Grimn's Fairy Tale

[Grimn]

The rain fell amongst the silent town, the occasional streak of lightning briefly lighting up the town streets. The black boots made a sharp clack against the cobblestone that made up the now barren streets. The night was darker than usual and it seemed almost eerie to anyone passing by. The man continued to walk at a brisk pace towards his target, his black coat swirling in the soft wind that accompanied the rain. A hood shrouded his face but a small tuft of black hair poked out from beneath it. The man looked up as he reached his target. The large cathedral dominated the town, its towers rising far above even the highest building. The man walked up the stairs and went inside the sacred building. Inside the columns holding up the building were softly lit by candles which stood in their stands at the side of each pew. The man walked along the red carpet that led the way to the altar at the front of the room. The man continued to walk until he reached the altar. Once there he saw a beautiful piece of stone. Inlaid upon the stone were dozens upon dozens of precious gems that had been sunk into the stone. The man ran his hand along the stone, passing by diamonds and pearls. Finally he came to rest on a small red gem. With a small flick he pried the gem loose and held it up to the soft light. With a nod of approval the man placed the gem in a small pouch that he carried on his waist. Suddenly the doors to the cathedral burst open and in the doorway stood another man. He wore a coat of white and long blonde hair fell to where his neck was. Rain fell down his large body and dripped upon the floor. A lightning bolt flashed and fully illuminated the man. He had bright blue eyes and a flat nose. “You know that is not yours” said the man in white. The man at the altar slowly turned to face the man, his hood still shrouding his face. “I have told you before” said the man in black. Another lightning bolt flashed and the man disappeared. To the man in white it was almost as if time stood still. The man in black was next to him, facing towards the outside while he faced inwards. “This is my Fairy Tale” said the man in black. “Out of respect for what you once were I shall allow you to live. I will not show the same kindness again Gwydion” said the man in black. Time seemed to come back and the man in white, known as Gwydion, stood there alone now. The candles had all been extinguished and he now stood in the dark. “I shall follow you until I can save you from this darkness” said Gwydion.

[Grimn]

The First Companion


The black cloaked man continued to walk through the forest, the trees blocking out much of the sunlight overhead. The man felt the cool air around him and thought to himself “The darkness is comforting” as he continued to walk. Already he possessed two of the necessary five crystals. “Soon I shall call down the rains of destruction and rid this earth of its inhabitants” thought the man. A small bush near him shuddered and the man instantly became alert. He stopped walking and allowed his hand to drop to the hilt of his katana. A small man fell out of the bushes and slowly got up. He brushed himself off and leaned on the gnarled walking stick that he was carrying. “P..pardon me m’lord but may you be the warrior known as Grimn” asked the little man softly. The man simply looked at the little man, his eyes seeming to pierce through the little man’s soul. “That look” cowered the little man. “Get a hold of yourself” thought the little man quickly. He rose up to his full height and cleared his throat. “My name is Greggor and it has been my life’s mission to serve you” said the little man. “I do not care” said the black cloaked man already walking away. “Wa…wait” screamed the little man, running after the man. “I can help you” said the little man, running to keep up with the black cloaked man’s strides. “How is that” asked the man. “I know the location of two of the crystals you are searching for” said the little man, a small smile creeping onto his lips from self satisfaction. In an instant the black cloaked man had drawn his sword and held it up to the man’s throat. “How do you know of my plans” asked the man coldly. “A….ah, I am gifted in magic” responded the little man. The man was angry at himself for allowing his mind to be taken hold of so easily. The man withdrew his sword and sheathed it. “My name is Grimn” said the man flatly walking away. The little man stood there in amazement. “This is the Grimn” he thought excitedly. “Finally my life goal can be completed” he thought jubilantly. “Come now Greggor or I will leave you behind” said the man coldly. “O…Of course m’lord” stammered the little man, rushing to catch up with the dark clad warrior known as Grimn.

[Grimn]

The Second Crystal


Grimn and Greggor exited the forest and the sight before them was breath taking. The large border sea stretched out as far as the eye could see to the right of them. Built on the side of this massive ocean was an extremely large city. The city seemed to be built in levels, constantly rising until it culminated in a round top level. In reality the city was not built on levels but merely into the side of a large mountain. The buildings constantly rose up, providing what seemed to be ever increasing levels. “The city of Zalda” said Grimn, continuing on. Greggor quickly followed as the two of them passed numerous fishing ports and boats. The sun was beginning to set and the city was cast in shadows. “M’lord the crystal” began Greggor. “Do not tell me something I already know” said Grimn, cutting the small man off coldly. “Perhaps this is the other crystal that he knew about then” thought Greggor to himself. “The crystal is fittingly housed in the crown jewel of the city itself” said Grimn. “That would be the Zalda coliseum” said Grimn, raising his gaze to stare at the large circular building that sat atop the mountain and served as the focal point for all of the citizens below it. The sun had completely set now and the two traveled in darkness. Greggor looked up once again to marvel at how the coliseum perfectly sat perched on the mountain top. “Is the foundation of the building sunk into the top of the mountain to provide stability” asked Greggor. No answer came and Greggor looked down. There was no one there. “M..m’lord” shrieked the little man. The streets were deserted save for Greggor and he began to search frantically for his master. He slowly walked farther up the mountain into the upper class section of the city. Greggor saw a small light up ahead and began to eagerly walk up to it. “Aw m’lord I thought that I had lost you” said Greggor relieved. The relief was short lived as he realized that the light was really the lantern of two of the city’s guards. The crimson robe worn under the gold armor signified that these were not just ordinary guards but the elite guardsmen known simply as the Holy Knights. “Well what do we have here” laughed one of the guards. “I think it’s a thief” responded the other guard. “Well we will just have to take him to the coliseum” laughed the first. “Finally we have found enough street rats for tomorrow’s events. I want to make it to the pub tonight” said the guard. The guards quickly took hold of Greggor and dragged the little man farther and farther up the mountain until they had reached the coliseum. The earth opened up and numerous tunnels could be seen going off in all directions. The coliseum had indeed been built into the top of the mountain and numerous tunnels ran beneath the coliseum to house the fighters and animals used in the events. Greggor was thrust into a cage with a dozen other individuals. The little man sat there, surrounded by citizens who seemed to have already lost all hope. Soon a young woman approached the bars. However this woman lacked all compassion that usually accompanied females. She wore the crimson robes of the Knights and the golden armor but she carried with her a special weapon that was reserved for only the highest commanding officers. Her long red hair fell onto her shoulders as she laughed. “Congratulations” she began. “Tomorrow you will have the honor of providing the entertainment for the citizens of Zalda” said the woman. “You will be in the coliseum battling the Knights in a training exercise” said the woman. “I would say good luck but to be honest I just hope you all last more than one strike apiece” laughed the woman. Greggor sat in the cell and waited for the morning to arrive. “Its ok, he will come for me” thought Greggor hopefully.

[Grimn]

The Coliseum


The morning came quickly and Greggor was awakened by the clanging as the bars of the cell were opened and guards began to usher the prisoners out. The prisoners were led through the tunnels until they came to a tunnel that slanted upwards, a small shaft of light visible at the top. “You will walk up this tunnel and stand in the center of the arena” shouted one of the guards. The prisoners were slowly prodded upwards and Greggor soon found himself out on the sandy ground of the coliseum. The thunder of the crowd surrounded him as he swiveled his head in all directions. Suddenly the crowd grew silent and then the noise grew intense as the Holy Knights made there way into the arena via small tunnels in the walls of the arena. The crowd was going crazy in excitement. At the front of the Knights stood the same woman who had taunted the prisoners the night before. “Soldiers attack” she screamed, pointing her weapon at the prisoners. Immediately the Knights charged and the prisoners, left defenseless, were slaughtered by the weapons. Greggor began to run until he reached the wall. All around him death reared its head. Greggor looked across the arena and noticed a large luxury box were a man sat comfortably. Suddenly a large figure stood in front of him. The Knight raised his sword and brought it down swiftly. Greggor turned away and braced himself. There was a clang of steel on steel as the sword was deflected away. Greggor looked up, “You came back” screamed the little man in joy. His joyous expression was for naught though. The one who had parried the blow was the woman captain. “I want some of the fun” said the woman, smiling sadistically. Greggor’s hopes were once again dashed. “He really isn’t coming” thought Greggor sadly. He braced himself for the worst when suddenly a Knight fell and the crowd roared at the sudden change of events. “Did one of the prisoners manage to fight back” wondered Greggor. He looked around but could not find the unknown attacker. Suddenly another Knight fell and another. The Knights looked around terrified and huddled together. “A large wave of energy traveled along the ground, breaking apart the earth as it traveled and crashed into the soldiers, sending their corpses sprawling. The woman was livid, who could be destroying her elite unit this easily. She ignored Greggor and walked towards the center of the ring. The crowd roared, growing more and more excited about the unexpected battle that was unfolding. “Face me” screamed the woman. Suddenly a dark shape appeared in front of her. The figure was tall, he wore black boats, pants, and a black cloak. His hair was a dark brown and unkempt. His eyes pierced across the landscape and impaled the woman. “You have called out to death and he has answered” said the figure. “M’lord you have come” screamed Greggor excitedly. Grimn stood there looking at the woman. “I shall kill you like I have so many before you” laughed the woman, a small sadistic smile on her lips. “The number of men you have killed could not hold a candle to me” said Grimn. The woman rushed at him, her spear raised. “Now you die and so does the legend of you” screamed the woman. The woman never made it to Grimn. He remained where he was, seeming as if to stay still, the world around him froze and Grimn slowly began to walk forward. The world was not frozen merely slowed in its movements. The woman’s angry face was still taught in an angry scream. Her legs slowly moved, the slightest inch every few seconds. Grimn walked up and swiftly ran his blade through her. He turned and walked back to where he was standing before. Suddenly the world sped up and the woman fell to the ground, blood dropping from underneath her robes. “Pathetic. You did not even see my strike” scoffed Grimn in disgust. “Come along Greggor we need to collect the crystal” said Grimn. Greggor quickly ran over to his master. “Not so fast” said a booming voice. Grimn looked up at the luxury box and saw a large man in full armor drop to the ground, a large crater forming from the weight of his armor. “So the death bringer known as Grimn has returned” said the man. “I was unsure of whether it was truth or rumor” continued the man. “You have defeated my second in command without so much as a thought” said the man, motioning to the dead woman. “It has been quiet some time since I have had a worthy opponent in battle” laughed the man deeply. He reached down and picked up the woman’s weapon. “Who deemed you worthy” asked Grimn flatly. “I shall show you just how overmatched you really are” said Grimn.

[Grimn]

The First Test


The man in armor laughed at Grimn. “Please do not make the same mistake that she did and believe yourself to be invincible” he boomed. The crowd had reached a fever pitch. Not only was the legendary demon Grimn battling, but he was battling against the General of the Zaldan Army no less. The man lifted the spear and it began to chance in his hands. “You see she did not know how to truly wield this weapon” he said. The spear changed until it became an entirely new weapon. The long shaft was still present but now the mace head had grown and little vents protruded from all sides. In a flash the man in armor moved much to fast for someone carrying that much weight. Grimn parried the blow and jumped back. “Haha, do you like it” laughed the man. “The properties of this armor make it very cumbersome so the wizards here made it so that I can fire concentrated air out of it and move with much greater SPEED” he said as he lunged once again at Grimn. Suddenly the mace sped up and nicked Grimn’s shoulder. “Oh and my spear holds the same power” laughed the man. Grimn looked angrily at the scuff mark on his coat. “I cannot simply use my speed to kill him like the other one” thought Grimn. “That would require far too much energy than this one is worth” he thought. With a flick of his wrist, the sword caused large energy waves to travel through the ground and slam into the armored man. He staggered back and looked at Grimn. “So you are as powerful as it has been said” he said. “No” replied Grimn flatly. The man charged Grimn and Grimn flipped over top of the speeding mace. Grimn struck at the man’s back and a piece of the armor flied off. The man turned rapidly. “How can you so easily dodge my spear” he shouted angrily. “You are losing your grip” said Grimn coldly. “Stop treating me like a child” screamed the man, flailing the spear. “He has lost all chance in this battle” thought Grimn. “Although that would be under the false assumption that he had a chance at the beginning” continued Grimn. “He has allowed his emotions to control him rather than harnessing their power. It was his own fault for revealing how his own power worked. It was his arrogance that caused his downfall. If you are to be arrogant at least be able to defend it with your ability” thought Grimn. Grimn focused his energy and a slight blue hue hung over his sword. “Your time is up” said Grimn. “It isn’t over” screamed the deranged general. Grimn began to flit around the coliseum, constantly appearing and disappearing from eye sight. Suddenly he re-appeared in front of the general. The general had spit rolling down from his mouth, completely losing touch with reality. “Now you die” he said. “You first” replied Grimn. The general slumped down, his armor completely falling off of him, the cords that tied them together completely severed. Grimn replaced his sword and walked back to the luxury box. Jumping inside he pried a bright orange gem from the center of the table and put it inside the small pouch on his belt. Jumping back down he turned to Greggor, “Come along Greggor we are finished here” he said. Suddenly the doors that surrounded the entire stadium flew open and column after column of soldiers rushed inside until the entire place was filled with soldiers and Grimn at the center. “Grimn, you are under arrest for the murders of two Holy Knights” boomed a captain of one of the squads. Grimn turned to face the man, his eyes slightly lighting up. “At first you were mere annoyances, but now you are simply aggravating me” said Grimn, his voice rising slightly. Greggor looked at Grimn, fear on his face. Grimn drew his sword and with a slash an entire column of soldiers fell. He sent an energy wave towards one side of the stadium and the entire stadium evaporated, fans and all. Grimn turned to face the rest of the soldiers, a look of pure anger on his face. If you can control your emotions than they will greatly aid you” he murmured. “Blade of the thousand edges” he said. Grimn dropped his sword into the ground and watched as the clouds opened up and swords rained down upon Grimn’s enemies. The carnage was immense, all around him swords stuck into the ground. After a few moments Grimn placed his hand on his sword and removed it from the earth. The other swords disappearing into dust as he did so. He sheathed it and walked away. Greggor stared at the bodies that had piled up. “He just silenced the voices of hundreds without hesitation” thought Greggor. “He truly is in a class of his own” whispered Greggor. He snapped out of his daydream and began to hurriedly catch up with Grimn, who had already made his way down the mountain through the half of the coliseum that no longer existed.

[Grimn]

The Danger of Remembering


The two had been traveling for some time, constantly making their way north. “M’lord where are we heading” asked Greggor quietly. “We are headed to the northern province of Kive” murmured Grimn. Grimn continued to walk forward but his eyes remained unfocused. He saw himself standing in the tent, looking towards his officers.
“My lord we have gathered all of the troops in the camp and await your orders” said a dashing looking man. He had blonde hair and blue eyes but held a menace that betrayed his looks for his real personality. “Very good Gwydion” said Grimn. “Vigoro have your men set up a def” Grimn began. Suddenly he was cut off by a soldier rushing into the tent. He snapped off a quick salute before stammering “S..sirs we are being attacked.” Grimn quickly rushed out of the tent and into the open. Thousands upon thousands of tents stretched out before him. A large mountain in the shape of a horse-shoe surrounded three sides of the encampment. His entire army had been moved here to prepare for his next campaign. Soldiers quickly gathered their weapons and began to form up. “Where is the enemy army” asked Grimn, looking to the opening in the mountain. “They are on top of the mountain” said the soldier. Grimn and his officers turned to look up. At the top of the mountain stood a lone figure, his arms folded behind his back. “There is only one enemy” laughed Gwydion. “I shall take him out quickly” he laughed preparing to meet the challenger. “No” said Grimn, putting an arm in front of him. “I shall meet the foe” said Grimn. “Sir there is no need for you to fight this battle” said Vigoro. “Why do I need a reason to fight” muttered Grimn, disappearing in a burst of speed. He quickly began to run up the mountain side, constantly flitting in and out of sight. Finally he jumped up to where the challenger stood, his black coat falling around him as he crouched down from the landing. He rose up from the darkness of his coat and stared at his opponent. The man wore a black bowler hate and a full three piece suit with tie. He had pleated pants and black shoes. On his hands he wore pristine white gloves and held a silver rapier in its sheath. He had a hooked nose and mischievous eyes. His ears were a bit pointed and small strands of dark blonde hair poked out from his hat. “You are attacking what is considered the most formidable army in the world” by yourself questioned Grimn. The man continued to smile at Grimn, a sadistic smile. He extended his arm upwards and pointed to the sky. In a smooth movement he brought his arm and down and hundreds upon hundreds of arrows appeared in the sky and launched themselves upon Grimn’s army below. The men could go nowhere because of the mountains. The structure that was supposed to help guard them was helping to kill them. Grimn searched for the archers but found no one. “Hehe look all you like those arrows came from me” laughed the man. “Who are you” asked Grimn, fixing his eyes firmly on the individual. “Whoa those eyes sure are deadly aren’t they” laughed the man. “Well since you asked I am Dria” said the man, taking a mock bow. In a flash Grimn was in front of the man and his sword had struck. However the man had somehow drawn his rapier and was casually holding Grimn’s attack back. “Now that was rude” laughed the man. Grimn continued to strike, each blow blocked or deflected by the man. “Now it is my turn to show you what power really is like” said the man, the smile widening on his face. He flicked his wrist and brought the point of his rapier into Grimn’s shoulder. Grimn winced as he felt the point enter his body. He leapt backwards and stared at his opponent. “You are strong but there is a way for me to defeat you” said Grimn standing up. “My army is obliterated and I have nothing left to do” thought Grimn. “I shall use my ultimate attack” said Grimn. For the first time the smile dropped from Dria’s face. “No it is not time for you to die yet” said Dria. He reached out a hand and a portal of darkness appeared. The man sheathed his rapier and tipped his cap to Grimn. “I shall be expecting much more out of you next time” said the man entering the portal. Grimn ran to the portal but it had closed before he even made it halfway. He sheathed his sword and looked down on the carnage below. Death had swept through the mountain and erased his once feared army. “The next time I see this much carnage it will be because I caused it” thought Grimn. He turned his coat-tails flying as he did and began to walk away from his army.
Grimn snapped out of his daydream and scolded himself for allowing his mind to drift so carelessly. “I have become so much more powerful than I was then” laughed Grimn to himself. “When I next meet that man it shall be him staring upon carnage” continued Grimn. “M’lord” yelled Greggor, already farther up the path. “The province is just over this ridge” exclaimed the little man. “Good then I am halfway there” thought Grimn.

[Grimn]

The Silent Village


Grimn and Greggor walked through the village slowly. The ground had turned a slight blue from the cold and thin pieces of ice hung off the thatched rooftops of the village huts. It was bizarre, the companions had traveled a good distance and it had seemed like merely a moment. “However this was just a way of fate hasting his trip to his objective” thought Grimn. The town was silent and not a single villager stirred. Greggor looked around quietly, noticing the silence. “Where are the citizens of the town” asked Greggor. “They are asleep” said Grimn continuing to walk towards a building in the center of the town. Greggor looked at Grimn, puzzled by the explanation given. “What do you mean asleep” asked Greggor. “The inhabitants of this town are centuries old, frozen in time by some force even I am unaware of” responded Grimn. As the two neared the center of the town Greggor began to notice bodies of citizens, standing as if they were going about their business. However they all stood still, unblinking as if completely frozen. Grimn approached the building and gently pushed the door open. He stepped past two frozen soldiers, taking their eternal turn as solitary guard. The room inside the building was dark and Greggor could barely make out what appeared to be an elevator of sorts in the middle of the room. Grimn stepped towards the elevator and Greggor recognized what it was. The elevator was a cage with intricate iron designs all around it. Below it was a gaping hole that seemed to stretch out forever. Grimn confidently stepped into the cage and looked at Greggor, a bored look in his eyes. “Do not be afraid of the darkness. Embrace it and you will be aided by it when you need it most” said Grimn. Greggor clutched his staff tighter and nodded. He jumped into the cage next to Grimn and the two began their descent into darkness. After being completely eclipsed in darkness the two emerged into an underground cavern. Stretching out as far as you could see was an underground city. The buildings were all housed under this giant cavern and large scale stalactites hung from the ceiling. The cage slowly descended until it reached a raised platform. Grimn stepped out of the cage, closely followed by Greggor. In front of them was a long road that winded its way through the city and to a large dome shaped building. Grimn strode down the road, walking in as if the new conqueror of the city. “Greggor this is the lost city of Quad” said Grimn. “It was once the educational center of the world until the leaders decided that they were above the rest of the scum of the earth. So they used their knowledge to sink the city and planned on living out their lives here” continued Grimn. “However they did not seem to realize in their infinite wisdom what would happen when the food ran out and they were unable to raise the city back up to grow more” said Grimn. The inhabitants above us stood guard to make sure that
The ‘superior’ Quad citizens would not try and come back. It is rumored that the warlocks of Quad cast the sleeping spell on the people as a punishment for trapping them beneath the surface” finished Grimn, approaching the domed building. He pushed open the door and saw a small altar with a light blue gem on it. He walked up and picked up the jewel. He placed it in the pouch beside him and turned to leave. A blood curdling scream filled the cavern and Grimn stopped. “What was that m’lord” asked Greggor timidly. “I do not wish to find out” said Grimn hastening to leave. “My if he is hesitant to fight then I believe it in my best interest to leave as well” thought Greggor. “W…wait for me master” screamed Greggor noticing Grimn had made a good deal of distance between them while he was daydreaming. The two arrived at the cage as the ground below them began to shake. They entered the cage and began to rise slowly. The view of the city allowed them to see what the noise was. On the far end of the cavern, hidden in the darkness emerged a gargantuan beast. It had matted white hair and a scarred face. It was as tall as a small building and walked on all fours. The cage slowly reached the top and the ground continued to shake. The two stepped out of the cage and went out the door to the building. “That was close m’lord” said Greggor, breathing a sigh of relief. “Indeed I would rather not face that creature below ground where his constant hollering could cause a collapse” responded Grimn. Suddenly Grimn drew his sword and sliced the incoming arrow in two. “Way to go you arse, you woke up the Draken” said a mocking voice. Grimn looked up to see a man standing on the rooftop across from him.

[Grimn]

Vader


The man stood there, a coy smile on his face. He wore light brown pants and a slightly faded white shirt with no sleeves. “Only a fool would dress like that in these conditions” said Grimn. “Ha, don’t worry about me its you that I would be worried about” laughed the man. He unfolded his arms and Grimn saw the man’s weapon. On his left forearm there was a crossbow attached. However it had been modified to shoot two arrows at a time. “You have quite a large bounty on your head” said the man. “I have had that bounty on my head for decades now and it still matters not” replied Grimn. “My name is Vader and I will be your assassin today” said the man bowing. “Arrogance in front of me is a death sentence” said Grimn. In a flash Grimn had drawn his sword and struck where the man stood. However the man had disappeared and already two arrows were let fly in his direction. Grimn dodged the arrows and saw the man standing on another rooftop. “Haha, you’re slow” laughed the man. “You see your not the only one that knows about the gems” he continued to say. “Together they can call down an awesome power but alone they are still useful” said the man, holding up his right arm. Embedded in the arm was the yellow gem stone that Grimn sought. “So you can be useful after all” thought Grimn. The man quickly let fly more arrows and Grimn soon found himself on the receiving end of a hailstorm of death. He cast out his energy and the arrows disappeared in a blast of blue aura. Vader continued to jump around the town, the buildings that encircled the elevator creating the perfect fighting ring. “I need to get in close to him and then I will have him” thought Grimn. Grimn flitted out of sight and next to Vader. Vader was caught off guard but quickly recovered to dodge Grimn’s attack. “Well it seems you aren’t as slow as you first appeared old man” laughed Vader. He flipped off the rooftop and launched two arrows at Grimn as he was falling backwards. Grimn dodged the arrows and flitted to where Vader was going to land. Before he could land and jump away Grimn slashed at Vader and cut him across his back. Vader winced in pain and a serious look took on his face. “Fine then I see you are being very business like in this matter” he said. He stood in front of Grimn and readied himself. With a sudden scream he launched arrow after arrow at Grimn. He continually loaded and pulled the string taut on his bow faster than the eye could pick up. Dust began to kick up as the arrows pierced the ground all around Grimn. Vader reached back and found no more arrows. “No matter” he thought. “There is no way he could dodge all of those arrows” thought Vader confidently. The dust began to settle and the mound of arrows appeared around the crouching figure of Grimn. He up and looked at Vader, his eyes piercing through the man. “Your attack would only be useful if you had the desire to kill” said Grimn. Vader stood there in shock as Grimn began walking towards him. “But how could you” began Vader. “I told you” interrupted Grimn. “If an attack is launched without the full intention to kill the target than that attack will be no where near as effective” said Grimn, coming to stand right in front of Vader. “I will be taking that gem with me now” said Grimn raising his sword. “Go ahead, a spell has been placed around it so that it cannot be removed even if you kill me” laughed Vader slightly. Grimn stopped and lowered his sword. “Then you are coming with me” said Grimn turning to go. Vader looked at the man and stopped. “What makes you think that I would come with you” said Vader, contempt in his voice. “Because you want to be strong and you know that by following me you will find strength” replied Grimn over his shoulder. Vader’s body loosened and he shrugged. “I guess it can’t hurt to be in the company of one of the most feared men in the world” said Vader. Greggor popped his head out from the barrel he was hiding in. “Hey don’t get any ideas” shouted the little man. “I am the traveling companion of Grimn” said the little man. “Oh does he prefer to have his allies hide in barrels during a fight” mocked Vader. “I was just…” Greggor said trailing off. “If you two do not hurry and stop bickering then I shall kill both of you” said Grimn, already farther down the road. Greggor and Vader looked at the man and stopped. The company continued to travel down the road to their next destination.

[Grimn]

The Forlorn Soldier


The man entered the small pub and took a chair in the back near a table. His white cloak hung heavy on his soldiers and the man’s blue eyes seemed consumed with worry. “He is almost beyond reach” he thought to himself. “How is it that I am to save him if I am incapable of saving myself” continued the man. He put his head in his hands and sat there a moment, allowing the silence to sink in. “Haha you look like you could use a pick me up” laughed a frail old man. Gwydion looked up at the man who was holding out a smoking mug of cider. “Thank you kind sir” responded Gwydion, reaching up to take the mug. The man sat down next to Gwydion and looked him over. “So you are a warrior” asked the man lightly. “I was a warrior” said Gwydion quietly, continuing to drink from the mug. “Well there isn’t much point being a warrior if you have an attitude like that” laughed the kind old man. Gwydion looked at the man. “A warrior needs to have his goals and beliefs straight before heading into battle” began the old man. “He has to be completely confident in his beliefs for if not for his beliefs then what does he derive his power from” asked the old man. “Power” thought Gwydion. “When will I be able to escape the constant search for power” he questioned himself. He thought back to when the two were allies. “Gwydion power is the only absolute in this world” said Grimn. “You obtain power then everything else is obtainable” finished Grimn. Gwydion returned to the present and looked at the old man. “I fight to save someone” said Gwydion solemnly. “Ah a most noble cause indeed” said the man. The man reached into his pocket and withdrew a small amulet. “I want you to have this” said the man, handing over the amulet to Gwydion. “May I ask what this may be” said Gwydion, taking the amulet from the man. “This is a trinket I have picked up in my travels. It is said to banish the darkness from within” said the old man. Gwydion’s face lit up at the explanation. “With this I can save him” thought Gwydion. “I must be going” said the Gwydion, getting up in a rush. “There is no time to lose” thought Gwydion, hurrying out of the pub. He began to run towards the location of the Five Dials. “If I can wait for Grimn there then I will be able to save him before he calls down the rains of destruction” thought Gwydion. For once a small smile played across his face, perhaps all was not lost for his friend after all.

[Grimn]

The Sand King


Grimn and company looked out over the expansive desert that stretched out before them. It was one of the small wonders that impressed Grimn. To one side the weather was an extreme cold and to the other heat and sun baked the earth. No one could explain how two opposites could stand so close to each other. “It isn’t natural for such two extremes to live in harmony like that” thought Grimn. Up ahead a large dust storm was raging however Grimn soon saw the cause for this. A large army was making its retreat towards Grimn. Grimn walked past the beaten soldiers, all of them staring at the sand beneath their feet as they shuffled forward. “Greggor you said that the orange gem is in this desert” asked Grimn. “Yes m’lord in an abandoned cathedral in the center of the desert” said the little man proudly. “How does a little weakling like you know that” mocked Vader. “Why you” stammered Greggor. “Greggor” said Grimn. “You are annoying me” finished Grimn, ice hanging on his words. Greggor slapped his lips closed and his eyes grew wide. “You are walking to your death” said one of the soldiers to Grimn. Grimn was taken back by this man’s words. “The sand king of the desert is devastating any man that dares attempt to cross” said the soldier. “That is why we are pulling back” he explained. “And that is why you are weak” said Grimn, continuing to walk forward. After a short time mounds of bodies began to litter the landscape. Grimn walked carelessly by as Greggor shuddered at the site of them. Suddenly a large creature walked out from behind a mound of bodies. He had the head of a snake and the body of a man. The snake head had a hood that extended from the top of the head to the shoulders of the body like a cobra. His white toga hanging limply on his body, the beast approached the group. He had four arms and in each carried a scimitar weapon. The snake head hissed at Grimn and the beast stared at the group. Grimn looked at the creature. “Greggor, Vader, stand back” said Grimn. In a flash the beast struck with two of its arms in a side swipe. Grimn drew his sword in an instance and parried the blow. The monster then brought his other two arms down in a downward slash. Grimn rolled out of the way and looked at the creature. “You are weak” spat Grimn. Grimn rushed the creature and slashed at his hide. The sword was deflected by the scaly hide of the beast. “Hm this will be more difficult than simply attacking head on” thought Grimn. The beast quickly burrowed into the sand and disappeared. Grimn stood there, waiting for the beast to surface. Suddenly the sand beneath Grimn erupted and the beast thrust Grimn into the air, the scimitars creating a guillotine around Grimn. Grimn flitted out of the way, reappearing on the sand in front of the beast. He raised his sword until it pointed directly at the beast. The beast plunged once more into the sand and the waiting game began once again. “Greggor prepare to leave” said Grimn flatly. The little man peaked out from the pile of bodies he was hiding behind. “Y…Yes m’lord” he stammered. The creature once again appeared beneath Grimn and sand erupted around the two creating a sand screen. The sand fell to the earth once more and the creature was left standing there. “Where did he go” wondered Vader. The creature let out a howl and then began to slowly march towards Greggor and Vader. “Eh I am in no condition to fight” thought Vader. “I don’t suppose that you are much of a fighter” asked Vader to Greggor. The beast walked by a mound of bodies and towards the two. Suddenly blood erupted from the creature as it began to howl in pain. Grimn stood twenty feet away, his back to the beast and his sword sheathed. “Well I almost didn’t even see your attack” laughed Vader. “I didn’t even see it” said Greggor glumly. The beast fell and the blood began to sink into the sand. Grimn looked at the beast. “It used it’s nostrils to seek out its prey, that is how it found me beneath the sand. I had to hide amongst the bodies in order to mask my scent” explained Grimn. The three men continued to walk until they came to the top of a sand dune. “There it is m’lord” said Greggor. Before the two men stood an abandoned cathedral, its bell tower half destroyed and the entire building crumbling.

[Grimn]

Greggor's Mistake


This cathedral seemed to defy the logic of the desert. There as pale green grass that stretched out as far as the black iron gate that surrounded the cathedral. On a small hill stood a lone tree, its branches bare and the skin bleached from exposure. The sky around the cathedral was dark and it seemed as if a storm was somehow starting to brew around the cathedral. The building itself was made out of stone and the bell tower had begun to crumble, exposing the bell that was housed inside. Grimn, Greggor, and Vader walked to the iron gate and Grimn slowly pushed the gate forward. The group walked into the cathedral grounds and right into a small graveyard. The gravestones that lay around the grounds stuck up as small markers as those that remained. “How did a cathedral spring up a place like this” wondered Vader aloud. “It didn’t” responded Grimn flatly. Greggor explained to Vader what Grimn meant. “It is a worp” began Greggor. “A place where time and space does not apply and therefore the place continues to jump around and settles down for a random amount of time” finished Greggor, a smug smile settling on his face. “Well I guess then this would be a good place to hide one of the gems” said Vader. Grimn walked up to the doorway of the cathedral and slowly pushed the door inwards. Inside the cathedral was ruined. Pews lay shattered and in all directions, tapestries were torn and the candles had all been extinguished. The group entered into the room and Grimn slowly walked down what was once the aisle to the center altar. He ran his hand over the altar and stopped suddenly. With a flash Grimn had turned and locked his eyes onto Greggor. Greggor instantly felt as if a crushing weight was pushing down on him harder and harder. “It is not here” was all that Grimn said. “B..but but I” stammered Greggor, unsure of what to say. Grimn hastily began to walk back out of the cathedral, a clap of thunder echoing in the distance. He left the cathedral and looked up as the wind began to pick up around him. Grimn dropped his hand to the hilt of his sword and Greggor and Vader instantly saw what was different. Sitting under the tree was a man in a white coat. He was sitting with his head down and his arms resting on his knees. “Why are battles so full of sadness” asked the man softly.

[Grimn]

Sorrow


The man slowly rose up from where he was sitting and a bolt of lightning lit the dark sky. His coat extended from his shoulders to the tips of his boots, the pristine white seemingly untouched by the dirt swirling around it. It seemed as if the air around them filled with despair as he stood up and both Greggor and Vader felt as if a weight was pressing down on them. Grimn seemed completely unfazed by this however and merely continued to look at the man. His skin was a pale white, almost albino and his eyes were a clear blue color. His face seemed etched out of a look of pity to all those around him. His entire outfit was white from his shoes to his tight fitting shirt. He carried a parcel on his back that was covered by a brown cloth. He wore a hood that partially covered the top of his head and Grimn could see that the man had no hair. “The gem of this place has already been taken” said the man sadly. “Why did you allow that to happen” said Grimn coldly. “The taker of the gem understood the sadness of battle and therefore I allowed him to pass” said the man. “I am Sorrow and I will show you just how pointless all battles are” said Sorrow, reaching back and removing the scythe from under the brown cloth. He held the weapon aloft and Grimn readied himself. “Battles may be pointless but that does not change the outcome” said Grimn. “If you are unwilling to go into battle to begin with then you have already lost” said Grimn, preparing himself to strike at his opponent.

[becbec]

Now I've read all that's up here.

I'm so happy you put this up!
Now it's fresh in my mind, and I don't have to fight to remember details because the last time I read it was years ago.

[Grimn]

The Sadness in Battle


Grimn was on Sorrow in a flash, his steel meeting with Sorrow’s scythe. “That is an unusual weapon for a fighter” thought Grimn. “Only someone particularly skilled with it would be able to fully fight with it” he continued to think. Sorrow pounced into the air and brought the scythe down into the ground. Grimn dodged and stood as Sorrow pulled the scythe out of the ground. A small cut appeared in Grimn’s coat. Grimn was somewhat shocked as he had not even seen the attack, but he soon grew angry at himself for not realizing sooner. “He is able to channel some of his energy into the blade. He fires the energy as he strikes thus giving him more distance on his attacks. The storm continued to brew and was growing fiercer by the second. The two men continued to strike at one another, constantly blocking and parrying blows. Grimn disappeared and reappeared behind Sorrow, bring his sword down upon the man. The clash of steel was only deafened out by the sudden thunder clap that struck right above the men. Sorrow stood facing away from Grimn, his scythe held behind his back blocking Grimn’s blow. “Why are you battling” asked Sorrow, still looking straight. Grimn disappeared and reappeared in front of Sorrow. “I battle because it allows me to obtain my goals” said Grimn. “But is there no other choice” questioned Sorrow. Grimn lunged at Sorrow and the blades connected once again. “The more important question is why do you battle” asked Grimn. “You enter battle with the mindset that it is pointless, thus you have lost before you have even started” said Grimn, constantly attacking Sorrow. “If you don’t wish to battle then give up the sword and do not complain when others take control of you” said Grimn, his bored expression slowly beginning to change. Sorrow sliced at Grimn’s chest and Grimn jumped back to avoid the strike, bringing his sword up to block the energy that was sent after him. Sorrow’s face momentarily shifted to surprise before going back to pity. “So you were able to figure it out” said Sorrow mournfully. “Of course” replied Grimn. Sorrow straightened up and brought his scythe to rest in front of him. After some concentration two more scythes sprung forward from the original and hovered near Sorrow. “Scythe of the twin blades” murmured Sorrow. Grimn prepared himself for the attack. In an instant Sorrow began to slash at Grimn. Grimn dodged the scythe but then quickly rolled out of the way as another scythe slashed into the ground. The third scythe came up behind Grimn and slashed at his back. Grimn threw his sword behind him and blocked the blow. “So he is unable to channel his energy into the attacks as it is spent controlling the other scythes” thought Grimn. Grimn began to disappear and reappear around Sorrow. “Battles will constantly contain sadness and death” said Grimn’s voice. “However if you do not want to be controlled by others then you will have to fight” said Grimn. “I fight because I would rather control others than be controlled myself. The only way to accomplish this aim is to become more powerful than the ones around me” said Grimn. “The sooner you come to that fact the faster you will be able to control your own life” said Grimn. A cut appeared on Sorrow’s coat and the man was instantly alert. “Spread to the wind, blade of the five edges” said Grimn. Time seemed to slow as Grimn slowly walked up to where Sorrow stood. Sorrow watched as Grimn approached him but was unable to move. “This attack puts forth my considerable energy and allows me to move faster than you could possibly hope to match” explained Grimn. “You are left completely aware of what is happening but incapable of doing anything about it. You need to become more powerful, until then I shall control your life” said Grimn coldly. Time seemed to catch up to the scene and a large lightning bolt flashed overhead. On the ground was Sorrow, his one scythe lay beside him, rain starting to soak the ground around him. Grimn stood beside Greggor. “We are leaving” said Grimn to Greggor and Vader. With a flick of his wrist Grimn opened a portal and walked into it, closely followed by Greggor and Vader.

[becbec]

Read. =]
Great battle. I remembered Sorrow, but not his weapon.