I kind of rushed this one, but I really wanted to get something out there that kind of describes how Crimson got to where she is right now. It's not great, but it's something. I don't mind any constructive criticism, but I ask you please to refrain from trash-talking. We get enough of it in-game, and this is just something I'm having fun with. For those of us who are experienced roleplayers, you know how it is to have to have a background to support your character.
Thank you and happy reading.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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The first night Crimson Nytefall spent in the Yew jail was probably the worst night
of her life. Beaten and left in a scum-sodden cell, with no light save for the
torchlight that came through the bottom of the large steel door, and no windows on
any of the walls, Crimson felt that the world and all its compassionate deities had
abandoned her to a terrible fate.
Hurt, and too weak to move, she lay there on the cold stone floor, struggling to
breath. She knew she had at least one cracked rib, and her lip was split. What
little clothing she had left, was torn and dirty and was no protection against the
cold that seeped from the stone floors.
The guards who brought her here had a personal grudge against her, and at first she
was entirely clueless as to why this was.
Clanking in their platemail armor as they dragged her down the cold corridor to her
cell, they handled her roughly, slamming her against walls whenever it was
convenient.
"'e was my friend, ye bitch," one grunted at her. "Saved me life on several
accounts in the siege Trinsic. Thou shalt starve to death and rot in this cell, be
sure of that, fiend."
Too hurt to respond, with her bare feet scraping painfully on the stone gorund,
Crimson only hung between them limply.
The other guard grunted an agreement. "She was a fool to even trespass into his
lord's estate, let alone draw a blade on him and poor Mona when she was asleep." He
stopped, and suddenly kicked her in the side, re-angered by the thought after he
finished speaking. "You bitch!" He grabbed her by the hair, yanked her head up and
spit in her face.
Soon after, she was beaten and then found herself in the cell.
Apparently she had murdered and robbed the wrong man and woman, important people,
some sort of noble lord and lady, and now she was going to pay for it with her
life. Naturally, a sense of regret, combined with anger at herself for making such
a rash mistake, came to her at the thought.
After awhile of lying there, she fell asleep.
A dream came to her then, a strange one. She was running through a dark forest at
night. Something was chasing her, but whether it was man or beast she wasn't
certain. On and on she went, breathing hard as though she had been running for a
long period of time. When she turned to look back at her pursuer, she tripped on
something and fell hard to the ground. Panic swept through her as she struggled to
get back on her feet.
Suddenly, a figure was before her, draped in red silk. A young woman, with frosty-
white hair, yet with the face of beautiful girl nearly out of her adolescence,
stood before Crimson, smiling calmly as she peered down. The young woman came close
and held out a hand, helping Crimson to her feet. That feeling of being pursued
evaporated, leaving Crimson only relieved, yet confused.
"You must concentrate hard, friend," the white-haired girl said in a soft, silvery
voice. "You bear the gift, as do many of us, but you haven't realized it yet." She
came forward and gently planted her lips against Crimson's forehead, leaving a
gentle kiss there. The spot tingled warmly, and suddenly Crimson felt as though a
sort of inner barrier was lifted, as though some sort of weight on her chest had
been alleviated.
Then, the white-haired youth whispered a series of strange words into Crimson's
ear, drawing back with a smile afterwards.
"Use these words to quell your suffering," she said. "Have patience, and we shall
meet in time."
Crimson knew nothing but blackness after that, but when she awoke, the pain was
renewed. Every part of her body HURT. She tried to sit up, but her left side jolted
with pain, causing her to cry out. A broken rib, perhaps?
Then she remembered the dream, and the strange girl's even stranger words. She
repeated them aloud, confused.
Warmth surged through her as a strange, new sensation in her body and quite
suddenly the pain began to subside. She spoke the words again, and the warmth came
and went again, leaving no pain whatsoever in her body. She stood up, completely
bewildered and awestruck. She felt no pain in her ribs and when she studied her
arms and legs in the meager light from beneath the door, she found no bruises,
scrapes or cuts.
Amazed, Crimson pondered this for a moment. The dream had not been a normal dream,
but instead a message of some sort from the strange girl. Who was she, and why
would she help a thief, liar and above all, a murderer?
Above it all, the fact that Crimson had just miraculously healed her wounds was
evidence that she, in fact, possessed the necessary gifts to manipulate magic. She
had met many mages, and seen the many spells they could conjure with but a few
simple ingredients and a spoken phrase from ancient texts.
This was definitely welcome news. Hope kindled itself within her.
The day (or was it night?) went on without any occurances, and as the guards had
promised, no food was brought to her cell. She had studied the small chamber,
discovering a straw covered sleeping mat and a small pot from which a horrendous
odor emanated from. Other than that, it was a bare cell, cold and lifeless. A
frightful thought.
After a few hours of pacing, Crimson's stomach began to grumble audibly as hunger
overtook her fears and concerns. She tried to ignore the constant nagging of her
insides, and found herself lying on the mat after awhile, thinking of all the types
of foods she had plundered after murdering and robbing her victims.
At some point, she fell asleep, and once more the strange white-haired girl
returned for a follow-up visit in Crimson's dreams. This time, it was in her cell.
"Seems I cannot escape, even in my dreams," Crimson spoke. Her voice was strange
and distant sounding.
The young woman smiled. "With time, good things come," she said. "I trust you have
the necessary amount of patience."
"I've not a choice, wouldst thou agree?"
"Aye, this is true. Fear not, your time here is temporary." In this strange dream-
world, the girl sat against a wall, criss-crossing her legs as she smiled at
Crimson. Crimson followed suit and sat against a wall opposite of her dream
visitor.
"Why art thou helping me, stranger?" Crimson asked. "Ye must know of my many
devious deeds. Why dost thou think I am locked up in this hole? Not for false
reasons, I daresay."
"I care not for your crimes," the girl replied. "I see potential in you. There's
power to be harnessed, and you have the abilities. Besides, the lord and lady you
killed were corrupt. Many serfs and peasants died mercilessly because of their
greed. Killing to survive, such as you do, is one thing, but wholesale slaughter of
defenseless people that are suffering already... That is different."
Crimson thought about it. "I s'pose I see the logic in that. But still, why me?
What is it that ye seek from me?"
"As I said, you have abilities that can be honed and sharpened. I know people that
are looking for more people of distinct abilities to swell their ranks. I believe
it's a good opportunity for you, as well as these people that I know."
"People.. for what?" Crimson asked skeptically.
"For a mercenary group that gathers those in unfortunate positions such as yours.
In turn for your freedom, I ask that you join the ranks of this group. Not only
will you get freedom, but you will learn to hone these newfound skills I have
unlocked for you and also attain some financial compensation."
Crimson remembered the kiss on the forehead from the dream the night before, and
strange sensation that followed.
"Thou hast unlocked...magic within me?"
"You always had the key, I just used it to unlock the doors to your power with a
bit of stimulus. You should be more able to recognize the magic in the world around
you. You'll be better able to sense it and mold it. But alas, I fear my energy runs
low, and I must leave you for now. But remember these words, for they will bring
you satiation in your suffering. Remember my name, for we will meet again, Crimson.
I am Moriana Firesong, of the Firesong family. Farewell, for now."
When Crimson awoke, hunger consumed her. Immediately, she spoke the words Moriana
had supplied her with, and that sensation of warmth tickled her face and suddenly a
fat ham dropped to the ground in front of her. Once more amazed, Crimson launched
herself on it and began to ravenously tear into the meat.
A little while later, she lay back against the wall, smiling to herself. She had
finished half the ham and it had tasted like the best meal she had ever eaten in
her life. Silently, she thanked Moriana for this gift and for helping her survive
this ordeal.
A few nights passed, but Moriana failed to visit Crimson in her dreams. Worried,
Crimson paced her cell incessantly, on the verge of panic, unable to sleep.
What had happened to her? Hopefully nothing bad.
Finally, after a few hours, Crimson lied down and eventually drifted off to sleep.
She found herself dreaming of snow, but as she tromped through it, barefoot, she
felt no cold. Ahead, Moriana was walking towards her with a wave.
"I thought a change of scenery would be welcome," she said with that same soft
smile she always wore.
"Indeed, friend," Crimson grinned. "I welcome the sight of the great outdoors, and
thank thee many times over for such wonderful gifts!"
"Do not mention it. Come, let us walk and talk."
Together they walked through a thin forest, their footprints trailing out behind
them in the sparkling snow. In Yew, Crimson knew it was the nearly summertime,
leaving her confused as to where they were. Either way, it did not matter. Being
out of the the dark, dismal cell was more than she could wish for.
"Forgive my brashness, but what happened to thee in thy absence? I was concerned,
even worried."
"Your concern is touching," Moriana said as she leapt over a log, the snow
crunching beneath her boots. "I was actually attending to other matters. I had to
help another individual. She managed to get herself in a bad situation with some
pirates. She actually swam several miles before I had to rescue her from a rogue
dire wolf." She paused to watch an owl fly by. "Plus, managing these dream spells
are quite taxing on my supplies, as well as my energies."
Crimson nodded. "I see. That explains much. I feared that thou had abandoned me to
a lifetime of incarceration."
"Yes, well, I will confess that you will be spending a bit of time in confined in
your cell, but with time, patience and diligence, we shall earn your freedom."
Crimson sighed. "Very well."
Together they walked and spoke for several hours, Moriana explaining details and
concepts about magic and Crimson asking questions.
By the time Moriana was forced to end the vision, Crimson knew a great deal more
than when she went to sleep.
And strangely, despite the hours that passed while she spent time with Moriana,
Crimson always woke up feeling refreshed.
Time passed like this for awhile. Every so often Moriana would disappear for a
night or two so that she could recover from the efforts of upholding such a spell.
Apparently, the guards were true in their word. Either they forgot about her, or
they were waiting for her to starve to death before they retrieved her body for the
next unfortunate criminal that happened to cross the wrong people in power.
After several weeks, however, a guard came to the cell, astonished to find Crimson
still alive and well within. Crimson stood defiantly and stared him dead in the
eyes.
"I hope those rats have been tasty, ye vile slut." He backhand her hard then
snatched her up. "Time to move to a new cell, with no rat-holes for thee to find
some snacks, eh?" He manhandled her, slamming her against the wall as he forced her
down the hall. Once, she swung a fist and caught him in the jaw, his rough whiskers
scratching her knuckles. His head barely moved as he laughed aloud at her feeble
attempt. Then, with a well-aimed punch, he hit her in the stomach and slung her
over his shoulder.
Though in pain, Crimson smiled to herself at the guard's false guess regarding her
survival.
The next cell was much the same as the last and once more, time passed.
Months passed much like this, with Crimson getting beaten every week or two, and
then getting transferred to a new cell. The guards went crazy trying to figure out
how she was surviving without any food or water.
Every few nights, Moriana and Crimson communed, with Moriana teaching her more and
more of the ways of magic lore. Every night was the same routine: eat, exercise to
keep in shape, meditate, then sleep and commune with Moriana. Time and patience
soon paid off, as he skills in the arcane arts developed.
Eventually there came a night when Crimson was able to magically unlock her cell's
door.
When she peeked out into the corridor, she glanced both ways. To the right, the
corridor ended, but to the left it ran down a long way, with cells on either side.
At the end, there was more torchlight and she could see someone's armored legs
propped up on a chair--a guard.
Silently, she went up to him in a low crouch, her footfalls silent because of her
bare feet. Reading a book in the torchlight, this was the guard that moved her from
the first cell.
Narrowing her eyes, she slowly reached out to the sword attached to his belt. When
her fingers snaked around the hilt, she quickly jerked it out, causing him to jolt
with surprise. But before he could stand or react, Crimson shoved the blade into
the seperation of armor in the guard's side. Metal went through flesh and ribs,
impaling him from the side. He let out a gasp, then went limp as blood began to
spill down the blade towards the handle.
She pulled the sword from the corpse and glanced around. Against the wall was a
large, poled axe---a halberd. Intrigued, she dropped the sword and grasped the
halberd in both hands, lifting it to test the weight. She swung it once, the blade
swooshing through the air, and decided she liked it.
She ran down the corridor once more, with a corner coming up ahead. As she turned
the corner, a guard suited in platemail armor looked up from a set of parchments in
his hands, pausing as he saw her. With a cry, he dropped the parchments and yanked
his sword from its sheath at his hip.
Crimson timed it just right and side-stepped his chop. With a hefty swing, she
buried the halberd blade into his chest. It ate through the armor and his chest.
With a foot, she shoved his body as she pulled the axe from his chest. The guard
dropped to the ground, lifeless.
On and on, Crimson ran, until she came to a window. A glance told her that it was
night outside, and the thought of being outdoors was tantalizing.
Finally, Crimson came to the door that led to the court-room, and soon after, would
lead to freedom. But as she entered the large courtroom, there were several guards
awaiting her there, lounging idly. Of course, when they saw her, they all leapt to
their feet, weapons in hand.
Crimson dropped the axe with a loud clang and recalled one of her last visits with
Moriana in the dream world. A spell came to mind, though if she had the ability to
cast it, she wasn't certain.
Whispering arcane words beneath her breath, Crimson felt a sudden fatigue drop over
her. Focusing, she targeted the series of guards, and quite suddenly a burst of
fire erupted among them. Screams of agony filled the court room as the last guard
came running at Crimson, blade and shield in hands.
Crimson quickly swept up the halberd, balancing on the balls of her feet, as she
braced herself for the initial attack. She watched his torso area, watching his
hands, and preparing for the attack. He swung his broad sword in a diagnol slice at
her shoulder, but she nimbly stepped back and bringing the blade of the halberd up
to meet the steel bite. Using her agility over his brute strength, Crimson slid
down and around him, using the halberd to slice the vulnerable seperation of armor
at his hip. The guard cried out as she ducked under his reach, smoothly bringing
the axe around with her as she turned to stand behind him. She took one step back
to have room to swing as the guard dropped to one knee in utter pain. As she lifted
the halberd, he glanced up at her in terror.
The expression stayed on his face as his head fell from his shoulders.
Crimson glanced around, finding three dead guards burned to a crisp, and one dead
guard beheaded. Wasting no time, she bolted out the doors into the night-time air,
taking a deep breath. She savored the moment, closing her eyes as she breathed in
the freshness of the nearby forest.
Fearing capture and failure, Crimson ran into the forest, halberd held at her side.
The rocks and twigs of the forest floor bit into her feet as she hopped over logs
and ducked under branches.
When she came upon a small clearing in the forest, she found Moriana waiting for
her atop a large white horse, draped in a red silk dress. A pointed wizard's hat
covered her mane of frosty-white hair, and that ever-present smile blessed her
lips. Pleasant to look at, Crimson knew that this person possessed a power not
evident by her gentle--although somewhat strange--appearance. Beside her was
another horse, a chestnut steed.
"I am overjoyed to see that our work has payed off, my friend," Moriana said as she
urged her horse towards Crimson. "I brought you a gift." She gestured at the horse.
"Her name is Molly."
"Many thanks, Moriana Firesong," Crimson replied as she mounted up. She looked at
Moriana solemnly. "I cannot thank thee enough for all that thou hast done for me...
I would be dead were it not for thy patience and generosity." She extended a hand,
which Moriana met, and they grasped one another for a moment.
"I am loyal to thee, Moriana Firesong, and I will not forget this moment for the
remainder of my days."
Moriana smiled and released Crimson's wrist. With a nod, she began to ride slowly
to the north, Crimson soon following.
"Come," Moriana said, "we have much to discuss..."
