Short Story – A World in Turmoil
Here is actually a set of four short stories all connected to each others. This is also, in some way connected to some of the plots I’m planning to integrate our new star crossed in =).
Well, I’m not sure how big part you will have, but at least a minor role in some of them. However, I hope you enjoy these stories. Now I’m off to Boden.
By the way, the sessions for tomorrow are still active. I’m feeling much better today! But maybe you figured it out just by the fact that there is a new short story on the blog =).
Well enjoy!
The room was quiet. Not even the owl in its cage moved as if it felt the tension of the men and woman sitting around the table. Or maybe it was scared to death by some of their powerful auras. Animals tended to always be able to feel auras, even if they were suppressed to beyond sentient beings possibility to feel it. Nobody really knew why, but Agusi claimed that those absolutely devoted to Vordén would get this power to se everything for what it really was. That was why she hated cats.
She sat at a round table that was about one two meters across, together with two other men one who sat – or rather hung like a satchel full of rocks on a chair – at her right side, looking intensely into the circular table top well. She shot a quick look at the Vision Well but quickly disregard it. For the moment it only showed bits and pieces of Debian army camps. The other man sat in his chair like it was a throne rather than a simple armchair, even though his appearance more looked like he came from some docks.
The room wasn’t especially spectacular, it had been rather discreet furnished with only a few bookshelves one cupboard and no windows. It was a study for a professor, at most, but most likely a professor would have preferred a room with a view, and with at least a carpet of some kind. The room didn’t have any garments of any kind and the walls were bald without even panels. No, most people wouldn’t use this other than maybe some of the apprentices. It didn’t even have a hearth, although she didn’t need it would have been nice while they waited for the last of them to come.
Suddenly the door opened, or rather was pushed in, as the last arrived. The room sprung up with heat and warmth as Mars walked in with determined steps. She even left the door – that now had been burned by her touch – opened. She was just about to close the door as she saw another man following her. All looked at him in surprise, even the thug looked surprised, and then the man closed the door and looked at them with a devious smile. Her all too human heart started to beat as crazy inside of her chest and for the first time in a long time she was really, really scared.
***
Walter sat in his study – as usual – working at his work bench at this hour. He had one window opened, it was a really nice evening, letting a refreshing breeze slip inside. Outside a dog was barking, but other than that the city seemed to be fast asleep. He leaned back to the back rest, taking a brief pause. Soon it would be finished. He needed to focus now, only the last part left. He took a sip from his mug, drew a deep breath then took up the tweezers. With a steady hand he lifted up the last part and carefully lifted it from its protection vial and moved over to the assemble area. Slowly, slowly he lowered the tweezers and their piece into place, one tiny mistake and the whole thing would be ruined. Finally he heard a clicking-sound and he exhaled with relief.
It was done! He rose hastily from his chair letting out a cry of joy. He was all sweaty after the ten hours it had taken to assemble all the pieces together but that didn’t matter now. Finally, after thirty years of research, testing and saving up money he had finished it! With this he would be someone again! He could even open op his own workshop! Maybe his wife would forgive him now that he finally had managed to succeed in something! Oh, Maggie I miss you so much. Tears of joy were flowing down his cheeks as he danced around in his small workshop.
Suddenly he stopped. In front of the window stood a hooded man with a big scythe. The light in the lantern burned out with a loudly fizzing sound and the only thing he could see in the room was the silhouette of the hooded man standing between him and the window. He was so paralyzed with fear that he couldn’t move, his body wouldn’t move. The thing looked at him, and he could see its lilac eyes looking at him and suddenly he knew…
He smiled and started walking towards the man, his saviour. He couldn’t keep him waiting for any longer. His friend smiled at him, and he smiled back. As he came up by his friends side he looked back into the workshop for the last time.
“Can I say good bye to my wife?” he asked with joy in his voice. He couldn’t just leave without saying good bye, could he? His friend nodded acceptingly and they walked out in the night, floating as air…
***
He lowered his head from the sky, with a troubled look on his face. He should have predicted this, but he hadn’t. He turned around towards his book making the final notes for this night’s survey. No doubt the apocalypse was coming, and soon all of the astrologists would notice this. I need to return to the Thirteenth and the Order to immediately warn them. Things are going in a much unexpected direction… the world isn’t prepared for this. He shifted into the dark world – he hadn’t learned how to do this himself, even so he could do it as if he had done it all his life – and as he disappeared from the light world he felt the resonance of the other one.
***
The Godfather stepped out of the shadows surrounding the old man’s camp-spot. For several hundred years he had chased him, trying to talk to him. But ever since the first time he met the old man, he had sensed that he had been avoiding him. Somehow he knew his secret, even though he even didn’t even know it himself. Still amazed by the old mans mystical disappearance he stepped forward towards his camp. Just before he had disappeared he had felt something very similar to his own condition, but that wasn’t possible. The man had always been the same man and never aged…
That book the man had carried with him, it had a strange aura by it self, maybe this was what he had been searching for after all these years. The Chronicles of Vordén, hidden even from the gods. He smiled. He would find the old man again, and then he would steal it from him. Most men than knew who the old man was, would consider this beyond impossible, even for a god… but then they weren’t The Godfather, and he would succeed in robbing the one and only Herid Fel.
Well, speculations and thoughts please. I won’t work too much on the grammar in this one. This is mostly for story related business. These stories hint about the big twist I’ve planned for the last epoch, hehe.
Best regards,
Herid Fel
I must say, some of them were kinda strange. I like the twist in the one about Walter, where he calls Death (as it seems to be him) his friend and saviour. Strange guy, but I suppose he is one of those that has been followed around by him for a while and now is the time for him. Right after he has finished that contraption… Wonder what it could be…
First I thought that it was the first time he saw Death, and somehow the fact that he finished the thing made him become of interest. Like what he assembled broke some law. But it more seem like he has been followed around for a while and he feels ready when he is finished with it.
In the story with Mars it is hard to tell who the guy following her is. Can’t come up with anyone fitting in there. But the fact that his appearance gives that reaction when he is following Mars tell me that there is something about him…
I don’t really know who the people around the table are, but I would guess that they are some of the god’s avatars. They seem to be familiar with Mars and the PoV might be on speaking terms with Agusi. Can’t be sure there, but that is one interpretation.
The fact that she has an all too human heart still fits in there since the gods can also be humans.
But this only makes the fact that they are afraid of that man even more ominous.
The story about the sky spotter is really short and as far as I can tell, it pretty much repeats and builds on things we already know. Like the excessive amount of appearances of Hadan, and all the other small pointers we have had.
I wonder what the shift into the dark world is… But I guess you won’t tell us about that one.
Just one question, the last sentence is a bit unclear. Do you mean what you have written; that he has done it all his life, or have you missed the word “if” in “as if he had”? The sentence is build up as if it should be there. And then he has learned to do it but does it very good…
Well, about the Godfather and Herid Fel… Interesting that this guy is after Mr. Fel. But what is the Chronicles of Vordén… And what is the condition of The Godfather that is similar to something of Herid Fel.
Well, the stories don’t seem very relevant right now, except for some details, but I am sure they will become.
Now back to work.
Hehe well well this was somewhat interesting although as Ankan said it doesnt really reveal that much.
The first part I think is a meeting between the gods and not all are mentioned in name probably to keep it abit shrouded in mystery. And I might have a weird guess here but im guessing the person that came behind Mars is Gorendez or atleast an avatar of him.
Second part im on the same track as Ankan here. I think Death had made some contract with this Walter guy , to let him live until he had finished his “life work” since he had been working on it for 30 years I think its something quite important.
Well in my oppinion the most interesting part is with Herid and The Godfather , really never saw any connection there although we have never heard of the Godfather ingame and not much has been said out of game either and I think this is the first actual appearance of the Godfather.
And well about the thirteenth and the order well , thirteenth is probably the so called secret god/goddess and ive had some suspicions earlier that the thirteenth might be some sort of infusion of Vordén because ive always felt it abit weird that a being of that magnitude would just die so simple.. atleast I like to feel that he still has some sort of part in the apocalypse or something before it.
Other than that it was nicely written and it was fun to see the Godfather making some appearance even if its just in a story , since from what ive understood of what you told me before he is quite powerful.
Hehe, now that both of you have answered (I strongly doubt that Foppa or David ever will comment, or anyone else for that matter) I think I should answer a little just to make it more confusing, but of course… I won’t give away too much either.
Yes, there is a meeting between gods in the first part, or their avatars as guessed. Only Mars uses her final avatar in this meeting. But Gorendez? Hey? Who would fear Gorendez? He might be one of the more powerful of them, yes, but he’s also one of the more carefree gods. No, you are not on the right track here…
Well, as for the second part I don’t need to answer much more than you are not right and you are not wrong and that Walter haven’t met Death before the meeting described…
Yes, yes, the third part is a bit short. I think you figured it out, otherwise I will tell you now. It’s Herid Fel making some observations of the night sky. But it hasn’t anything to do with Hadan, Hadan actually is just an anomaly in the sky preventing Star Gazers from seeing all the stars. Although Hadan’s frequent appearances sure is an omen by itself.
The Thirteenth is, as I’ve said before, a god yes. Secret, well it depends on who you ask, but that’s the way with secrets I guess.
The Godfather is a very powerful, legendary being. He is as old as the Emperor himself although he is more a mythical person. Of course, people aren’t sure that the emperor is the same all these years either, he might have been two or three people. Just because since the first near-death-experience he had he started hiding from everyone, even the gods. To return to the subject… I don’t know what to say, really. The Godfather is back, since he had a part in the last two wars he will have one in this as well…
All the events above are or will be a part of the storyline that will affect all players. It’s also hints about why things are as they will be. That and if you add another of the Short Stories, you’ll get a faint picture of what awaits you all other than doom and darkness.
Muwahahahahahahahahaha!!!