Welcome to Gaia! :: View User's Journal | Gaia Journals

Dark e-mailed me recently, and has been working (quite hard it would seem) on a short story of his own. Which in turn inspires me to write more of course. Anyways, if anyone plays world of warcraft you will reconize some of the names and such. A few of the ingame names were changed (mostly cause neither of us can remember the real ones at the moment). For example: General Tokyo. Not real, duh. But, until I can go back and edit some gramatical stuff and research the real name, this is what you get. 3nodding

Ps~ The names of the Hero's are our real in game character names. :3

And so, I present:

A Short Story by Michael Groah

The air was dark, misty, and ominous. Candles lay burning endlessly
night and day, the only way a traveler could see through these dark woods of
Darkshire. The fog lay thick, all over the lands of Darkshire. Many people
lay dead not from only the rabid wolves or human sized green recluses but
the foul demons hell bent on hunting humans, elves, dwarves, anything that
lives when they themselves are not technically alive.
Azule, the as of late victorious explorer has been sent to the lands
of Darkshire from the commander of Stormwind, General Tokyo, One of the Most
prestige men and warriors from Stormwind City. The message came swift and
with high urgency. Something is very wrong, and Azule you have been sent to
me to find out what exactly is wrong said the general.
Azule has been in warrior training since his local deputy recruited
him from his small farming hamlet. He was more then keeping up with the
other warriors his age, and excelled in most swords. But he was no one
great, barely even known to those outside the Stormwind Empire. "Go and
find the knights of bravery, find the leader and his friend and they will be
more then happy to join you on this leg of your journey" said the commander,
high on his noble steed. Azule, without saying a word smashes his hand
against his red and blue body armor, and bows his great upper torso. The
commander graciously bows back to the warrior showing great respect.
Sometimes finding people in Stormwind City was a task in itself. He
didn't even bother to just look around, instead he just went to the nearest
bar to start his search. To his amazement he was sitting in a seat next to
a fairly attractive raven haired woman. The marking on his talbard was
distinctive, a large shield with a sword impaled through the center, whoever
had made the symbol had an amazing talent. Azule walked up to the man and
introduced himself.
"Hello good sir, my name is Azule and I've been asked by General Tokyo to
respond to a problem in Darkshire and I was told you would assist me."
Azule said as if he'd prepared a long speech. "And I am Jodo, leader of the
knights of bravery, and this lass here is Azimuth" The man replied. Just
then the lady gets up out of her chair. "I have to get going, I have a
meeting with a friend in the Dwarven lands, thanks for the drinks, hope I
get to see you again sometime," the pretty lady motions a wave and walks out
the bar. "I think she took my wallet when you introduced yourself Azule",
he said with a smile. "Ah well I'm pretty sure I'm gonna get paid well for
this any way, let's fly, you buy." "Okay", Azule replied, "I'm gonna get
some supplies, I'll meet you there at the griffin station" Jodo said as he
ran toward the Arcane Vendors shop.
As Azule watched Jodo walk off he noticed that to his new friends
side ran two kids, one appeared to be picking on the other, maybe they'd
grow up brave warriors one day, charging into battle against fierce foes, a
thought that gave him hope for the future. Azule could see the station now,
full of customers, waiting for there griffins to arrive. Stormwind City was
always fairly backed up when it came to the griffin station, he himself
preferred to walk or take the dwarven trams, it seemed like the only way to
go when traveling longer distances. He noticed many walks of life, from the
tall elves to the short gnomes. Just as he started to get lost in thought a
man with the same design talbard walks up and taps him on the shoulder. The
man looked stout and wore but only robes, the thought occurred to Azule that
maybe he was here as a messenger, Jodo must have gotten delayed. "Excuse
me, my name is Saragon, I've been sent here to assist the troubles in
Darkshire. Guild leader Jodo requests I tag along, he also asks that we
continue to Darkshire and begin asking around for what exactly is going on,
shall we?" "sure" replied Azule. Azule and Saragons griffin arrived within
a minute of each other just as told by the vendor, and before he knew it
they were in the air.
Azule could see his hometown after only seconds of leaving the
castle. He had wondered how everything would pan out after the war between
the Human Alliance and the Undead Horde. How many would die? How many would
have to fight for the complete freedom of actual animated life? Reanimated
life didn't seem appealing at all to the warrior. If he had died he would
want to stay unanimated, true alliance members would instead of fighting for
the undead, killing everything they just worked and bled for, everything
they loved. He was now flying over the hamlet of Goldshire, it would only
be moments and he could cross the river and be in Undead territory.
Darkshire was still Human Alliance owned but if everything wasn't looked
after, another Moonbrook would occur.
Moonbrook was a peaceful mining hamlet, shortly before many had
heard about the undead hordes an attack occurred. There wasn't much to
defend with, pitchforks and mining picks mostly, the smart ones just ran
across their fields to get to the well defended Stormwind territory, but
many were slaughtered or turned before everyone still alive was even
alerted. The mine was the first to go and then the schoolhouse, Azule
didn't like to think past that. The smartest thing they could do was study
what happened and hope it pushes them to fight. After the dust had
completely settled, the soldiers that went in found that a band of thieves
had killed most the remaining undead and had staken claim to the surrounding
mines. Stormwind troops took over what was there lookout tower, and ignored
the rest. They were more worried about the undead being able to get so
close to Stormwind. Besides if the undead happened to come back, the
thieves would be forced to fight the undead for there own survival, that
didn't bother the honorable troops at all.
Azule was now flying in and above the undead forest, and although
safe the warrior was cautious. Anything and everything could change in an
instant, Azule knows that no human feels safe in undead lands, it's like a
twitching nerve trying to warn you, the feeling is always there. Azule
looked back to see Saragon flying on his griffin just shortly behind, just
as cautious as he. He could see the town of Darkshire now, dark as it was.
Some people looked up at him and some people just minded there own business.
Also forward to him was the local griffin master. The griffin slowed and
hovered for a second until the griffin master started his hand signals, to
which the griffin slowly started to descend. It didn't take long for the
griffin to touch ground, it was surprisingly soft. Azule stepped off the
griffin to see that the griffin master showing the hand signals for Saragon
and his griffin to also start his descent. Azule was amazed that these
giant creatures had enough intelligence to obey hand signals, and allow
fully armored passengers on them. Saragon started stepping off his griffin
when the master started his debrief speech. "Thank you for flying with
Griffin Express, be safe and have a nice day", the debrief ended. "He was
surprisingly upbeat for living in a place as dark and dismal as this place."
Saragon said as they walked toward the city center. "Probably because if
the town was ever attacked he'd be the closest to getting out of here."
Azule replied.
"Let's go talk to the town mayor, Azule", Saragon said. Azule
looked back to his new friend and for the first time saw that his eyes were
all white. Kind of unnerving he thought, maybe there is something to this
man that will be an advantage. Together they walked into the town, many
people didn't seem to care for visitors, matter of fact there were more
farmers then there were venders. There was an Inn and an armory, but there
were a lot of night watches for it being daytime. the town was lit to the
best of there ability, but it still wasn't enough to light to deter an
attack. Together Azule and Saragon walked into the town hall, it was very
well lit and everything seemed to be well made, but it kind of reminded him
of a church. The mayor could be seen now, talking to someone else with the
same design talbard as Jodo and Saragon. The man kind of looked wealthy his
robes were clothed with many designs in multiple colors and the mayor looked
like a ranger, leather armor but no weapon to his side. "Watches continue
to fight but we are losing men and the anomaly keeps returning at sundown
getting closer and closer to town, we really don't know if we can handle
this." said the frantic Mayor. "We'll do all we can." said the other man.
"Xaiver, what's going on?" Saragon asked the man. "Seems like an undead
creation of some sort, made out of heavy leather, bounded with a strong
yarn, and filled with the dead corpses it has eaten, your typical slaughter
everything you see and eat it later super monster", replied Xaiver, "Seems
to come out at night when it's extra dark in these woods, who is this with
you?" "His name is Azule, the Commander of Stormwind requested that he tag
along" replied Saragon.
Azule thought that it was kind of odd that he used the phase tag
along when he spoke, because until now he thought that he was in charge of
this mission. It didn't bother him not being in charge because he learns
from others mistakes and he would like to sit back and make a friend or two
while he was at it. Just then Jodo walked around into the entrance to the
building and gave everyone a hello and shook the Mayors hand. "Where does
it usually come from?", asked Xaiver. "Near the graveyard, we would post
watchmen for it but there are so many morgen in the woods, people fear it.
That's why the watchmen stay by the road, the morgen don't usually walk near
them unless they are seen." Said the Mayor. "Okay thank you for your time
sir." Jodo said to the Mayor. "Guys it's time to go to the graveyard, and
scout out this abomination, maybe we can find where it comes from. Get some
rest, check out what the town has to offer and let's move out before
sunset," Jodo gain in a commanding tone.
Azule walked out of the building, he thought that he'd check out
what the town has to offer just in case he'd fallen asleep and had to rush.
He started by going into the building to the right of him, it was an open
air forge. He had mined some tin and copper when he was in the Moonbrook,
but he wasn't much interested in making it into bars, maybe he would give it
to an engineer or blacksmith for some money later. There was a Weapon smith
in there selling goods but his sword was sufficient right now, and it needed
no repairs, so he walked past ignoring the man's questions.
The next building was small, an engineers shop ran by some gnomes.
He asked to see the list of goods in stock, a copper pipe? I can remember a
man in need of a copper pipe, but where was he when the man asked him?
Azule couldn't remember, but he thought that he'd pick one up before he left
the city just in case. He didn't need anything else here so he moved on.
When he left he saw Jodo walking up the hill to him, "Azule I have a
question for you, where did you get those pants you wear?" Azule looked
down at his pants and looked back up to Jodo, "The people of Westfall gave
them to me when I brought back the head of a madman. Why do you ask?"
"They look pretty rare to me I maybe able to identify them, err Clauses of
Westfall maybe? I'm a blacksmith I enjoy the site of a good set of armor,
you seem like a pretty good man, well rounded individual, would you like me
to make you a specialized breastplate? If you have just some ore I could
hook you up real nicely." Jodo said. Azule thought about the ore he had,
it would be plenty but would it justify the money he could receive for it?
He decided to at least try if he got ripped off no big deal in the end.
Azule gave him all the ore that he had. "You'll really like it I guarantee
you that", Jodo sounded very convincingly. Jodo started walking off down to
the road. Azule decided that he may as well go back and take a nap until
the hunt began.
Azule walked back down the hill, next to the town hall was the inn.
It was large and made like a giant log cabin. He walked into a large open
room, with tables on a lower level, and a bar on an upper level all on the
same floor. Xaiver and Saragon were talking some jokes between them at the
bar. He looked around some more and saw a gnome and elf. He overheard them
talking about getting away with robbing some pawns money. Obviously they
were Rogues and not to be trusted. To the side of the bar he saw a doorway
leading to a room in the back, he had known trainers to sometimes be in
these rooms so he peeked in, it was a butchers room. The cook there seemed
to be happy, chopping away at a boar corpse. Azule walked back into the
main room and talked to the waitress there about getting a room.