-._The Lonely Travelers_.-

Lady · Guest

You go Syd! You like to keep us waiting but you never fail to produce fantastic work!

EDIT: Topic killing again Very Happy

Syd · Posted: Sat May 03, 2008 7:46 pm Post subject:

I'm now working on another chapter, and made this book cover so you can finally see what I've been up to for the past few days.

Hope you like it! And....NEXT CHAPTER TOMORROW! W00T!
_________________

"Because it's a BIG, STUPID JELLYFISH!"

- Commander Shepard, Mass Effect.

Lady · Guest

its too big for my screen Crying or Very sad

cant see it properly

Syd · Posted: Sat May 03, 2008 7:57 pm Post subject:

Fixed that problem for you, Vikki! Smile

_________________

"Because it's a BIG, STUPID JELLYFISH!"

- Commander Shepard, Mass Effect.

Lady · Guest

Yay ty

Small PC screens ftw

Syd · Posted: Sat May 10, 2008 8:28 pm Post subject:

The Lonely Travelers
Book One: The Knowledgeable Asura
Chapter Six: A Dark Past (Doggie-centric)

(Kryta, Tyria, 8:30 AM)

Doggie scratched his head and yawned. A loud sound had just caused him to open his eyes. Who dared to disturb him in his sleep? He groaned and looked to the side, where he found the cause of the problem: Vekk was rummaging around in his bag. Doggie couldn't understand what he said, but he caught the words 'thought I left it here...' and 'Where is that damn thing?' Then he noticed Doggie staring at him angrily and turned around.

'Umm, good morning, Doggie!' Vekk said, shyly scratching the back of his head.

'It was a good morning, Vekk, until you woke me up. What are you searching your bag for, anyway?'

'Oh yeah, sorry about that, Doggie.' Vekk answered, 'I'm just looking for the blueprints I made yesterday.'

'Blueprints for what?' Doggie sat up in his sleeping bag.

'Oh, for my newest invention. It's a weapon capable of-'

'Oh, drop it.' Doggie stopped him. He looked around the tent. Syd and Ogden's sleeping bags were empty.

'Where are Syd and Ogden?'

'Sydeus went away last night and hasn't returned since. I guess Ogden's making breakfast right now.'

So Syd was gone? Doggie wondered where he could be. If he had ran away Doggie was sure they'd never find him, as the jungle that seperated Kryta from the Tarnished Coast was immense. But running away was nothing for Syd.

'Okay, let's go outside.'

---

An hour later Doggie had eaten breakfast and brushed his teeth.

'Alright, people.' Ogden called. 'Syd's away and Samira's still sleeping. Doggie, how about you and Vekk go hunting for dinner and Gwen and I prepare lunch?'

Doggie looked at Vekk, who seemed happy with Ogden's decision. Then he fixed his gaze on Gwen, whose lips formed the word 'sexist'. Then she turned around and pouted.

Doggie himself shrugged and turned back to Vekk. 'Well then, let's go.' Doggie grabbed his staff (it was lying in front of his tent, Doggie couldn't remember putting it there) and Vekk took his own, which was in a sort of scabbard on his back. Then the duo marched off, into the deep jungle.

-----

It was easy to hunt around these areas. The jungle was practically swarming with edible mushrooms, large birds (Doggie used a makeshift bow to shoot them down), and even dinosaurs. When both Doggie and Vekk's bags were full with meat and mushrooms they turned around to walk back.

'Hey Doggie,' Vekk said when they were about halfway back, 'what's that scar on your arm?' He pointed to a large mark on Doggie's shoulder, which was exposed because Doggie chose not to wear a cloak when it was above 25 degrees Celsius, which it was.

'That's one of many burn marks, my friend.' Doggie said calmly, kicking away a rock. 'Got it during the Searing. Never hurt much - well, except when I got it. A Charr shoved a torch to my arm.'

'Sorry for bringing the subject up-'

'Nah, I'm used to that. It's just a dark part of the book that is my history.' Doggie chuckled, kicking the rock even further.

'Besides, I can endure a lot of pain, me being a Monk and all.'

'Ah.'

Doggie laughed at Vekk, who was calculating something in his head and bonked his head against a tree.

'Yeah, laugh all you want.' Vekk said, getting up and dusting himself off.

They walked for another five minutes. Then Vekk suddenly stopped and turn around. 'Before we go back, there's one more thing I'd like to ask you.'

'Ask ahead.'

'I know Syd was a member in your guild, but what caused him to leave?'

Doggie stopped walking.

'After we defeated Shiro...'

----------------Six years and two months earlier---------------

The Fangs left Raisu Palace early, not alerting the emperor nor any guards of them leaving. With Syd and Aerya in front, the Fangs walked silently through the empty streets of Kaineng City, which had never been so quiet before. They arrived at Bejunkan Pier, where there were only two people, both captains. Both of them stood proudly before there majestic ships.

Syd and Aerya turned to Doggie.

'So it's finally over, huh?' said Doggie, taking the words out of Syd's mouth.

'Yeah,' Syd sighed. 'And it's been one heck of a ride.'

Doggie nodded, then looked to the leftmost ship, then back to Syd.

'Well, this is where we have to say goodbye.'

'Yeah. I guess so.' Syd muttered. 'Thanks for everything.'

'Hey, don't be so modest. You did the most.'

'We couldn't have done it without your help, Fangs.' Aerya joined in.

'And about that.' Doggie said, 'here.' He handed Syd two pins. 'These are official Fangs membership pins. You know, you're always welcome into the Fangs if you want to.'

Syd nodded and gave Doggie a hand, then passed a pin to Aerya, who gave Doggie a kiss on the cheek.

'Bye Doggie. We'll miss you.'

---------------Two months later--------------

Doggie took cover as a burning crystal fell down where he stood two seconds ago. He tried to look into the distance, but the smoke that came from the crystals was blocking his view. He looked to the right, and he saw Monks carrying away what looked like Mikes body, or at least what remained of it. Doggie ran, dodging another crystal, until he tripped on something. He grabbed his leg out of pain, and then turned around to see what he tripped over.

It was a painting of Syd and Aerya, made by a Kurzick artist.

--------------PRESENT DAY------------------

Vekk stared in shock at Doggie as he finished his story.

'So Sydeus didn't leave?'

Doggie shook his head. 'The guild disbanded after the Searing. I ran off with a few survivors and joined the Ebon Vanguard, where I met Gwen.'

'The Searing...it must have been terrible.' Vekk breathed.

'Yeah, but it taught me something.'

Doggie stopped walking.

'That I would never let it happen again.'

-----------------------END OF CHAPTER---------------------------------

Hope you liked it. Very Happy

_________________

"Because it's a BIG, STUPID JELLYFISH!"

- Commander Shepard, Mass Effect.

Lady · Guest

Did u deliberately kill Mike to prevent him being in the story? Very Happy

Please dont kill me Razz

Fantastic as usual bravo

Syd · Posted: Sat May 10, 2008 8:49 pm Post subject:

Lady · Guest

Hopefully one of those will be Syd xD

Moonlight · Posted: Sat May 10, 2008 9:32 pm Post subject:

Good as Always ,Keep up the Good work bravo

_________________
Levina Eris-lvl 20 R/X-Finished P/F/Nf/EotN
Adriana Wolfsong-lvl 20 R/X-Finished P/F/Nf/EotN
Tears of Midnight-lvl 20 E/X-Finished P/F/Nf/EotN
Jade Fortune-lvl 20 Mo/X-Finished P/F/Nf/EotN
Jade WolfHammer-lvl 20 W/X-Finished P/F/Nf/EotN
Shayia Bloodstalker-lvl 20 N/X-Finished P/F/Nf/EotN
Moonlight Requiem-lvl 20 A/X-Finished P/F/Nf/EotN
Halcyon Dreams-lvl 20 D/X-Finished P/F/Nf/EotN
Nocturnal Desire-lvl 20 N/X-Finished-P/F/Nf/EotN
Unlimited Desire-lvl 20 P/X-Finished-P/F/Nf/EotN
Untouched Serenity-lvl 20 Rit/X-Finished-F/Nf/EotN

Syd · Posted: Sun May 25, 2008 5:14 pm Post subject:

The Lonely Travelers
Book One: The Knowledgeable Asura

Chapter Seven: The Ten Doors

That night, Samira couldn't sleep.

She kept thinking of what was happening in the land of the living, if everyone was okay, and if they'd ever find Aerya. She also kept pondering about Ayus' words that evening.

After they had finished fighting, Ayus and Samira talked for a bit, especially about Samira's performance that day. She had noticed that every time she suggested a technique, Ayus just shook his head, and looked at the dark night sky.

'Whenever fear strikes you in the heart,' he had said, 'think of the starry sky before us. Think of every star as a human being, such as on this world. The stars are there for us to see, the people are there for us to help. When you're destined to become a hero, people believe in you. Why, you ask? Because you have the power to change the world. But never let it get you down. There's nothing to worry about, as long as you believe in who you are and of course, what you stand for.'

The thought to give up lingered in Samira's head for a while, but she dismissed it, and went to sleep. She was too tired to think anyway.

------Later that night-------

Samira found herself in a dark room, not quite remembering how she got there. The only thing she knew was that she was alone, and that it wasn't a dream. She had tried pinching herself until her arm went red, but she didn't wake up. Samira looked at her hand, and recited an incantantion Ayus had taught her. Her right hand started to glow, before bursting into flames that could not harm her. Samira smiled weakly.

Now that she had a better view of her environment, Samira looked around. She was in a small circular room. Around her were ten doors, each in a different color: two shades of purple (out of which one was half black) green, about three shades of blue, orange, yellow, black, and red.

Then, Samira noticed movement in the purple and black door. She inmediately reached for her blades to take on her combat position, but found she didn't have them on her. Samira sighed, then looked at her burning hands. She'd have to use offensive magic then.

Her eyes fixed on the door, Samira waited, the fireball in her hand ready to be thrown. When the door fully opened, however, Samira could do nothing else than stare and drop to her knees.

--------------Meanwhile, in Tyria---------------

Syd carefully draped a blanket around Samira's unconscious body, which had started shaking vigorously just a few seconds ago. "I wonder what's happening there." Syd thought.

Syd had enchanted himself with an invisibility spell, so that he could do his job quietly. The only thing he had to do was to cast a hex on Samira, who would hold on to the illusion that she was training with Ayus. After that, Syd would just have to wait an hour or so, and Samira would be awake again. However, it took longer than expected. Much longer. Syd was already waiting for six hours. He was tired, hungry, and thirsty. But he wouldn't sleep. He wouldn't go away to eat. He had to maintain the hex, no matter what. From the corner of his eye, Syd watched Samira shake, then gave a weak smile.

----------Back to Samira-----------------

Samira couldn't believe her eyes. In the doorway in front of her stood Mizu, the one person she hadn't expected her assailant to be. Mizu was still in his Asuran form, but the scars on his face and arms had multiplied, and he wore entirely different clothes; whereas he had worn a long black cloak and a red mask at Lion's Arch, now he was wearing a shorter, torn red cloak, and apparently sporting, quite strangely, a muzzle.

"Finally," Mizu laughed, breaking the silence, "I get to meet my killer. How are you?"

Samira blinked in disbelief.

"Hmm," Mizu chuckled, "and here was me thinking you'd have gotten a little bit more...talkative over the past few weeks!"

"You bastard."

Samira had said it before she even noticed.

"Oh, yes, I was. But now that I'm dead..."

"WHAT? So you're....?"

"Dead, yes. You stabbed me in the back, remember? It hurt pretty bad."

"You deserve eternal suffering..."

"I thought you'd be easy to cooperate with, but...."

"Work together? With you? Over my -"

"Dead body? Oh, you're making this way too easy."

Mizu moved up to where Samira was standing, took his dagger from its sheath, and held it to her throat. It remained there for a few seconds, then Mizu put it back.

"Why didn't you kill me?" Samira questioned, taking a few steps back.

"Because a master rarely kills his....student." Mizu snarled, saying the last word with a smirk on his face.

"So you're...I'm....Oh no." Samira gasped.

"Yes, kiddo. I'm your new teacher. For one day, at least. Ayus himself wanted me to help you in your....education." He smiled when he saw Samira roll her eyes. "Now hold on, little grasshopper. I don't like this either, but let's try to make the best out of this, okay?"

Samira swallowed, then nodded.

"Okay," Mizu stated, taking his katana from the large scabbard on his back, "first thing: the Rush technique."

--------------END OF CHAPTER, NEXT CHAPTER: Dead Man's Pact---------

Hope you all liked this chapter. Very Happy

_________________

"Because it's a BIG, STUPID JELLYFISH!"

- Commander Shepard, Mass Effect.

Doggie · L3 Joined: 30 May 2006 Posts: 3453 Location: everywhere

Syd,

Excellent chapter!
_________________

Darkest Rooster - lvl 20 R/W - Proph, NF
Little Doggie - lvl 20 W/Me - Proph, NF
Monkfish Cat - lvl 20 Mo/Me - Proph, Fac, NF, EotN
Miss Snow Wolf Fang - lvl 20 A/N - Fac
Sparklehorse Star - lvl 20 P/W - NF
Ancient Was Doggie - lvl 20 Rt - doing Fac
Doggie Bone Dancer - lvl 20 N - doing NF
The Fishylicious - lvl 11 - doing NF
Doggie Burntfur - lvl 8 - doing Fac
Doggie Fur Friend - lvl 8 D/E - doing NF

Lady · Guest

u deprive us far too long of these stories Very Happy

Excellant as usual bravo

Tiny Purple Dragon · L1 Joined: 18 Jun 2007 Posts: 548 Location: Texas

great job syd
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Syd · Posted: Wed Jul 02, 2008 8:24 pm Post subject:

The Lonely Travelers
Book One: The Knowledgeable Asura
Chapter Eight: Dead Man's Pact

'The Chamber only opens when the spirits held within are in unity.'

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

'You don't know what a Rush attack is?' Mizu questioned, fumbling with the dagger in its sheath.

'Never heard about it.' Samira answered, laughing nervously, then straightening her face when Mizu growled at her.

Mizu sighed, then sat down. He gestured for Samira to sit next to him, impatiently tapping the ground.

When Samira finally sat down, Mizu stared at the ceiling of the darkened room.

'Something wrong?' Samira asked.

Mizu pulled his hood over his head and looked at Samira.

'The Rush technique is the oldest combat skill. It takes ages to master, but there is a way for you to master it in mere minutes.'

'Tell me.' Samira said.

'Many years ago, a small group of Ritualists were searching for a way to enhance their communication with the spirits. In some old Canthan ruins deep within the Echovald Forest, they found a scroll that described exactly how to forge a Dead Man's Pact, the ultimate union between the spirit of a fallen warrior, and a living being. Their souls merge, become one.'

Mizu looked at Samira and smiled weakly.

'To forge a Dead Man's Pact, both spirit and human have to give their consent.'

Samira pulled out a small pen-knife that she always had in her pocket and aimed it at Mizu.

'Mizu, give me one reason to let the son-of-a-b i t c h who tried to kill me and my friends, control my mind, or I swear, I'm going to kill-'

Mizu stared at Samira, still smiling.

'You already did, Samira. Back in Lion's Arch.'

'Well, I'll do it again.'

'I understand your concerns, kiddo.' he chuckled, 'and I won't do you any harm. I promise.'

Samira relaxed when she heard it and shoved the knife in her pocket again.

'Okay then, do it.'

'Hey now, why the trust all of a sudden?' Mizu chuckled.

'You said everything would be alright.'

'Shame on you, Samira. You're trusting me too soon. Just like you said, I've tried to kill you. Now why would you trust someone who tried to kill you? I just might invade your mind and force you to kill your friends, your family...'

'I don't have a family.' Samira sniffed.

'Guess we're on the same boat then.'

Samira cried for the first time in a long while.

'DID YOU SEE YOUR CITY BURN TO ASHES!? DID YOU SEE EVERYONE YOU LOVE DIE? DID YOU SEE YOUR FATHER GETTING CRUSHED BY A CRYSTAL, MELTING TO DEATH? MY LIFE VANISHED IN TWO HOURS! All I lived for, all I stood for...gone...'

Mizu reached an arm around her. She accepted, crying into his shoulder.

'Twenty-two years ago,' he said, 'when I was ten, Kaineng City was filled to the brim with corrupt guards. They swore to protect the empire, but we knew better. One day, they went to the Qui-Jeong District, which was the place where I lived. Almost everyone in that area of the city's poor. We lived in the slums. The guards came to Qui-Jeong, and rounded the poor people up. We were asked to follow them to a small city square to the north, where, according to them, there were friendly people willing to take us in. Rich people. People who wanted us to live with them. When we got there, we didn't see those friendly people. We saw slavers with whips, swords, and clubs.'

He sighed. Samira could swear there were tears forming in his eyes.

'My little sister, Mei-Xing, was only four years old when it happened. I.. I saw...' Mizu swallowed. 'I watched how they chopped her into pieces. They said it was only a warning, that things like that could happen to me too, was I inobedient.. My father was considered too weak for the work the slavers had the slaves do. He was beheaded in front of my mother, who was later sold to a sadistic Canthan general, who probably killed her later. I was the only one left. They....they gave me away to a small group of scientists doing illegal genetic research. According to them, I was a mere test subject for a substance that would make any ordinary human the ultimate weapon; smart as an Asura, strong as a Norn, cunning as a Charr. Unfortunately for me, only the Asura part worked out. They...they made me the monster I am today.'

Mizu looked at his reflection in the blade of the dagger he held, then threw it away.

'My story doesn't end there, either. The crap just keeps coming and coming...anyway, they left me for dead on the Kaineng streets when they decided I was useless. I lived on the streets for eight years, surviving on nothing but rage and hate. Until Dao Feng found me.'

Samira had stopped crying to listen to Mizu's story. 'Who's Dao Feng?' she asked, wiping tears from her face.

'Dao Feng was the leader of the Canthan Snakes, a big underworld guild that had the best Assassins Cantha had to offer, even better than the damn Canthan Elite Guard. If you needed a hitman, you went to Dao Feng. Guy was a legend among Assassins. Some said he was a shadow, others said he was a long forgotten demon. Anyway, when I came to the old building the Snakes use as their 'lair', he said he saw something in me. Perhaps it was my intimidating appearance, perhaps my determination. I said I wanted to become an Assassin. Then...he said he wanted to train me. For every guild member, having Dao Feng as your mentor's a dream come true. For me, it was too. Something about him just....pulled you in. You'd even jump from a tower if he'd ask.'

Mizu smiled to himself, scratched the back of his head, and then went on.

'I got my revenge. I saw the guards talking to some poor people, probably trying to lure them to the slavers again. I followed them, and when I got there, I made sure every guard, every slaver, and every buyer, was dead. I slit hundreds of throats, snapped dozens of necks, and left victorious, the head of my sister's killer clenched in my blood-soaked hands. Two years ago, your friend....Sydeus, came to Dao Feng. I came a long way up since I joined, and now served directly under Dao Feng. Dao Feng agreed to let him join, which I was against...for the right reasons, as it later turned out. When Sydeus tried to leave the Snakes, Dao Feng first tried to talk him down, but then they were fighting. Sydeus had the upper hand, but Dao Feng was too foolish to give up. After all, he had never lost a single battle...At dawn, we found his corpse in the main hall. When everybody went on with their assassination jobs, I, still under his spell, summoned his spirit....I forged a Dead Man's Pact with him, and paid the price. Dao Feng brainwashed me, made me commit horrible murders, like those on Irma and Gohzo.'

'Why did you kill them?' Samira asked.

'Dao Feng made me to. He said they were enemies of the Snakes, and a threat to me. He said they wanted to kill me.' Mizu buried his head in his hands. 'I was too foolish to realize that they meant no harm, that Dao Feng was setting me up. I should've known when I agreed on the Dead Man's Pact.'

'Wait, how did you get off the spell?'

'You freed my soul. Dao Feng was sent back to the Realm of Torment when you killed me. I never thanked you properly. Stand up.'

Samira did as Mizu had told her, and Mizu himself did so, too. He took her hands in his. Samira looked into his black eyes. and at the scars on his face. Mizu then took a few steps back, letting her hands loose. He started to recite an odd prayer.

'My name is Mizu, Guardian of Souls. Six True Gods, hear me! I wish for Samira Elodryn, the one you have chosen as your hero, to have dreams to hold on to! The dreams of many, in one's hand - the Sword of Dreams! Gods, hear my call!'

A beam of light shone down on Samira, and before she knew it, she was floating. Mizu stared at her in awe, as if in surprise that this had actually worked. Samira smiled down on him, and then lost her breath too when she looked at herself. The old dress she had always worn was replaced by a camo vest with black sleeves, skintight pants, and army boots. In her hand she held an old sword, that reminded her of the one Ayus had, but duller and uglier. She slowly descended to the ground. The beam of light vanished as she walked back to Mizu.

'There are two things left for us to do now.' Mizu said, stepping a bit closer to Samira and taking hold of her new sword. He swung it a few times and then said:

'My dream is to see my sister again.'

Almost inmediately, the sword started to renew itself. The blade became dark blue instead of dull gray, the stones that decorated the blade became sapphires, and the hilt was now easier to hold thanks to comfortable leather wrapped around it.

'Still wanna do the Dead Man's Pact?' Mizu asked, his voice much friendlier than she'd ever heard.

'Ready when you are.'

Mizu took a hold of Samira's hands again and closed his eyes. Samira did the same.

'Together, we walk this earth. Spirit and human, in one last battle. We shall fight to the end. My heart is yours and your heart is mine. Together, we shall fight as one. Together, we shall become one.'

'I accept.'

'I accept.'

All Samira heard was a loud 'bang', and when she opened her eyes, Mizu was gone.

----------------------------END OF CHAPTER: NEXT CHAPTER: THE LONELY TRAVELERS-----------------------------------------------

Hope you enjoyed this chapter! It took me a lot of time, and I really enjoyed writing it, especially after TLT's been away for so long.[/i]
_________________

"Because it's a BIG, STUPID JELLYFISH!"

- Commander Shepard, Mass Effect.