.:The Wizard and the Rogue:.
Mankar stepped out the shadows of the forest and into a small clearing. He was surrounded on all sides by the Elder Forest. Why was Mankar here? Honestly, not even he knew the answer to that. He continued on, past the clearing, he knew that the Elder Forest ended eventually; he was heading west so in a little while, a few days maybe, he would reach the Central Plains. His black cape engulfed the space behind him, while his hood covered his head, showing only the bottom half of his face, from his Adams apple to his upper lip. His right hand held his staff, extending from the ground up just above his head; the tip of the staff was decorated with two tiny skulls and several beads of unknown origin. A crimson fabric was tied around the staff itself, with the exception of the bottom, which had been worn away by years of travel. He hummed as he walked down the leaf laden path, a song which in truth had never touched anyone’s ears but his own. Finally the words escaped his lips.
“Through the sorrow all through our splendor
Don’t take offense at my innuendo”
Mankar smiled as he sang that one line and walked on. Several feet into the wood to the left of Mankar a figure watched him. His name was Sorn. He was born from the hate of the Empire and has become the embodiment of pure vengeance, violence and deceit. He was a man but from afar he had the appearance of a woman, obviously he was fiercely proud of being effeminate. Sorn watched through the trees as Mankar walked down the path. He had been following the Wizard since Willow, yet for someone who is feared across Drax, he didn’t really do anything all that terrifying. He just walked, and he sang that weird song a little while ago. Was that even a song? Or was it a curse? Yes, Sorn was sure of it. Mankar the Wizard had put a curse on him; a small squeal escaped his mouth.
Mankar heard the squeal, stopped and turned his head in Sorn’s direction. “What? Did I just hear a squeal?” He smiled as Sorn stepped out of the shadow cast by the canopy above. He lunged at Mankar forcing the Wizard to the ground. He knew this was a dumb move, but he had to force the man to lift whatever curse he placed on him. “Lift the curse Wizard!” Mankar’s eyes widened. “What the hell are you talking about?” he didn’t move, he didn’t even try to force Sorn off of him. “Those words you spoke, it was a curse. Lift it!” Sorn shouted. “That wasn’t a curse. That was Queen!” Finally he pushed Sorn up. Sorn drew his sword, or as his father had called it, a katana. “Who is this Queen, which land does she rule?” he noticed that, from what he could tell, Mankar was not armed. “Um…it’s a band. Four men, really like show tunes.” Mankar sat down on a rock with his hands in each sleeve, his staff rested along the left side of his torso. “Who be you?” Mankar tilted his head to the right. “Sorn, Sorn of Rotwang.” He lowered his sword; he could see no imminent danger. Obviously Mankar just wanted to speak. “Why are you following me?” Mankar asked. “In the halls of the palace at Willow they spoke of your plan to kill the Nine. I can’t let that happen.” Mankar just let out a laugh. “So you think you can stop me from reaching Xam? My dear, do you know who you are dealing with?” Sorn stared at The Wizard, confused. “I’m a man.” Mankar stopped laughing. “Really? A tad effeminate aren’t we?” Mankar let out a chuckle again. Mankar raised his right hand, releasing a bright red light. He walked on; a sleeping Sorn sprawled on the forest floor a few yards behind him. He would wake soon…but Mankar would be long gone.
.:The Wizard and the Salesman:.
Mankar continued on, the sun was clearly visible in the trees before him. He would place the time at around late afternoon. He had left the one known as Sorn along the road at about mid morning. He walked onward, the forest never really changing except for the angle of the sun and the overall position of the trees. Further on down the road was a bulge in the trees, part of it was moving. In fact, two parts of it were moving.
Jacoby the Red, or as he was now known the Amazing Jaco: seller of spoons. He had been traveling through the elder forest in his carriage, driven by two black horses and his loyal servant Shilah, the Gremlin and Elf hybrid. As loyal as Shilah was he wasn’t that good of a driver and, alas, the carriage had crashed into a small grouping of bushes and rocks at the side of the road. As Shilah tried to turn the carriage over himself Jacoby sat on a stump with his head in his hands. He lifted his head up to see the silhouette standing in front of him, his silhouette. “Howdy.” The voice was friendly, yet held a hint of cruelty. Shilah jumped up, surprised by the man’s appearance. Jacoby looked him over, “A Wizard?” Mankar nodded. “You are?” Mankar looked Jacoby over as well. “Jaco the…” Mankar let out a laugh, interrupting Jacoby. “Jacoby the Red, champion of the Xam arena.” Jacoby’s eyes widened and Shilah’s ears twitched. “How did you know that?” Mankar chuckled; his sharp teeth peered through his thin lips. “I have seen you fight, it’s not common for a sixteen-year-old to dominate the arena.” He let out a louder laugh. “You were built bigger back then…but I see you’ve stayed in shape.” He poked Jacoby’s leg with the end of his staff. “You gonna take that from ‘im master Jaco?” Shilah’s semi-high pitched voice came from the overturned carriage. Jacoby just smiled. “Shilah, this is Mankar. The Emperor’s magician. Please…get a fire started.” Shilah just sighed and began to look for firewood.
Jacoby poked the fire as Shilah dropped two dead rabbits before him. “For you master Jaco.” Shilah plopped down beside Jacoby, glaring at Mankar. Jacoby set the stick down and nodded towards Shilah, his signal to ready the rabbits. “What are you doing so far from Xam?” Mankar stayed quiet for a little while. “I needed a break from the complicated politics of Wilhelm’s court.” Mankar’s hands had been in his sleeves again, he pulled them out revealing a jar. The jar itself held cooked meat. Jacoby smiled and opened the jar, eating a little then offering some to Shilah, he refused. Jacoby just shrugged and continued to eat. “What is Jacoby the Red doing these days?” Mankar’s mysterious nature began to disappear, he was asking questions now. “Um…selling spoons.” Mankar tilted his head a bit in confusion. “Then why do you still carry the Redblade?” Mankar motioned to the trunk sitting inside of the carriage. “How did you know? Ah, I forgot. A Master Wizard. I’m hoping I may need it one day.” Jacoby continued to eat while Shilah prepared his own rabbit. Mankar waved his hand over the fire, he was smiling slightly. Slowly Jacoby stopped eating and fell over, asleep. Shilah did the same. Mankar just chuckled.
Jacoby slowly opened his eyes. His brown hair blocked his view of the forest floor. He sat up, yawning. Then something caught his eye. His broadsword was lying at his feet. He smelled smoke, he turned slightly. He jumped up as his carriage came into view…it had been set ablaze. Even worse Shilah, or what was left of him, hung from a tree with his blood dripping down from the many wounds that covered his body. Mankar stood in the middle of the road, smiling. “You bastard!” Jacoby grabbed his broadsword and rushed Mankar. Alas the wizard just raised his hand in the air, stopping Jacoby. “Not yet boy. Your brotherhood has yet to form.” He pushed forward sending Jacoby into the bowels of the forest. Mankar just cackled and walked on. Two more must meet his wrath before his plan could come into full swing.
.:The Wizard and the Sorceress:.
She sat within her small cottage off the main road of the Elder Forest. Before her sat the clothed half circle, steam emanated from the beneath the cloth. She smiled and quickly ripped the cloth off revealing…a bowl of soup. “Excellent, my favorite. Want some Bangle?” She looked over at the door which was situated behind her. It shook slightly and a roar nearly shook the whole house. “Suit yourself.” She began to eat the soup before her. The door shook some more, but a louder noise emanated from the tiny room on the other side. Red looked up only to see a hooded man standing outside her cottage, he was staring at the structure itself, apparently dumbfounded. Red stood up and walked to the entrance to her cottage; she opened the door and looked out at Mankar. He turned and walked to her, still staring at the cottage. “Last time I was here, this building was not in this spot. In fact, it didn’t even exist.” He looked around. “Yep, it’s new to me.” Red just stared at him, confused yet interested at the same time. “I’ve lived here for twenty-two years…when was the last time you passed through these woods?” Red was truly interested now. This man was different from the ordinary traveler that Red had greeted everyday. He had this aura; she quickly realized he was a magic user, like Red herself this man was amongst the elite of this world. “You’re a wizard aren’t you?” She was smiling now. Mankar bowed, “You guessed it.” He was smiling as well. “I’m Red. You seem familiar but unfortunately I can’t recall where I’ve seen you before.” She leaned against the frame of the door, waiting for his response. “My name is Henry Salazar. I’m a court magician of sorts.” Red walked over to the man who called himself Henry and examined him. He was slightly handsome…only slightly. That aside though Red found herself attracted to him. “Why don’t you come in Henry? I was just sitting down to dinner.” Henry nodded and followed Red into the cottage.
Mankar had used the name Henry Salazar only eight times in his long life. This was the ninth, simply to fool an attractive young woman. It had been five days since he left Willow, and the famous brothels of Willow’s lower districts. Mankar sat at the table across from Red. This could end one of two ways, they both leave happy or one of them leaves the other behind in a pool of their own blood. As Red had stated they were both magic users, she a sorceress and he a Wizard, Sorcerer had never really suited Mankar. He hoped for the former, she was quite beautiful. She had the most perfect figure, long black hair and a smile that would paralyze any man. She pushed a small bowl of soup in front of Mankar, or Henry as she knew him. He stood up and walked behind her, she tried to stand up but he pushed her back in her seat. He rubbed her shoulders. “Tell me, how long has it been since someone has actually loved you?” Red closed her eyes. His touch was soft, soothing like she was sitting on a cloud. She relaxed, for the first time in years, and smiled. She sighed and grabbed both of his hands. “Vincent?” she let out another sigh. “No my dear, Vincent is dead. I am Mankar.” Red stood up and turned to the Wizard. She closed her eyes and the two kissed for a moment before breaking off. “It’s you Vincent. I would know that kiss anywhere.” Mankar smiled. “Tis great to see you.” Red wrapped her arms around the wizard and buried her face in his chest.
.:The Rogue and the Salesman:.
Jacoby opened his eyes and looked around at the forest around him. He was laying beside a small stream, he was almost unscathed, he had a few scratches but nothing serious. He sat up and felt his forehead, his dark eyes moved to the figure standing next to a bush on the other side of the stream. “Explain yourself ma’am!” Sorn jumped across the stream, Jacoby realized it was a man he was talking too and let out a slight chuckle. “Sorry, guess my eye sight is going too.” Sorn held out a hand and Jacoby grabbed it, getting up. “Let me guess friend…the Wizard?” Jacoby nodded at Sorn’s comment. “Mankar, I assume you had a run in with him as well.” Sorn nodded. Jacoby held out his hand and Sorn shook it. They were both victims of Mankar’s power; there were no hostilities between them. “I’m Jacoby the Red. Spoon salesman and arena champion.” Sorn nodded. “Sorn of Rotwang, aspiring rogue turned hunter.” Jacoby chuckled again. “Let me guess, you’re following the Wizard. Am I right?” Sorn nodded. Jacoby looked around, he walked him over to a small bush, next to it sat his broadsword known as Redblade. He turned to Sorn as he placed the sword on his back. “Do you mind if I tag along? If Mankar was able to defeat you once it shouldn’t be too hard to do it again. You’ll need some help.” Sorn thought for a moment and nodded, smiling. “I’ve grown tired of traveling alone.” Jacoby smiled as well and the two followed the path of shrubs that had been cleared by the levitating Jacoby. Eventually they reached the road, and the rotting corpse of Shilah and the two horses. They set off down the road. “You know, I never really liked Shilah…he was a real asshat.” Sorn just laughed as they walked down the road and in the footsteps of The Father.
.:The Magicians and the Refugees:.
Mankar and Red walked down the road, the smoke from Red’s burning cottage rose in the background. In Red’s hand was a leash, attached to said leash was Bangle, her pet Sasquatch. Bangle stood at seven feet and was covered from head to tow in somewhat curly brown hair. Red’s other hand was wrapped around Mankar who still walked on with staff in hand. Mankar stopped, as did Red and Bangle. “What is it Vincent?” She looked up at the wizard. “Up ahead, there are tow people emerging from the woods.” Red looked ahead, indeed two people were walking out of the woods. A man and a woman. Mankar smiled and looked down at Red. “Let’s introduce ourselves.” Red nodded and he two walked onward, a bit faster though.
Alex Klescow and Sophie Moore emerged from the forest that surrounded the small road. They looked both ways, when the looked left they saw three figures approaching them. A cloaked man, a woman with her arm around him and a rather large hairy creature on a leash. Alex waved to them, he was eighteen and of average height with short blond hair and a natural tan. His armor was…questionable. His top only covered part of his back, leaving his bare chest open. Sophie was eighteen as well but a bit smaller with equally as short red hair. Mankar, Red and Bangle stopped in front of them. “Hey, I’m Alex and this is Sophie. We’re on our way to Xam, can you point us I the right direction?” Mankar smiled and pointed ahead. “It’s that way; we’re heading there as well.” Alex smiled and breathed a sigh of relief. “Thank Michael, someone finally going in our direction. You see we lived in the town of Yoll, but a wizard by the name of Mankar came and killed everyone, burnt the place to the ground and headed towards Willow.” Mankar smiled as Red slowly looked up at him with a horrified look on her face. “You…you…did this Vincent?” Mankar nodded. “It looks like I didn’t do a good enough job if two of you escaped.” Alex stepped back a bit as Sophie hid behind him. Red let go of Mankar and stepped back towards Alex. Bangle roared and turned, preparing to attack Mankar. The wizard quickly raised his hand letting out a stream of fire that left nothing but ashes, Bangle was dead. “Now…I finish the job!” Alex raised his hand as well shooting small balls of light at the wizard with enough force to send him flying backwards. Mankar stood up and sighed. “A fellow magic user. This…is going to be fun!” His arms moved around each other in a deadly ballet like process. He stopped pointing both open palms at the group letting out a stream of red light that sent all three to the ground, and into a deep sleep. “Three more to see me out of this place. We shall meet again fellow mage, destiny wills it.” He bent down and picked up his staff and walked onward.
.:The Two and the Three:.
Sorn and Jacoby walked on, the afternoon sun beat down on them like a drum. Sweat dripped off of Jacoby’s chin and onto his chest. “I don’t know how he can walk around in that black hood. It’s an oven out here.” Hours earlier they had come across the burnt remains of a small cottage. Sorn stopped, like The Father before him, and stared at the three laying on the ground a few feet in front of them. “Are they still alive?” Jacoby had a confused look on his face. “Well if he left us alive he must have done the same for them.” The two approached the sleeping three and saw clearly that they were breathing. Alex’s eyes shot open, as did the eyes of Sophie and Red. “Well look at that Sorn. He did let them live.” Each hand helped one of the three up, Jacoby grabbed the hands of Red and Alex as Sorn tended to Sophie. Sophie looked at Red, her face had a mixture of anger and intrigue. “You know him don’t you? You know the Wizard.” Red nodded at Sophie’s comment. “We have history but…that tis the past. He’s changed.” Jacoby looked at her as well. “You know Mankar?” Red sighed. “Like I said…that was a long time ago. He has changed since those days. He has become a darker individual. When I saw him smiling at this young man’s comment I saw a different man.” Jacoby stood up. “Well in any case, he’s hurt all of us. I say we stand together and fight him.” Alex stood up as well. “I agree, if we all fight together we can defeat him.” He smiled at Jacoby, the champion smiled as well. “I’m Jacoby the Red and this is Sorn of Rotwang.” Alex nodded towards Sorn and looked down at Sophie. “I’m Alex Klescow, this is my friend Sophie Moore.” Everyone else looked over at Red. “My name is Red. No more, no less.” Sorn helped Sophie up. “Shall we be on our way?” Sorn looked at everyone else. The group began to walk down the road. The same road that he, The Father, had walked. Soon they would meet.
.:Love:.
Night had fallen upon the Elder Forest and the Group sat beside the long road, a small fire in the center of them. The smoke from His fire could be seen in the distance. Red was turned over on her side sleeping, dreaming of Him. Sorn was conversing with Sophie. Jacoby was admiring the fire he had built while Alex admired him. Eventually Sorn and Sophie turned in, leaving Alex and Jacoby to keep an eye on the fire He had started miles up the road. “For an arena champion you are quit the looker.” Alex smiled, he was on his side looking over at Jacoby. He just chuckled and winked back at Alex. “So, you’re like me then?” Jacoby shook his head. “I’m a bit different Alex. I play for both teams, so to speak.” Alex’s eyebrows rose a little and his smile grew. He moved in closer to Jacoby. Jacoby looked down at him. “You know what? You’re kinda cute.” They both just laughed and leaned in closer, until they were kissing. After a few moments they broke off and turned to see Sorn staring at them. “Guys…that was not weird at all.” He went back to sleep as Alex and Jacoby held each other beside the fire.
.:More Love:.
Sorn woke up in the early hours of the morning. He looked down the road and could still see the faint smoke in the distance. He looked towards their own fire too see Sophie staring blankly into it. Sorn sat up and moved closer towards her until they were right next to each other. “They look happy don’t they?” He motioned to Jacoby and Alex who had fallen asleep in each others arms. “It’s the first time I’ve seen him happy since we left Yoll.” Sorn stared at her, she was truly beautiful, and she was also around his age. He moved next to her some more, they were but inches away from touching. “You never explained what happened in Yoll.” She continued to stare into the fire, watching it dance and illuminate the male couple lying beside it. “He came to the village elder with news from Wilhelm’s court. He introduced himself as Mankar and right away the mages in town became fearful. They knew he was the Court Magician in Xam and they knew of his history, the horrible things he had done.” She set her head on his shoulder as he wrapped his arm around her. “He started with the village center, killing mercilessly. Then he moved to the houses on the outer edge.” She closed her eyes as he moved his hand up and down her back. “We were able to escape through a passage beneath the elder’s house. We found ourselves in these woods…then we met him again. She was with him.” She held up her head and looked at the sleeping Red briefly then she set her head on Sorn’s shoulder again.” He continued to hold her until they both fell asleep, just as Jacoby and Alex had done.
.:Road to Destiny:.
They walked on, down the small road. The plains of central Drax could be seen, Xam was not in sight yet, but the insect like figure of the wizard was. Red stopped as did the others. They looked back at her. “What’s wrong Red?” Jacoby walked over to her. “We need a plan.” She had a look of sheer terror on her face. “I mean if we all attack him we have him outnumbered but without a plan we won’t last long.” Jacoby turned to the others. “She’s right; if we just wing it we won’t stand a chance. How many of you can use magic well?” Alex, Red and Sophie raised their hands. “You three should stay back; hit him with every spell you know. Sorn you and I have to attack him directly.” Sorn nodded, as did everyone else. It was the natural choice to place the magic users in the back and have the much more direct fighters attack him head on. Jacoby could only help but wonder, would there be any casualties? Of course there would be…but who?
.:Showdown:.
Mankar emerged from the heavily wooded area; there was one last obstacle in his way. The sprawling city of Xam, with its airships floating above it, was in sight. Before the wizard was a deep, dark and seemingly endless ravine. Mankar could not see the bottom, just the unforgiving darkness below him. A lone wooden bridge crossed the ravine. It was held together with old rope, it was younger than the wizard though, but still he questioned its structural integrity. As he started to walk towards the bridge he heard a shout from the road. He turned to see them, the group which had hunted him since the beginning of his journey.
The group raced down the last stretch of road in the forest, Mankar was in sight and was beginning to cross an old looking bridge. “Stop!” Jacoby shouted. Alex, Sophie and Red stopped as the road ended and took their stance. Jacoby and Sorn drew their swords and readied themselves as well. Mankar just laughed. “You! Wow! I expected more people. Just the five of you?” Sorn couldn’t take it any more; he rushed to hit the wizard form the side. Sophie saw this and held out her hands sending a gush of wind towards Mankar. The wizard simply grinned and jumped up in the air, he began to levitate as Sorn stopped beneath him and Sophie’s attack hit the boy. Sorn quickly recovered and nodded to Sophie again, signaling an attack on the wizard above him. It was too late though, Mankar shot his arms forward sending a stream of fire that hit Sophie, not only knocking her to the ground but killing her. Sorn stared at hr momentarily as Red unleashed spell after spell on Mankar, all in vein. Jacoby charged the wizard and jumped in the air, intent on striking Mankar. Sorn continued to look on in horror as Alex let off attacks at the same rate as Red. He was mainly looking at the ashes; the only remnant of Sophie left…her ashes. He looked up at the wizard above him, then at the katana in his hand. He threw it up in the air, striking Mankar in the foot. He let out a scream and fell to the ground. Jacoby moved slowly towards the wizard as Sorn picked up his katana and prepared for the final strike. Mankar was not screaming, or egging for mercy…he was laughing. His eyes turned red as he opened his mouth releasing a bright red light. Beams of black went off in seemingly random directions; one hit the ground beside Alex, sending him to the ground. Red rushed Mankar as another beam struck the ground beside Jacoby sending him down too. She prepared an attack but Mankar turned and hit her with a beam, sending her over the edge of the ravine. “Jacoby!” She called for her comrade’s help as she held onto the ledge.
Mankar stood up and made a mad dash across the bridge. Jacoby tried to follow but stopped when he saw Red holding onto the ledge, he had a choice: Mankar or Red. He chose the former. As Jacoby stood back and brought Redblade down onto the robes of the bridge Red’s hands gave up, she disappeared into the darkness of the ravine. The bridge fell forward and hit the ravine wall with a soft thump. Mankar had jumped forward as well and had grabbed on to the bridge, he began to climb up it like a ladder. Finally he reached the top and pulled himself up. He dusted off his robe and looked back at Jacoby, Alex and Sorn and waved. “Nice try boys!” He laughed and walked onward.
.:Aftermath:.
Jacoby let out a scream as the wizard disappeared into the distance. All of this death, this sadness…all in vein. Jacoby looked back as Sorn sat up looking over at the pile of ashes, Alex walked over to Jacoby. “He got away.” Jacoby nodded, Mankar had escaped. “We’re not going to go after him?” Jacoby looked at the insect like Mankar walk onward towards Xam. “No, we’ll meet him again. I’m sure of that. We haven’t seen the last of Mankar.” He turned towards Sorn and helped him up. “Let’s go, there has to be another bridge that crosses this ravine.” Sorn nodded and they walked along the ledge
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Submission Name: Through the Elder Forest
