plagued me as I debated what I should do before drifting off into a restless sleep.

I woke up with a rumbling in my stomach and slowly got up with a sigh. I searched my pockets for any copper I might have forgotten about but found none. With another sigh I tiredly left the building wincing at the hot Freeport sun.

I yawned as my stomach grumbled again and I decided I would have to steal some breakfast. I just so happened to be near a bakery, and slowly walked up to it looking around. There were no guards in sight, and only a few customers inside the shop, so quickly I took a step inside and grabbed a loaf of bread, the closest thing to the door and turned around.

My hopes that the store’s owner didn’t see me do it vanished as he yelled out at me. I didn’t turn around but just ran hearing him call for the guards. I never was a good thief but I needed to eat. I quickly made my way through the alleyways and finally stopped catching my breath looking around to figure out where I was.

I usually know my way around most of Freeport, but in my hurry I guess I must have gotten lost. I moved out of the alley and looked around realizing I was in Longshadow Alley. I continued to catching my breath wiping the sweat from my brow and fingering my scar as I wished it wasn’t so hot. As if on cue clouds began to cover the sun and I could hear thunder crack. “Great…”

I walked down the street eating the bread as I heard the faint sound of clanking. I turned around to see a guard and his minions looking around. Without thinking I quickly turned and went into the building in front of me and stopping short seeing a large troll asleep on the floor a few feet away from me.

“As I was saying, that depends on you.” A female Erudite was saying as I came in. I stepped back staying in the shadows hoping that I hadn’t been noticed looking around the room. Besides the Erudite there was a Ratonga, a Half Elf, a high elf and a dark elf. I couldn’t help but wonder what was happening here to have such a diverse meeting.

I didn’t have much time to think about it as the Troll stirred sniffing and standing up peering over at me. I watched as he turned to the high elf and whispered something, then locking his eyes on me poked the high elf. "While you all are standing there like frozen dolls, I think you should all know that there is another person in this room besides us." He said in a cocky way. “A human, I don’t know if he is with you guys or just another stranger looking for a good time.”

The troll laughed hearing the High elf’s sentence as he reached down and fingered a large axe latched to his armor. I decided I should cut my losses and stepped out from the shadows after shutting the door. “I’m not looking for a good time…” I said softly to the high elf. “Just trying to avoid a bad one.”

I looked again around the room, at a pool of blood near the troll’s feet and smirked. "I also did not mean to start any trouble, obviously you guys have something going on in here...and believe me I'm very sorry to interrupt, but if I were you I'd worry less about me and more about that Troll fingering his axe."

Glancing up at the Troll the Ratonga spoke “Inform your Troll friend to leave his axe where it lies. The stranger has shown no hostility, nor will he receive any in return.” His eyes narrowed as he continued, “Your help in the future is appreciated, however expect no pay in return. I have no desire to hire Mercenaries who’s only drive is the gold they receive when the job is done.” Again I was confused as to what happening, but stayed quiet as the Ratonga spoke to me.

“Your entrance was no secret, but what concerns me more is your attempt to evade the town guards.” His voice grew stern as he approached me, “If you bring unwanted trouble upon us I promise your death will be long and painful.” Turning the Ratonga assumed his spot between the Dark elf and Wood elf. “The floor is yours stranger.”

I rubbed the back of my head as I cleared my throat. "Well as I said I am very sorry for interrupting whatever you guys have going on around here..." I sighed deciding what to say, and decided on the truth...hoping that I had stumbled upon the one group of people who weren't totally despicable here in Freeport.

"I stole some bread from the local bakery..." I said softly staring at the floor ashamed.

"I tried to be sneaky about it but I'm no thief so they saw me and called the guards and I ran...ended up here. Totally by chance, again I had no intention of ruining your little party or whatever...and if you can point me to a back door I'll be happy to leave you and hopefully find an empty building to hide out in for the night."

There was a moment of silence before the Dark Elf stepped forward, reaching into his pocket and pulling out a silver coin, tossing it over to me. It landed with a small clink next to my foot. "There is little point in bringing such attention to yourself, or this hall, over such a trivial matter. Take care of the problem now before it gets any worse," he said in a rather bored tone.

I looked at the coin, and then again at the dark elf my anger rising. “Well I would say thank you…” I said leaning down and picking up the coin. “But the guards of Freeport aren’t well known to just accept apologies and let you go.” I took another look around the room and the faces of everyone staring at me before flipping it back over to the dark elf.

“That and I’m not a beggar. I can earn my own way in the world, even if I do have to steal sometimes. Besides, turning myself in and getting executed isn't my idea of a good idea, and you could just of easily pointed me to the back door rather then try to demean me in front of all your friends." I said angrily but controlled.

“There was no malice in my actions human. Only concern for my companions here," he said with a sigh motioning to those in the hall, "and our wish to not draw more attention than necessary to ourselves, although with recent events, this is proving rather difficult."

With that, the dark elf stood up, and looked at the Ratonga.

"I will show him the back door, unless you wish to speak further to him," he said.

Suddenly the sound of banging on the door jolted through the tense air. I slightly groaned knowing what was about to happen, backing away from the door to the other side of the room again hiding in the shadows as everyone whirled around to face the door. "This is the Freeport Guard!" a gruff and forceful voice shouted from outside the door. "You are harboring an outlaw! Open up and hand him over or you shall be held as traitors by the law of Lord Lucan!"