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Cydra: the Early Years
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<blockquote data-quote="the Jester" data-source="post: 1370049" data-attributes="member: 1210"><p><strong>Betrayal!</strong></p><p></p><p>“I need some new spells,” announced Malford. “The three of us are going to get some once we get back to Shorult.”</p><p></p><p>He, Dexter and Galiger were in his cabin a few hours out of Shorult.</p><p></p><p>“Why us?” sneered Galiger.</p><p></p><p>“Because I’m the captain and I said so,” snapped Malford, clearly in a bit of a foul temper. Softening his tone, he added, “Because we each have certain talents germane to the operation.”</p><p></p><p>Galiger nodded reluctantly, then glared at Dexter. “I you mess this up, I’ll kill you, kid,” he said with a smile.</p><p></p><p>***</p><p></p><p>Shorult- an elven tree town. With a population small enough that crime was unusual. But hey, how are you gonna get what you need if you don’t take it? By the time it was noticed, Malford hoped, they’d be gone anyway. A few days, maybe half a week at most, and they’d be gone. </p><p></p><p>A little information gathering to track down a local wizard, followed by the application of the three pirates’ unique abilities- Dexter’s mind-influencing powers, Malford’s knowledge of magic and ability to get around traps, and Galiger’s ability to influence undead guardians- led quickly to a murdered wizard and a pilfered spellbook. </p><p></p><p>“Well, I guess I won’t kill you yet,” Galiger said half-jokingly to Dexter as they walked through the streets of town.</p><p></p><p>“That’s it!” Dexter cried. He swung around, face crimson, and exploded into psionic fury on Galiger, blasting his memories and experiences away in a <em>mindwipe!</em> Galiger shrieked and staggered as his powers, his mental faculties, his very <em>experiences</em> started to melt away!</p><p></p><p>Savagely, Dexter continued his psionic attack. “Dexter, Galiger, stop!” Malford shouted, but to no avail. Galiger howled and brought a field of <em>darkness</em> into being around all of them.</p><p></p><p><em>Got to stop them,</em> Malford thought wildly. He tumbled back out of the <em>darkness</em> and snapped off the words to a <em>sleep</em> spell.</p><p></p><p>Within the darkness, the sound of falling bodies.</p><p></p><p><em>Now what?</em> Malford wondered grimly.</p><p></p><p>***</p><p></p><p>With a slow groan, Galiger opened his eyes.</p><p></p><p>He was in an alley, off the main street. Folded atop his chest was a note. A raging void was throbbing in his brain, where he could sense the <em>absence</em> of things in his mind, things that were there just hours ago. The absence of spells he once could cast...</p><p></p><p>His eyes stinging with tears, he read the letter, then cast it aside. Vicious anger burned in his heart and he stormed back to the <em>Sea Hag.</em></p><p></p><p>“Where are the Captain and Dexter?” asked Lyr, perceiving something to be the matter from Galiger’s mien.</p><p></p><p>“Shut up, bitch,” growled Galiger. He stormed into his cabin. </p><p></p><p>Urick and Lyr exchanged a glance. </p><p></p><p>A few moments later Galiger emerged, struggling to close a robe over his body, which had flask after flask of oil strapped to it. </p><p></p><p>“What...?” Chanti gasped.</p><p></p><p>”The Captain and Dexter have betrayed us,” Galiger shouted at the crew. “They won’t be back. The ship should leave as soon as possible! Get out of Shorult in case they turn us in!”</p><p></p><p>“What?”</p><p></p><p>“I’m going to burn down the Church of Galador,” finished Galiger. “Hopefully I’ll be back. Be ready to cast off soon. If I’m not back in an hour I didn’t make it and get out of here.”</p><p></p><p>Galiger stomped off. </p><p></p><p>Chanti let out a low whistle.</p><p></p><p>“What the hell just happened?” Urick wondered in amazement.</p><p></p><p>***</p><p></p><p>As the sun went down the sky in the west turned orange and then pink, and so did the sky in the east; but to the east it was the smoke rising from the ruin of the Galadorian temple. How many lives were lost in the conflagration? Who knows- but not more than one in ten was a native elf of Gorel; the rest were almost all humans of Forinthia.</p><p></p><p>And, of course, one human cleric of Bleak, his remains at the center of the entire thing, dozens of flasks of oil exploded all over his body.</p><p></p><p>Chanticleer’s voice rose over the sound of the waves in a newly-composed chantey:</p><p></p><p><em>I once knew a priest named Galiger,</em></p><p><em>A heroic one was he;</em></p><p><em>He fought followers of Galador,</em></p><p><em>Wherever they may be.</em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em>Yet a traitor stabbed him in the back,</em></p><p><em>And made his soul turn deepest black,</em></p><p><em>But before he died he did attack</em></p><p><em>A temple in the name of Bleak!</em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em>Galiger, the servant of Bleak- </em></p><p><em>He never turned the other cheek!</em></p><p><em>The name of Bleak he’d always shriek!</em></p><p><em>His tale of which I’ll forever speak!</em></p><p><em>And in trying times, when I feel weak</em></p><p><em>I’ll remember Galiger,</em></p><p><em>The faithful servant of Bleak.</em></p><p></p><p>As the <em>Sea Hag</em> left the isle of Gorel behind again, heading (for lack of a better destination) back to the Aquan Pyramid, the pillar of smoke rose into the sky, lit from below by the inferno that was Galiger’s last action. Standing on deck, looking back, Lyr and Urick watched in silence for quite some time. </p><p></p><p>“What do you think really happened?” wondered Urick.</p><p></p><p>”I don’t know.”</p><p></p><p>“We’re directionless now.” </p><p></p><p>“I know.”</p><p></p><p>“We don’t even have a captain,” Urick complained.</p><p></p><p>”I know. We’ll have to decide on one, and on what to do with ourselves.”</p><p></p><p>“We’re pirates.” </p><p></p><p>“We’ve hardly pirated.”</p><p></p><p>Lyr sighed. “We’ll figure it out.”</p><p></p><p>They sailed into the sunset.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="the Jester, post: 1370049, member: 1210"] [b]Betrayal![/b] “I need some new spells,” announced Malford. “The three of us are going to get some once we get back to Shorult.” He, Dexter and Galiger were in his cabin a few hours out of Shorult. “Why us?” sneered Galiger. “Because I’m the captain and I said so,” snapped Malford, clearly in a bit of a foul temper. Softening his tone, he added, “Because we each have certain talents germane to the operation.” Galiger nodded reluctantly, then glared at Dexter. “I you mess this up, I’ll kill you, kid,” he said with a smile. *** Shorult- an elven tree town. With a population small enough that crime was unusual. But hey, how are you gonna get what you need if you don’t take it? By the time it was noticed, Malford hoped, they’d be gone anyway. A few days, maybe half a week at most, and they’d be gone. A little information gathering to track down a local wizard, followed by the application of the three pirates’ unique abilities- Dexter’s mind-influencing powers, Malford’s knowledge of magic and ability to get around traps, and Galiger’s ability to influence undead guardians- led quickly to a murdered wizard and a pilfered spellbook. “Well, I guess I won’t kill you yet,” Galiger said half-jokingly to Dexter as they walked through the streets of town. “That’s it!” Dexter cried. He swung around, face crimson, and exploded into psionic fury on Galiger, blasting his memories and experiences away in a [i]mindwipe![/i] Galiger shrieked and staggered as his powers, his mental faculties, his very [i]experiences[/i] started to melt away! Savagely, Dexter continued his psionic attack. “Dexter, Galiger, stop!” Malford shouted, but to no avail. Galiger howled and brought a field of [i]darkness[/i] into being around all of them. [i]Got to stop them,[/i] Malford thought wildly. He tumbled back out of the [i]darkness[/i] and snapped off the words to a [i]sleep[/i] spell. Within the darkness, the sound of falling bodies. [i]Now what?[/i] Malford wondered grimly. *** With a slow groan, Galiger opened his eyes. He was in an alley, off the main street. Folded atop his chest was a note. A raging void was throbbing in his brain, where he could sense the [i]absence[/i] of things in his mind, things that were there just hours ago. The absence of spells he once could cast... His eyes stinging with tears, he read the letter, then cast it aside. Vicious anger burned in his heart and he stormed back to the [i]Sea Hag.[/i] “Where are the Captain and Dexter?” asked Lyr, perceiving something to be the matter from Galiger’s mien. “Shut up, bitch,” growled Galiger. He stormed into his cabin. Urick and Lyr exchanged a glance. A few moments later Galiger emerged, struggling to close a robe over his body, which had flask after flask of oil strapped to it. “What...?” Chanti gasped. ”The Captain and Dexter have betrayed us,” Galiger shouted at the crew. “They won’t be back. The ship should leave as soon as possible! Get out of Shorult in case they turn us in!” “What?” “I’m going to burn down the Church of Galador,” finished Galiger. “Hopefully I’ll be back. Be ready to cast off soon. If I’m not back in an hour I didn’t make it and get out of here.” Galiger stomped off. Chanti let out a low whistle. “What the hell just happened?” Urick wondered in amazement. *** As the sun went down the sky in the west turned orange and then pink, and so did the sky in the east; but to the east it was the smoke rising from the ruin of the Galadorian temple. How many lives were lost in the conflagration? Who knows- but not more than one in ten was a native elf of Gorel; the rest were almost all humans of Forinthia. And, of course, one human cleric of Bleak, his remains at the center of the entire thing, dozens of flasks of oil exploded all over his body. Chanticleer’s voice rose over the sound of the waves in a newly-composed chantey: [i]I once knew a priest named Galiger, A heroic one was he; He fought followers of Galador, Wherever they may be. Yet a traitor stabbed him in the back, And made his soul turn deepest black, But before he died he did attack A temple in the name of Bleak! Galiger, the servant of Bleak- He never turned the other cheek! The name of Bleak he’d always shriek! His tale of which I’ll forever speak! And in trying times, when I feel weak I’ll remember Galiger, The faithful servant of Bleak.[/i] As the [i]Sea Hag[/i] left the isle of Gorel behind again, heading (for lack of a better destination) back to the Aquan Pyramid, the pillar of smoke rose into the sky, lit from below by the inferno that was Galiger’s last action. Standing on deck, looking back, Lyr and Urick watched in silence for quite some time. “What do you think really happened?” wondered Urick. ”I don’t know.” “We’re directionless now.” “I know.” “We don’t even have a captain,” Urick complained. ”I know. We’ll have to decide on one, and on what to do with ourselves.” “We’re pirates.” “We’ve hardly pirated.” Lyr sighed. “We’ll figure it out.” They sailed into the sunset. [/QUOTE]
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