“There comes a time, a moment in every man life where their life changes forever. Is it the will of the gods? Everyone from king to Warrior to commoner, to human to elf to dwarf. Their life’s path already laid out before them, and they have no choice but there play out their preordained role, there fate as it were. Or perhaps it is just chance. the randomness of an ever changing and transient world. Formed and shaped by the independent actions and movements of people. Those who preach for ether the forces of order or chaos have often made this the case. Though I am not one who would be swayed to either side of this grand cosmic debate, I say let the Wisemen, the Scholars and the Sages ponder the nature of such things. but regardless once you have had that monument, in which I have had several in my life. Nothing is ever truly the same again. the first of these many paramount moments came to me. When I was but merely a young stripling, when I could barely hold a bastard sword or even wear a great helm upon my head. It was this time in my life when I first meet him. Tharos, the man who would change not only my life but the lives of so many others though this one chance encounter. He was my mentor, my best friend and my most trusted of confidants. A man who fought by my side, back-to-back in many a battle to the death, a man who took me to lands far beyond the setting sun, and a man who showed me the many delights and pleasures that life has to offer you. The full details of which will have to be for another time. This Fateful encounter happened on the late hue of winter, when I was brought low by circumstances beyond my control and Forced into a life of servitude. Dragged against my will by whoever owned the chains around my neck. Zarbar The lost city. “
Excerpt From the memoirs of Cenric Dellcreek, The Illuminator, First King of Aria. Transcribed and Written By the chronicler Eadig the wise.
“Cenric wake up.“
The small boy twisted and turned in his makeshift bed of made of loose bits straw and animal skins, as in repose to his name called out.
“Cenric wake up.“
The voice repeated this time with a slight hint of worry. The boy slowly stirred slowly from his slumber with the iron collar around his neck scaping ever so softly on his bedding.
“Cenric Wake up! “ The voice shouted in a stern tone.
The boy arose out of his bed like he was struck with a lightning bolt.
“I … ama awake Torag.”
Cenric stood attention to the old man standing in fount of him. his golden blonde hair looking untidy and unkept, while his bright green eyes where focused staring at the old man in front of him. the old man was tall and muscular, his face was withered, with a greying and messy beard. His head was hairless and was smooth was marble.
“You don’t have to be loud Torag.”
“Would you have preferred that Lord Eilis or members from his ‘esteemed’ entourage wake you from your slumber Cenric?”
there was a tone of slight sarcasm in his voice.
“Point taken”
“Good, now get ready kid we are about to pack up camp and move out. Lord Eilis isn’t known for being a known for being a patient man especially towards thralls like us “
he says as he gestures to himself and around the tent that Cenric is standing in. his voice carrying a tinge of concern, but also a profound bitterness. A bitterness that Cenric was quickly learning to understand. Unlike Cenric who only been a Thrall for only the last few months. Torag had been a Thrall for at least the last decade, and unlike Cenric who was just a humble son of a farmer. Torag had been an infamous warlord, a man who had commanded armies and brought entire cities and towns to the sword. Thundering death Torag, he was once he a powerful and feared man, now he was just a weak old man who pride, ambition and spirit had been utterly broken. Cenric couldn’t understand why men like Torag existed, or to be more precise why men like torag would risk losing everything in the quest to acquire more. Perhaps it because he was still a child who view of the world, was shaped by what he could see outside the village walls. Maybe his humble birth and stature in life never gave him the kind of hunger that many men like Torag had, the same look of hunger he saw in Eilis and in many of his followers. Cenric still couldn’t understand it, however if there was one thing he did understand, the one thing he could truly understand was the feeling that things had to change. These never-ending wars between various kingdoms and petty warlords fighting over the scraps of a once mighty empire, for a crown that was rusted by time and a throne that lies empty, had to stop. However, this was how things had always been or at least as long as his father or the village elder could recall. The land of aria being carved up like a festival feast, as hungry dogs fight over the scraps.
“But did it have to be this way?”
But before Cenric could reflect more on these thoughts, he is interrupted by a furious voice.
“Oi your lazy gits get to work.” The voice shouted out from outside the tent.
Torag shakes his head and then looks down on the floor
“well duty calls.”
Torag then leaves the tent, as a rough looking man pass him. the man giving him a threating stare. Before turning his attention to Cenric.
“Good news kid you’re going to Feeding the prisoner and on baggage train duty “
The man says with a rough grin on his face.
“Though I would be careful, he is feeling quite feisty this morning.“
Cenric noticing the man new black eye and several nicks and dents in his chain mail armor. The man passing Cenric a small bag.
“Yes sir.“
Cenric respond his eyes looking downwards towards the ground. As Cenric was about to leave. He felt a sharp pain from the back of his head, as an armored first hit him. his head and ears where ringing as the fist made impact. Cenric staggered forth slowly turning around to the man.
“You will speak when I give you permission to speak and move when I tell you to move. Understood!“
The man sated in an angry tone of voice. Cenric with his head and ears still ringing, and blood slowly dripping from the back of his head. Slowly nodded his head in response.
“Much better.“
The man gives a satisfied smirk, along with a quick stare from his hungry looking eyes, as if he was a predator sizing up his new quarry. The man then leaves the tent, his voice still being heard far beyond the tent barking more orders to the other Thralls or the sound of his armored fist hitting bone, sometimes being accompanied with a satisfying crunching noise. Cuthfrith was Eilis overseer of slaves, he was a rather cruel man, but Cenric felt he got off quite Lucky this time, considering the rumors that were spread around camp about him or what was said in hushed whispers among the other thralls. the special attention he often gives to small boys. But they were only rumors, right? Cenric shivered at the thought quickly leaving the tent once he was out of earshot.
“This was the way things were, but did it have to be this way? if only……”
before he would finish. Cenric found himself interrupted mid thought as a small rays of sunshine shined upon him, the light hitting him in the eyes. Cenric Raising his hand to shield his eyes from the sudden stinging sensation that assaulted his eyes. The rays of the sun that fainty pieced though the thick clouds to shine upon him, would then fade away as quicky as they had appeared. Rubbing his eyes Cenric would make his way to Rayner holding cell.
Rayner or Rayner the crimson wolf as he was called. was an infamous mercenary and leader of the mercenary band Rayner raiders, he had a reputation for being a ruthless warrior. Who strength and skill of arms were described as almost in-human, at least that’s what he heard around camp or from the various towns and villagers they passed though on this expedition. Out of all the things Cenric had experienced so far, from the destruction of his village to the death of his family and friends, to his capture and enslavement. Marching though the deadlands to God knows where and coming face to face with a bloodthirsty maniac, didn’t scare him or feel as terrifying as it should be. Cenric wondered if this was normal, however his stomach growing stopped such thoughts in its tracks.
As he headed there the camp was alive with activity, the various camp followers and slaves moving back and forth. The personal soldiers of Eilis and Various mercenaries he hired where equipping their gear, most of them where armored in chain mail, along with carrying various types of Axes, Swords and spears. While others were enjoying their breakfast. Some of them would stare coldly at Cenric as he walked by, others didn’t notice or even care he was there. As More focused on their conversation, as they huddle and talk around a diming campfire. Cenric would overhear some of their conversation as he walked past.
“I hope we get some action soon on this god dam trip, it’s been nothing but training and marching for the last month. I was at least hoping that he would get to fight some orcs or those seppie tribes on this trip, hell I would like to jam my sword into one of snake people. Are we even sure this city is real?”
“It doesn’t matter if it’s real or not. We get paid ether way.“
One of other mercenaries spoke up while sharping his axe
“I guess, your right, but.“
“But what.“
The other mercenary said with a perplexed look on his face.
“What about the other people who got sent out to the deadlands, none of them ever returned.”
Cenric felt the hairs on the back of neck stand on edge, upon hearing that. he had heard around camp that they are looking for some long-lost city, though he never managed find out the reason why. Though he could probably figure it out, treasure, maybe a powerful magic artefact of sorts. However, he felt there was more to it than that. If it was just simple treasure Then Why go to all this effort, if it was some powerful magic artefact, it would explain why Eilis is now personally leading this expedition after many failed attempts to get his prize. However, something didn’t feel right to him, he felt there something more to this more than just simple riches or power, maybe the motives of someone like Eilis or men like him was something he didn’t understand, but he understood this much. The sinking feeling at the pit of his stomach, the cold chills he felt at the back of his neck. Something was wrong, deeply wrong but what was a question that he couldn’t answer. After passing though more soldiers and some of the other slaves who were busy with their own tasks, he came to a stop at the entrance of the tent that contained Rayner holding cage. Cenric took a deep breath and walked in, his heart beating faster as he peeked his head though the entrance. what greeted him was the sight of a man who was beaten, bloodied, blind folded and tied up with silver chains in a massive iron cage. He was as tall as a mountain and just as wide, his bulky physique was marked with various scars and blue tattoos. His features were feral and wolflike with his slightly pointed ears, and large canine-like teeth that poked just underneath his lips. His hair was long, unkept, and was blood red. Cenric wasn’t sure what he was looking at, was this a man or was he looking at the embodiment of pure savagery. he saw Rayner move ever so slightly and move his head in Cenric direction, his nose and ears twitching slightly, though Rayner was blind folded. Cenric eyes linked with his, even though the blind fold. his eyes reflected a strength of will so strong, that even Cenric could feel it. It made him Cenric recoil and step back in fear. They had beaten him, but they had not broken him. Cenric would regain his composure and speak up.
“I have your food here.“
Cenric says as he slowly walks towards the edge of the cage and places the bag of food in the cage. Dreading what was to come next. However, instead he noticed Rayner face soften ever so slightly, though his words were not so soft.
“Listen here you whelp.“
Rayner spoke up, his voice echoing a level of pride that Cenric didn’t fully understand.
“I refuse to take any food from that Yutchen sorcerer bastard you hear me.”
Cenric nodded his head slowly, to acknowledge he was listening.
“May I have your food then. “
Cenric asks in a nervous tone, as his stomach starts to grumble.
“You may Whelp, now get out before I change my mind.“
He could see Rayner drilling holes into him though the blindfold
“Thank you “
Cenric would walk about of the tent quickly, looking around to make sure no one was watching. He would greedily devour the food. If he gotten caught eating without permission, there was no telling what would happen to him. best case he would beaten and not be allowed food or water for a few days, worse case. Cenric shivered at the thought of what punishments Cuthfrith sick mind would think up. He didn’t expect such kindness from such a person, if anything Rayner needed the food more than him. After finishing the food, Cenric could see the camp was almost packed up, it would be time to move soon. Cenric could see Torag waving over to him, signaling to Cenric his place in the baggage train. For several hours Cenric would Follow behind the rest of the camp, his feet sore from carrying a massive bag strapped to his back, the sun was hot beating down with great intensity upon him, accompanied by a Cool and blistering wind. Cenric felt every muscle in his body tire and stain, his breath Heavy, with Torag giving him a slight push whenever he would slow down. As they walked over a series of large sand dunes. Cenric could hear shouting in the distance,
“We found it, we have found it, The city It’s real, Zarbar.“
As Cenric and Torag across over the dunes, they saw it. What greeted them far in the distance like a shining jewel was the slight of a massive city. Cenric was relieved that soon this walk would be over, however the sinking feeling at the pit of his stomach, and the cold chills he felt destroyed that notation. Something was wrong with that city; something was deeply wrong with that city. And Cenric felt he was the only one who felt this way. as they moved closer to the city, the city in all its decaying splendor in full view. Cenric noticed something, it was brief but for a split second he though he saw someone standing on top of one of the cities many buildings, watching them as they approached the city outer wall.
“What is it Cenric.“
Torag asks as he notices Cenric stare off into the distance.
“it’s nothing Torag, I just thought.“
“You thought what?”
Torag his voice echoing a sense of concern.
“I thought I saw someone, up there.”
Cenric pointing to the building where he saw the figure.
Torag squints his eyes looking at that direction
“It was probably nothing Cenric, the desert can play tricks on you.”
“Yeah, I hope so.“
Cenric knew he saw something, but maybe Torag was right it was just the desert playing tricks on him, the city looked abandoned and devoid of life. there shouldn’t be anyone or anything living here. But Cenric couldn’t shake the feeling. that this city wasn’t as dead or abandoned as it first looked, Cenric stared up at the afternoon sky, and as he did the sun shined ever so brightly for a split Secord.
