Casted Memories...
Posted: Tue May 06, 2003 6:17 am
Xerake hops amongst the many trees in the forest, and looks past the shores away from Trollsbane. He sits down against one of the trees, looks upon the sunset horizon, and begins to remember...
"Those days...oh, I remember those days..."
A long time ago...
Xerake was a little lizard. He was rummaging through the coral and various lifeforms in the sea in search of food besides fish. Fish was a food that became rather tiring, and variety was in order for his desires. He climbed out of the seas, and walked onto the shores of an island country far off to the east of Trollsbane...he can't remember the name of that particular island, or at least, in the human tongue.
As he was searching for a variety of food on land, he came across many trees. These trees had apples, cherries, oranges, many sorts of fruits. 'Land' was still a concept alien to him, as he could move around quicker and easier now that he was out of the water. Unfortunately, land lacked moisture. This was something that could be looked past in a matter of months, however.
Then, he came across a man with long, black hair wearing dark green robes. This man was a philosopher...a viewer of different views on the world, that befriended the lizardboy. It was quite unusual that he wasn't shocked by the lizard, considering lizardpeople rarely show up on land. Perhaps he seen bigger, better things...
This mans name was Takeda. Xerake eventually saw this man on a daily basis, and the man began to see potential for the lizard...with his unusal speed and whatnot. The man taught the lizardboy many types of arts in combat, even fighting without weapons. Xerake didn't know why he wanted to learn the arts, for he never had to fight in his short life before. It was a simple, utter desire to learn what he didn't understand.
Training continued until one day, he was a fully grown lizardman. Takeda was aging, but he still remained a strong combatant and sharp minded man. Takeda confronted Xerake, and asked him to practice the art of stealth...apparently, various men against him were plotting his death...or at least, that's what the lizardman was told. Fearing Takedas death, he joined a group that was dedicated to his protection. The group mainly consisted of lizardpeople, and they all dressed in black. Although they believed themselves to be defenders of their friends life, they couldn't hide any facts. They were ninja, as they were ordered to kill enemies of Takeda or steal certain documents that may tarnish his name. The clan was a special division of the Kogha region that was present on the island. Takeda grew more and more grim, as he commanded unquestioned loyalty no matter what the conditions.
Xerake continued his career for a few years, though he was still healthy and young. Each time he did a mission, he felt less free bit by bit. He felt as if he was a slave, an expendable one at that. One day, him and the Kogha group was to go on a mission across the lands, on a boat to seek a potential aid to Takeda. Only now did Xerake realize that Takeda was also a politician involved in many disputes with various rulers. Xerake wasn't to mingle with the monarch that would help Takeda, but rather, act as a body guard; his usual forte.
On a cold, moist night on the leaky boat, there were sudden explosions coming from the hull of the ship...Xerake quickly awakened, and came to see what the problem was. His companions were fighting back foreign invaders on the ship, although they were losing the battle. The plan to see the monarch, apparently, was an elaborate roose in order to get Takeda and his men off guard. As a Kogha ninja, Xerake was taught never to be captured or accept failure on his mission. It was a common ritual to commit suicide in case such an event such as this happened, when defeat was inevitable. He hid into a corner near the cargo, sounds of flame and battle still roaring in the backround, and lifted the large knife he carried over his body...before he thrust, he began to think of freedom. What it used to mean to him. There were several spare boats that were aligned with the ship, and they appeared in moderate condition; not scathed by the foreign attackers. He slams the blade down, and sheathes it back. He was a ninja, however! It wasn't honorable to simply leave, but freedom was a concept he was willing to shame himself for.
Cold nights have passed after that, and several of his companions cursed at him endlessly for his escape...
Xerake awakened on an island, his boat completely ravaged by the cruel waves from the seas.
Several days passed, as he grew accustomed to the island; he found it was known as Trollsbane, the main city. Under it, a dwarven city, Silverbrand existed as well.
Being a ninja made him a callous, hurt lizardman from his past. He fears any day that Takeda or his men find him, and kill him for treachery. He can only hope that this island serves as a safe haven from his slave-like past, a past that he can never erase. Killing still is his best skill, although making a transition to a fish monger isn't easy.
He can only hope to remember any lizardman that was on the boat with him that awful, choice murdering night...
"I'm tired...perhaps it would be best for my health if I had some degree of sleep."
Rather than retiring to his bush for the night, he leans on the tree some more, leering at the stars, and falls asleep on a hot night on the beautiful island...
"Those days...oh, I remember those days..."
A long time ago...
Xerake was a little lizard. He was rummaging through the coral and various lifeforms in the sea in search of food besides fish. Fish was a food that became rather tiring, and variety was in order for his desires. He climbed out of the seas, and walked onto the shores of an island country far off to the east of Trollsbane...he can't remember the name of that particular island, or at least, in the human tongue.
As he was searching for a variety of food on land, he came across many trees. These trees had apples, cherries, oranges, many sorts of fruits. 'Land' was still a concept alien to him, as he could move around quicker and easier now that he was out of the water. Unfortunately, land lacked moisture. This was something that could be looked past in a matter of months, however.
Then, he came across a man with long, black hair wearing dark green robes. This man was a philosopher...a viewer of different views on the world, that befriended the lizardboy. It was quite unusual that he wasn't shocked by the lizard, considering lizardpeople rarely show up on land. Perhaps he seen bigger, better things...
This mans name was Takeda. Xerake eventually saw this man on a daily basis, and the man began to see potential for the lizard...with his unusal speed and whatnot. The man taught the lizardboy many types of arts in combat, even fighting without weapons. Xerake didn't know why he wanted to learn the arts, for he never had to fight in his short life before. It was a simple, utter desire to learn what he didn't understand.
Training continued until one day, he was a fully grown lizardman. Takeda was aging, but he still remained a strong combatant and sharp minded man. Takeda confronted Xerake, and asked him to practice the art of stealth...apparently, various men against him were plotting his death...or at least, that's what the lizardman was told. Fearing Takedas death, he joined a group that was dedicated to his protection. The group mainly consisted of lizardpeople, and they all dressed in black. Although they believed themselves to be defenders of their friends life, they couldn't hide any facts. They were ninja, as they were ordered to kill enemies of Takeda or steal certain documents that may tarnish his name. The clan was a special division of the Kogha region that was present on the island. Takeda grew more and more grim, as he commanded unquestioned loyalty no matter what the conditions.
Xerake continued his career for a few years, though he was still healthy and young. Each time he did a mission, he felt less free bit by bit. He felt as if he was a slave, an expendable one at that. One day, him and the Kogha group was to go on a mission across the lands, on a boat to seek a potential aid to Takeda. Only now did Xerake realize that Takeda was also a politician involved in many disputes with various rulers. Xerake wasn't to mingle with the monarch that would help Takeda, but rather, act as a body guard; his usual forte.
On a cold, moist night on the leaky boat, there were sudden explosions coming from the hull of the ship...Xerake quickly awakened, and came to see what the problem was. His companions were fighting back foreign invaders on the ship, although they were losing the battle. The plan to see the monarch, apparently, was an elaborate roose in order to get Takeda and his men off guard. As a Kogha ninja, Xerake was taught never to be captured or accept failure on his mission. It was a common ritual to commit suicide in case such an event such as this happened, when defeat was inevitable. He hid into a corner near the cargo, sounds of flame and battle still roaring in the backround, and lifted the large knife he carried over his body...before he thrust, he began to think of freedom. What it used to mean to him. There were several spare boats that were aligned with the ship, and they appeared in moderate condition; not scathed by the foreign attackers. He slams the blade down, and sheathes it back. He was a ninja, however! It wasn't honorable to simply leave, but freedom was a concept he was willing to shame himself for.
Cold nights have passed after that, and several of his companions cursed at him endlessly for his escape...
Xerake awakened on an island, his boat completely ravaged by the cruel waves from the seas.
Several days passed, as he grew accustomed to the island; he found it was known as Trollsbane, the main city. Under it, a dwarven city, Silverbrand existed as well.
Being a ninja made him a callous, hurt lizardman from his past. He fears any day that Takeda or his men find him, and kill him for treachery. He can only hope that this island serves as a safe haven from his slave-like past, a past that he can never erase. Killing still is his best skill, although making a transition to a fish monger isn't easy.
He can only hope to remember any lizardman that was on the boat with him that awful, choice murdering night...
"I'm tired...perhaps it would be best for my health if I had some degree of sleep."
Rather than retiring to his bush for the night, he leans on the tree some more, leering at the stars, and falls asleep on a hot night on the beautiful island...