The sky began to dim as a cool ocean breeze washed over the farmlands, causeing wheat fields and grass to dance gently. The gust of wind creeped along the rolling farmlands until it found its way up a hillside, where it made its way past two figures, cuddled on a wool blanket in a warm embrace.
Christopher looked over at the girl laying next to him. They had been sitting on this hill for hours, laying snuggled in close together stareing at the cloud filled sky, just like they had done the last day of every week for a year. Christopher, a young man of fifteen had fallen in love with this lovely flower one year ago today at a community gathering, a feeling that had not been one sided to say the least. The girl Elizabeth had in truth had set her eyes on him around the same time he began to notice her in the months before the community festival. The two had quickly become the talk of the locals, and though they had no solid proof, the couple new several of the farmers had a substantial bet going revolving around the length of time it would take for them to marry.
The breeze blew by again, alittle colder this time, causeing the sleeping girl to shiver and lift her gaze to the sky.
"Is it getting dark already?" she asked sleepily as she drew closer to Christopher.
"Aye my love, we best get you home before you catch a cold" he said as he stood, and with his well developed farmers physique lifted her gently so as not to arouse her from her slumber completely.
Elizabeth lived close to the hill which they often sat, but unfortunatly for Christopher the walk to his house was not so short, and about a half hour into his walk the sky started to weep freezeing tears upon the quickly darkening country side. The now drenched man after almsot an hour of walking in the rain, crested a hill that lead to a newly graveled road that was a sure sign he was almost home. The house was fairly large for a family of three, but was warm and cozey and his family was well respected by their friends and neighbors. His mother Diana and his father Gregory were nearing their late fourties early fifties, but both were proud and respected people as well as successful traders and farmers, Christopher lived a good life.
"Now just you hold a moment mister!" his mother scolded as Christopher came sloshing into the house. The son stopped and shivered in his damp clothes which he removed down to his undercloths, of which he deposited them in a thick woven basket.
"Go get dried off and dressed then come down here for supper, your father should be home shortly" she said with a smile as she waved a ladle at him as if to stress each of her words.
As Christopher dried off and grabbed some clean clothes from his room, he picked up a very intricate painting that was situated near his bed. His family was successful but hard working like most of the other farmers, so they rarely had time to visit any of the far away cities. The last time his parents had gone, he and Elizabeth had pleaded with their parents to let them accompany them, the parents of both families had agreed and the couple had spent a wonderful day in the city. The painting he now looked at, was one done that day by a rather extraordinary artist, Elizabeth was sitting on Christophers lap, her legs faceing to the left, her face staring into Christophers. The artist had captured the moment perfectly (as well as their coin for it had taken almost two months allowances from both of them to pay for it). A screech from downstairs told him his father had come home and recieved the same warm welcome that his mother had given him.
The table was stocked with food when he came down stairs, which set his stomach to rumbling immediatly. He sat down at the table, and after offering thanks to Chauntea for a bountiful harvest they set about to devouring the succulent dishs. The conversation was mostly one sided between him and his mother of which she asked mostly about Elizabeth as she often did. Christopher looked over at his father, who had a distant and lost look on his face.
"Whats wrong father?" he asked suddenly and softly. His father sat back and placed his spoon on the bowl of soup before him.
"I stopped by the eastern run today to visit the Giralds and the Linals today" he said quietly. The eastern run was a narrow stretch of farmland surrounded by a river on each side stretching east over several miles inland.
"All of the familys along the run have reported some of the familys on the outskirts have gone missing, the farmers have searched the areas but theres been no signs of struggle or anything...just...gone..."
The rest of supper was quiet, each lost in their own thoughts.
LATER THAT NIGHT, ON THE EASTERN RUN
Henry Girald ran for his life, he pleaded and pleaded for his body to produce more speed but his legs burned with fatigue. The midnight moon was high above, his breath steamed the air as he crested the hill that lead down to his farm. The man half ran, half rolled down the hill do the the slick mud and lack of footing. He wondered if he had been caught, for some time he had been having Dalliances with one of the neighbors wives when ever the husband was away on bussiness. He had just left the womans house when he saw an angry figure shuffle out from behind a shed so he did the only thing he could think of...he ran. He was almost there, he knew the figure was behind him but had no idea how far. He grabbed a hay fork on the way past his tool storage and barreled into the door of his house, slamming it open. The man quickly slammed the door and dropped a locking beam across it, his hands tight around the hay fork he crouched and waited, for he could hear the foot steps coming closer and closer...then silence.
Thud came the strike against the door, followed be another and another and yet another.
A peal of thunder cracked the sky as a resounding crack accompanied the door being splintered to peices after only a few mighty blows. Henry, still crouching low, hay fork gripped with white knuckles now saw his pursuer for what he really was, thanks to a flare of lightning which illuminated the figure, dripping wet in the door frame.
Henry Girald screamed....
The beginning and the End
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*WhenWizardsWar
- Posts: 353
- Joined: Thu Jan 01, 1970 12:00 am
//CAUTION GRAPHIC DEPICTIONS OF VIOLANCE CONTAINED WITHIN
"I'm telling you dad these trees were not struck by lightning they were cut down, look at the break down here, its clean and unscorched" Christopher stated calmly to his father for the second time. The road had been blocked by several tall standing strees felled in the storm the night before, and a handful of men from the local farms, includeing Christopher and his father had gathered with axes to remove them. The road they stood upon was surrounded by impassable terrain on all sides, which made this a very important route to keep clean for the caravans. The road split in three directions, northwest towards the coast and one of the cities along the ocean, east towards the run and southwest towards the coast where Christopher his family and three dozen other families lived.
"Thats impossible, that trees gotta be fifteen feet round, it would take almost a day to cut through it" one of the other farmers quiped as he began hacking off the some tree limbs. The men began to clear away the road, a long and ardious task indeed, for who ever had done this had managed to fell not one but four of such wide and substantially tall trees, the task would take several days or more that much was certain.
As night fell, the work crew had made little progress as most of the day had spent gathering the nessicary tools and extra man power, and then one of the horses broke its tether to a wagon and had to be chased down for almsot two hours. The group had been gathered for supper by a campfire, swaping rowdy tales about this or that most of which fell on deaf ears to Christopher who was deep in thought about Elizabeth.
"Hey isnt that Henry Girald?" someone questioned looking down the road to the eastern run.
"Yeah, i think so wait.. quick grab some bandages he looks hurt hes limping like no tommorow" someone said as they ran forward toward the limping, shuffling man.
Most of the group remained by the fire as a single person reached Henrys side. The group strained to hear what was being said, but their eyes went wide when Henry suddenly growled and jammed his fingers into his helpers eyes quickly pulling them out on the tips of his fingers, elicting a scream that echoed across the countryside. The man known as Henry slid the eyes into his hanging mouth, and with loud slurping sounds sucked them down. The men assembled by the fire looked on in horror as their former neighbor leaned down and began to remove the now eyeless mans skin with his teeth, bit by bloody bit. The men scrambled for various cutting tools and formed a line near the fire as Henry finished his meal, and began to make his way towards the paniced men. The cannibal shuffled closer and closer, something clicked behind the line of men and a bolt imbedded itself right over Henrys heart, the mans only response was a long drawn out moan.
The sky grew darker as clouds blocked out the moons glow, but Henry still came closer and closer. The men fanned out as henry got in reach of their cutting implements, and as he drew close enough the men spared no hesitation in deliveirng several cutting blows to the mans torso, but still he kept coming. Henrys hands locked around one farmers neck and with a simple squeeze snapped it sending the man to the ground, his own head following it after another farmer removed it with hedgeing sheers from behind.
"Gods alive what the hells gotten into him and whats with that stench?" queryied one.
"He smells likes hes been dead for days" stated another.
Christopher looked at his father, horror plain on his face which matched his fathers expression almost perfectly. The area grew brighter at that moment as the clouds passed from the moons light, causing gasps of alarm and fear from the assembled men. Christopher turned around to face the direction of the Eastern Run where they looked, and felt the blood completely drain from his face. The road was filled with shuffling and limping forms though at this distance nothing could be heard.
"Lords, I count at least two dozen in the first row, thats most of the eastern families!", cried one farmer.
"Theres dozens more behind them, perhaps from the valley and the villages farther out?" crooned another who looked like he was about to faint.
"Son go home now, get inside grab my hunting bow and my old sword from the attic and grab as many sharp tools as you can and bring them into the house, the rest of you go home and secure your homes, im going to the city for help", his gather yelled as he took of at a full run down the northwest branch, climibing over one of the felled trees.
"Aye thats a good idea, the trenches and pits along the roads should slow them down, lets hope they cant climb over the felled trees" one said as the farmers scattered, some heading to their northwestern homes but the majority fleeing south along with Christopher..
The terrain on the side of the roads for several miles was known as a "No Mans Land" among the community, due to a staggering number of trenches and dug outs carved by an army dureing a long ago war, far before the time of most of the families alive today and no one had bothered to invest the time to fill them in.
TWO HOURS LATER AT THE RESIDENCE OF CHRISTOPHER AND HIS FAMILY.
Diana looked out the window as a stampede of farmers ran to their homes and threw open barns and tool sheds, where they seemed to gather all of the long handeled and sharp impliments they could find. She couldnt make out any of the yelling, but she did gasp in alarm when Christopher came barreling in the front door. He explained everything to her quickly and softlly and then he ran to the attic while his mother took in the strange occurances. His dad had used to serve with the milita up until a few years ago, and had kept his bow and his word which he frequently made sure were kept in good condition. He secured both from the attic and on his way down to the kitchen he stopped by his room, his nerves suddenly on edge. He drew the longsword from its scabbard and with out entering, peeked into the room. His window had been thrown open and the shutters were gently clanking against the house.
He gently stepped into his darkened room and froze when he heard a calm smooth voice, "Thats not exactly the sword I had in mind". He looked over to see Elizabeth relaxing on his bed her clothes neatly piled on the floor beside his bed, all of her clothes. He frowned and sat next to her nude form, running a hand through her hair as he explained about Henry Girard and the other Eastern Run settelers.
"So you said it should take them a few hours to get here?" she asked with a playful look in her eyes" he nodded once and sighed. They had never been together on such an intimate level before. They had talked about it of course, and she had said when she was ready she would let him know, though she often had bad timeing when planning surprises like this.
"Two hours hmm?" she asked again, to which he nodded.
"Well good, you can spare some time to show me how to use a sword" she grinned as she dragged him close. The worries of the approaching danger melted instantly, at least for alittle while...god this woman was so beautiful..he loved her so much.
Fortune favored the settlers that night, the impassible terrain had slowed down the apporaching terror considerably. Three hours after the farmers arrived at their homes and began to fortify the doors and windows, the first dozen of the Eastern Run villagers, crested the hills above the farmland.
"I'm telling you dad these trees were not struck by lightning they were cut down, look at the break down here, its clean and unscorched" Christopher stated calmly to his father for the second time. The road had been blocked by several tall standing strees felled in the storm the night before, and a handful of men from the local farms, includeing Christopher and his father had gathered with axes to remove them. The road they stood upon was surrounded by impassable terrain on all sides, which made this a very important route to keep clean for the caravans. The road split in three directions, northwest towards the coast and one of the cities along the ocean, east towards the run and southwest towards the coast where Christopher his family and three dozen other families lived.
"Thats impossible, that trees gotta be fifteen feet round, it would take almost a day to cut through it" one of the other farmers quiped as he began hacking off the some tree limbs. The men began to clear away the road, a long and ardious task indeed, for who ever had done this had managed to fell not one but four of such wide and substantially tall trees, the task would take several days or more that much was certain.
As night fell, the work crew had made little progress as most of the day had spent gathering the nessicary tools and extra man power, and then one of the horses broke its tether to a wagon and had to be chased down for almsot two hours. The group had been gathered for supper by a campfire, swaping rowdy tales about this or that most of which fell on deaf ears to Christopher who was deep in thought about Elizabeth.
"Hey isnt that Henry Girald?" someone questioned looking down the road to the eastern run.
"Yeah, i think so wait.. quick grab some bandages he looks hurt hes limping like no tommorow" someone said as they ran forward toward the limping, shuffling man.
Most of the group remained by the fire as a single person reached Henrys side. The group strained to hear what was being said, but their eyes went wide when Henry suddenly growled and jammed his fingers into his helpers eyes quickly pulling them out on the tips of his fingers, elicting a scream that echoed across the countryside. The man known as Henry slid the eyes into his hanging mouth, and with loud slurping sounds sucked them down. The men assembled by the fire looked on in horror as their former neighbor leaned down and began to remove the now eyeless mans skin with his teeth, bit by bloody bit. The men scrambled for various cutting tools and formed a line near the fire as Henry finished his meal, and began to make his way towards the paniced men. The cannibal shuffled closer and closer, something clicked behind the line of men and a bolt imbedded itself right over Henrys heart, the mans only response was a long drawn out moan.
The sky grew darker as clouds blocked out the moons glow, but Henry still came closer and closer. The men fanned out as henry got in reach of their cutting implements, and as he drew close enough the men spared no hesitation in deliveirng several cutting blows to the mans torso, but still he kept coming. Henrys hands locked around one farmers neck and with a simple squeeze snapped it sending the man to the ground, his own head following it after another farmer removed it with hedgeing sheers from behind.
"Gods alive what the hells gotten into him and whats with that stench?" queryied one.
"He smells likes hes been dead for days" stated another.
Christopher looked at his father, horror plain on his face which matched his fathers expression almost perfectly. The area grew brighter at that moment as the clouds passed from the moons light, causing gasps of alarm and fear from the assembled men. Christopher turned around to face the direction of the Eastern Run where they looked, and felt the blood completely drain from his face. The road was filled with shuffling and limping forms though at this distance nothing could be heard.
"Lords, I count at least two dozen in the first row, thats most of the eastern families!", cried one farmer.
"Theres dozens more behind them, perhaps from the valley and the villages farther out?" crooned another who looked like he was about to faint.
"Son go home now, get inside grab my hunting bow and my old sword from the attic and grab as many sharp tools as you can and bring them into the house, the rest of you go home and secure your homes, im going to the city for help", his gather yelled as he took of at a full run down the northwest branch, climibing over one of the felled trees.
"Aye thats a good idea, the trenches and pits along the roads should slow them down, lets hope they cant climb over the felled trees" one said as the farmers scattered, some heading to their northwestern homes but the majority fleeing south along with Christopher..
The terrain on the side of the roads for several miles was known as a "No Mans Land" among the community, due to a staggering number of trenches and dug outs carved by an army dureing a long ago war, far before the time of most of the families alive today and no one had bothered to invest the time to fill them in.
TWO HOURS LATER AT THE RESIDENCE OF CHRISTOPHER AND HIS FAMILY.
Diana looked out the window as a stampede of farmers ran to their homes and threw open barns and tool sheds, where they seemed to gather all of the long handeled and sharp impliments they could find. She couldnt make out any of the yelling, but she did gasp in alarm when Christopher came barreling in the front door. He explained everything to her quickly and softlly and then he ran to the attic while his mother took in the strange occurances. His dad had used to serve with the milita up until a few years ago, and had kept his bow and his word which he frequently made sure were kept in good condition. He secured both from the attic and on his way down to the kitchen he stopped by his room, his nerves suddenly on edge. He drew the longsword from its scabbard and with out entering, peeked into the room. His window had been thrown open and the shutters were gently clanking against the house.
He gently stepped into his darkened room and froze when he heard a calm smooth voice, "Thats not exactly the sword I had in mind". He looked over to see Elizabeth relaxing on his bed her clothes neatly piled on the floor beside his bed, all of her clothes. He frowned and sat next to her nude form, running a hand through her hair as he explained about Henry Girard and the other Eastern Run settelers.
"So you said it should take them a few hours to get here?" she asked with a playful look in her eyes" he nodded once and sighed. They had never been together on such an intimate level before. They had talked about it of course, and she had said when she was ready she would let him know, though she often had bad timeing when planning surprises like this.
"Two hours hmm?" she asked again, to which he nodded.
"Well good, you can spare some time to show me how to use a sword" she grinned as she dragged him close. The worries of the approaching danger melted instantly, at least for alittle while...god this woman was so beautiful..he loved her so much.
Fortune favored the settlers that night, the impassible terrain had slowed down the apporaching terror considerably. Three hours after the farmers arrived at their homes and began to fortify the doors and windows, the first dozen of the Eastern Run villagers, crested the hills above the farmland.
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*WhenWizardsWar
- Posts: 353
- Joined: Thu Jan 01, 1970 12:00 am
Thump, Thump Thump came the impacts upon the door and windows followed by horrid drawn out moans.
"Make them go away!" elizabeth screamed as she stood huddled against a wall with a pitchfork in her hand. Christopher and his mother had boarded up the windows well before the throng of monsterous easterners descended upon the farmlands but the boards were quickly giving way underneath the endless slams of the horrid creatures banging on the exteriour of the house. The trio could hear screams and the sounds of combat coming from the other houses nearby, and based on the sudden silence coming from one of the houses it was clear at least one family had been overrun so far.
One of the boards snapped and fell inwards, opening the way for two rotten arms and a grotesque head to slide into the window. Christopher extended his pitchfork with all the might he could muster and impaled the creature through its splotchy neck. He yanked up and pulled the pitchfork back towards him which caused the head to rip from its body with a sicking tearing sound. The door boards gave way next, splintering quickly under the throng of monsters. The trio of defenders screamed and fled up stairs, knocking over any and everything they could throw in the path of the abominations. The horde piled over the obstacles which slowled them down very little, Christopher realised he had to act fast if they were to get away. He yelled for the women to get to the attic and onto the roof as he ran into his room where he quickly found his personal lantern which had perhaps by a stroke of luck was filled earlier that morning with fresh oil.
The attic door flew open and the girls scrambeled up, panting and out of breath. Diana, his mother ran to the window which led to a small landing with a ladder to the roof while Elizabeth continued to scream for Christopher to hurry up but got only silence except for something made of glass breaking somewhere in the house. The girls quickly climbed to the roof though Christophers mother had to pretty much drag Elizabeth by the back of her dress. The air was cool despite the chaos below, and it was clear things were not going well for many other families were on their roofs as well. The sound of crackling timber resounded as one of the few intact windows shattered, spewing a sudden puff of smoke and flames out the side of the house.
Diana screamed for her son and after a long moment she was answered by a cough and a shaky hand appearing above the ladder leading to the roof.
"I'm sorry ma, I had no choice hopefully the fire will slow them down.... I hope" he coughed as Elizabeth launched herself at him, her arms going around his neck tightly.
"Hey! Hey Christopher, Diana! over here!" the shouts coming from one of the neighbors houses. Christopher stood and walked to the edge and cupped his hands to his mouth.
"Mister Tompson! have any ideas? We need to get off this roof quick!" he shouted, his eyes drifting down to the throng of easterners flooding into his house.
"Aye, these bastards are slow as cold syrup, we're gonna jump down and head west to the old church, its alot of open ground but we should make it!" he shouted back. Christopher picked up a heavy note of sadness in his voice and noticed he was the only one of his family on the roof, which disheartened him heavily since mister Tompsons family counted at least five, him his wife and three children.
A few moments later the ground below turned to chaos as those who had managed to make it to their roofs jumped down in unison, pitchforks and cutting implements at the ready. The throng of rotten villagers turned their attention to the three dozen or so fleeing villagers heading southwest, leaving the burning infested homes behind....
ONE HOUR LATER.
A half dozen men in assorted armors and arms crested the hill away from the village that was occupied by terrified people less then an hour earlier.
"Sir, the houses are all gutted by fire, we found a few corpses includeing some that matched the description of the Easterners but not as many as were reported to live here, they must have fled south". one of the scouts said with firm resolve to their captain.
"They must have fled to the old church, its solid enough they should be able to hold on until we get to them" Gregory said as he stood shaking with tears as he watched the house he raised his family in continue to burn to the ground. He had to be thankful though, for Christopher and his wife were not among the dead, which he was infinatly relieved to hear.
"Alright soldiers listen up! Double time it, we have to get to the villagers before those sickly easterners do, its a two hour forced run so lets get a move on and with luck we can come up behind the cannibals and cut them down! Lets go!" the captain yelled, the five dozen soldiers with him breaking into a run, the sound of their progress thundering across the farmland.
AT THE OLD CHURCH.
Christopher gently held his lit torch near a sconce on the wall, the last one to bet lit as it were. The church was an old site of worship to the goddess Waukeen the lady of wealth and prosperity, The temple had been abandoned many years ago when a newer and much more impressive temple had been construced within the city to the north. A few people came by once in awhile to keep the church standing so it wasnt too ramshackle. The interior was covered with dust and some mold but the candleabras and wall torchs were still in good condition so at least they had light. The doors were quickly sealed with drop bars and the pews had been pried from the floor and pushed against it as well. The door seemed to be suffeciently strong for the throng of rotten villagers were still trying to break down the door over the past half hour with very little success. The temple was big enough, with dozens and dozens of rooms for the residents so there was plenty of room to hide if needed.
Christopher sat huddled with Elizabeth in such a room. The woman had cried herself to sleep after finding out her parents were not among those who had made it to the church. He laid he gently down on the bed after dusting it off and pulled the old covers over her, hell it was better then nothing right now. He glanced out the window down to the ground level, where he noticed a lack of rotten villagers. He made his way down to the chapel floor where he noticed a lack of franting thumps along the front door.
"Maybe they gave up?" one woman piped.
"Maybe the soldiers found out where we are and lured them off?" said another.
"I aint bloody goin out there to check!" cried another.
The quiet was suffocating, everyone inside afraid to speak or even whisper for fear of drawing the attention of the cannibalistic horde outside, if indeed they were still there. The soft patter of footsteps drew everyones attention upward, where one of the villagers walked softly across the upper balcony to look down over the occupants of the chapel.
"I see torches! The road thunders with the approach of many men!, it must be the soldiers! It has to be! Rodgers on the roof getting ready to light a torch to get their attention!" the man explained. He had been one of two men who had been brave enough to climb to the roof and keep a look out for any help that might be coming.
CRASH, the sound of breaking glass through out the church earned screams from those in the chapel and the side rooms. A thumping sound from high above drew Christophers attention upward intime to see Rodger a young man of twenty three come crashing through the skylight in the middle of the roof. He landed with a thud, but he did not move. The man was pinned by a hunched creature with a long rolling tongue and an aura of stench and rot far greater then the other villagers. The villagers scrambled for their weapons as more of the creatures began to through the windows on all levels of the church.
"My god they climbed the walls!"
"Theres so many, they cant all be Easterners! Where did they all come from?!"
"Christopher!" the last one was screamed so loud it almost made his heart skip a beat.
"Elizabeth!" he screamed as he took off running towards the room where he left her. He ran past many villagers, most of them locked in hopeless combat with the new creatures of rot, some were mauled others simply ripped to shreads by sharp claws while the stench of the enemy over powered them and sent them wretching, but all in all the fights were pretty one sided.
He knew if the soldiers didnt get here soon there would be no one to rescue.
He skidded to a stop at the door to Elizabeths room, for what he saw was not what he expected. Elizabeth lay limp in the arms of a woman who cradeled her like a mother would a child. The woman was tall and pale and was whispering soothing sounds to Christophers love. "Let her go!" he screamed, not likeing the look of this women, something about her just wasnt right. The next few moments seemed to go in slow motion, to take an eternity. He lunged at the woman as elizabeths eyes opened and took in her surroundings, causeing her to scream once she saw the pale skin of the woman holding her, and the fangs protrudeing from her captors smile!.
The woman casually extended an arm and batted aside his pitchfork the force of the deflection sending him sprawling to the ground. The woman casually walked over and lifted him by the chin with one hand, almsot effortlessly.
"Dont cha worry dear your love will be well cared for, such a pretty thing she be". The woman smiled, her fangs protruding even farther as she hurled Christopher out of the room and into a wooden bannister out in the hall. The force of her throw was so mighty that Christophers momentum shattered the bannister and he plummeted down to the chapel floor where a half dozen villagers made feeble attempts to defend against the monsters.
He tried to rise as quick as he could but a body landed upon him from above. The impact caused a sharp pain in his side and when he tried to get up again the weight of the body and the pain made it impossible to move. He watched the last villager dissapear into a swarm of monsters, the pain in his body continuing to spread, his skin becoming more and more moist with sweat and blood.
He was so numb from the fall that it had taken him awhile to realise the body who landed on him hadnt been dead after all. He was so dissoriented and distraught and his body was screaming so many things to him that he hadnt really noticed that one of the climing monsters had landed upon him and shattered his legs. The slowly spreading blood and sweat he knew, was from the creature tearing chunks of his flesh off, a notion that made his mind and stomach wretch but so beaten was his body he could do nothing by lay there while the beast continued to chew.
He didnt know how long it had taken but eventually his vison began to dim, and a voice in his mind echoed in an infinate loop, the voice of Elizabeth screaming as she was abducted by the strange woman. He felt so tired, he didnt know how much flesh the monster had consumed but before his vision went black and his life force fled his body he was vaguely aware of screaming men, the sound of swords slicing flesh and after what seemed a pause in the action a man was gently lifting him into cradeled arms.
"Christopher!, dont you die on me son! Gods be damned dont you die on me!".
His vison finally dimmed to black and his breath ceased, his body going limp in his fathers arms but not before Elizabeths voice echoed once more in her mind, screaming his name as she is dragged off into the night.....
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*WhenWizardsWar
- Posts: 353
- Joined: Thu Jan 01, 1970 12:00 am
The city echoed with the loud ringing of church bells and chimes. The walled bastion of civilization was almost utterly silent this day, ordered to a day of silence by the ruleing council who saw to the day to day affairs. The streets were lined with people in various states of attire but no matter the variations each persons outfit spoke of sadness and grief. A convoy of caskets slowly made their way through the city streets each one attended by a friend or distant relative, slowly did the line snake up to the church and buriel grounds on a hill along the north side of the city.
Christopher watched as the final casket was set upon a raised slab at the back of the church. The church was over flowing with caskets and some had to be carefully wedged in next to another for many many people had died that horrid night one week ago at the abandoned church far to the south. He watched as people began to pile into the church and slowly sat down on each of the empty seats along the pews, and when those were full people simply stood at the back and along the sides of the chapel until absolutly no more people could possibly fit within the chapel. He watched as one by one in a nearly endless line people came up and paid respects to the departed, until at last his father approached the front and knelt by his sons casket.
ONE WEEK AGO AT THE OLD CHURCH.
"No, son please...come back....come back" his father had cried until his voice was dry and coarse, but that did not stop him from crying and calling for his son and his wife. Christopher opened his eyes and stood, confused and disoriented, to see his dad kneeling and crying over him. He looked down to see much to his horror his body remained craidled in his fathers arms, peices of his body had been violantly chewed away leaving the floor around him a gruesome bloom of crimson. "Dad! I'm right here! Dad its ok! I'm right here!" he cried to his father who showed no reaction except continuing to cry for his slain family members.
Christopher looked down at his hands, the ones attached to his current state and gently lowered them to rest on his fathers shoulders, yet for reasons he couldnt explain he wasnt surprised when they simply passed through his dads form and illicited no reaction from grieving father. His heart, if he even had one would have skipped a beat at that moment as the reality of his current situation hit him like a hammer to the gut.
He was dead, so very very dead.
He stayed by his fathers side the rest of that night as the soldiers gathered the slain and burned the vile bodies of the savage Easterners. He spent some time in the room where the love of his life had been abducted by the pale woman with fangs. He had been in love with the woman for a couple of years now, the woman who he recently made love to for the first time, a woman who had was planning to marry in just under a year. The soldiers shouted from below and the sound of a sword being draw was heard followed by men running up steps to the third story of the church.
When he got to the commotion he found his father sprawled on the floor though he was partially obscured by the soldiers for a moment, but when he could see he witnessed one of the soldiers removing a rope from his fathers neck as his father coughed and gasped for air.
"Please, just let me die" his father croaked dryly.
ONE WEEK LATER
Christopher watched his father kneel and bid farewell to his wife and son, he stared at the formal cloth tied gently around his fathers neck to hide the mark left by his attempted self-hanging. He had stayed by his father for most of the week while he sorted through the remains of the torched house, burned to the ground by Christophers own hands. The week was spent in his own room as well looking over the ruins of personal effects of which the picture he had done with Elizabeth was remarkably well preserved. He spent along time sitting on his bed where, what seemed like yesterday he had laid in an intimate embrace with Elizabeths nude form, enjoying her voice and her comfort in a brief moment of happyness before the horde of murderous Easterners descended upon the village. He could still smell the scent of her choice perfume which smelled of lilac flowers, he could still feel the softness of her just washed and well arranged hair which made him smile and frown for she had obviously spent a great deal of time prepairing for their first intimate encounter.
He couldnt explain why be he felt himself overcome with a crushing despair six days after he had died. He had watched his father hold a burned pillow to his stomach and began whispering to his lost wife and son. Christopher couldnt take it any more and had fled the house through a nearby wall. The open coast had stretched before him as he stepped to the edge of a cliff over looking the sea. He let loose a silent barrage of sobs and tears and screamed for Elizabeth as he threw himself off the cliff to the breakers below. The fall of course didnt harm him but it had made him feel slightly better for some reason which he could not explain.
The assembled people in the chapel finally were ushered to their seats as the doors to the church opened. The room fell silent as a trio of black garbed men began a slow walk down the aisle, intoneing in a language unintelligble to those gathered. The men were tall and their outfits obviously well maintained, the black robes of silk wavered with their movements as they arrayed themselves before the rows and rows of caskets. Christophers eyes were drawn to the symbol upon each of their robes and holy symbols, a bleached upright skeletal hand held a set of perfectly balanced measureing scales. The men approached the caskets and turned in unison to face the assembled mourners.
The high priest (at least thats what Christopher assumed) stepped forward and in a clear but monodrone voice he spoke.
"This day is one of immeasurable grief and despair. So many living have been taken from us, wives, husbands friends and children on such a scale that is terrifying on all levels. Do not lament those who have passed for each and every soul interened before us has lived a happy and prosperous life filled with love and happyness. They will be missed yes but they will never be forgotten and never spoken ill of any more, they have earned their final rest with grace and digity and you must take solace in the fact that they are forever beyond harm and disease as well as any sickness and they will feel no more pain or sorrow for they are finally at peace".
The man spoke for sometime, but eventually those in attendance were able to bid farewell to the departed and say private prayers with the strange priests before heading home.
The next day the crowd gathered again as well as the black robed priests to lay the departed into their peaceful graves, which took half a day to complete. Christophers father was surprseingly well composed as the casket of his wife and his son were lowered into the ground. The ceremony completed, everyone drifted back to their homes or the local inns where alot of relations were put up until the homes could be rebuilt. A few villagers had been away on bussiness at the time of the Easterns attack so at the very least there were a few survivors of the familes.
Christopher stood silently at his mothers grave as it was filled in, and watch with sadness as his was slowly covered with dirt as well.
"So thats it, I really am dead then..." he began to cry thiough he knew the dark priest's couldnt hear him, or so he thought. He jumped in surprise when the head priest looked at him, and there was no doubt he was the target of the priests gaze.
"It seems you linger still young man, we saw you in the church yesterday but we had hoped saying good bye to your friends and relatives would put you at peace". The priest said in a neutral tone.
"You....you can see me?" Christopher asked with alarm in his voice. It was then that he became aware that all of the priests were looking directly at him.
The priests began to walk down the hill, their rites completed and as the reached the bottom the high priest looked back at Christopher who stood rooted in shock.
"Come restless one, we have much to talk about".
Christopher silently followed them down the hill.
Christopher watched as the final casket was set upon a raised slab at the back of the church. The church was over flowing with caskets and some had to be carefully wedged in next to another for many many people had died that horrid night one week ago at the abandoned church far to the south. He watched as people began to pile into the church and slowly sat down on each of the empty seats along the pews, and when those were full people simply stood at the back and along the sides of the chapel until absolutly no more people could possibly fit within the chapel. He watched as one by one in a nearly endless line people came up and paid respects to the departed, until at last his father approached the front and knelt by his sons casket.
ONE WEEK AGO AT THE OLD CHURCH.
"No, son please...come back....come back" his father had cried until his voice was dry and coarse, but that did not stop him from crying and calling for his son and his wife. Christopher opened his eyes and stood, confused and disoriented, to see his dad kneeling and crying over him. He looked down to see much to his horror his body remained craidled in his fathers arms, peices of his body had been violantly chewed away leaving the floor around him a gruesome bloom of crimson. "Dad! I'm right here! Dad its ok! I'm right here!" he cried to his father who showed no reaction except continuing to cry for his slain family members.
Christopher looked down at his hands, the ones attached to his current state and gently lowered them to rest on his fathers shoulders, yet for reasons he couldnt explain he wasnt surprised when they simply passed through his dads form and illicited no reaction from grieving father. His heart, if he even had one would have skipped a beat at that moment as the reality of his current situation hit him like a hammer to the gut.
He was dead, so very very dead.
He stayed by his fathers side the rest of that night as the soldiers gathered the slain and burned the vile bodies of the savage Easterners. He spent some time in the room where the love of his life had been abducted by the pale woman with fangs. He had been in love with the woman for a couple of years now, the woman who he recently made love to for the first time, a woman who had was planning to marry in just under a year. The soldiers shouted from below and the sound of a sword being draw was heard followed by men running up steps to the third story of the church.
When he got to the commotion he found his father sprawled on the floor though he was partially obscured by the soldiers for a moment, but when he could see he witnessed one of the soldiers removing a rope from his fathers neck as his father coughed and gasped for air.
"Please, just let me die" his father croaked dryly.
ONE WEEK LATER
Christopher watched his father kneel and bid farewell to his wife and son, he stared at the formal cloth tied gently around his fathers neck to hide the mark left by his attempted self-hanging. He had stayed by his father for most of the week while he sorted through the remains of the torched house, burned to the ground by Christophers own hands. The week was spent in his own room as well looking over the ruins of personal effects of which the picture he had done with Elizabeth was remarkably well preserved. He spent along time sitting on his bed where, what seemed like yesterday he had laid in an intimate embrace with Elizabeths nude form, enjoying her voice and her comfort in a brief moment of happyness before the horde of murderous Easterners descended upon the village. He could still smell the scent of her choice perfume which smelled of lilac flowers, he could still feel the softness of her just washed and well arranged hair which made him smile and frown for she had obviously spent a great deal of time prepairing for their first intimate encounter.
He couldnt explain why be he felt himself overcome with a crushing despair six days after he had died. He had watched his father hold a burned pillow to his stomach and began whispering to his lost wife and son. Christopher couldnt take it any more and had fled the house through a nearby wall. The open coast had stretched before him as he stepped to the edge of a cliff over looking the sea. He let loose a silent barrage of sobs and tears and screamed for Elizabeth as he threw himself off the cliff to the breakers below. The fall of course didnt harm him but it had made him feel slightly better for some reason which he could not explain.
The assembled people in the chapel finally were ushered to their seats as the doors to the church opened. The room fell silent as a trio of black garbed men began a slow walk down the aisle, intoneing in a language unintelligble to those gathered. The men were tall and their outfits obviously well maintained, the black robes of silk wavered with their movements as they arrayed themselves before the rows and rows of caskets. Christophers eyes were drawn to the symbol upon each of their robes and holy symbols, a bleached upright skeletal hand held a set of perfectly balanced measureing scales. The men approached the caskets and turned in unison to face the assembled mourners.
The high priest (at least thats what Christopher assumed) stepped forward and in a clear but monodrone voice he spoke.
"This day is one of immeasurable grief and despair. So many living have been taken from us, wives, husbands friends and children on such a scale that is terrifying on all levels. Do not lament those who have passed for each and every soul interened before us has lived a happy and prosperous life filled with love and happyness. They will be missed yes but they will never be forgotten and never spoken ill of any more, they have earned their final rest with grace and digity and you must take solace in the fact that they are forever beyond harm and disease as well as any sickness and they will feel no more pain or sorrow for they are finally at peace".
The man spoke for sometime, but eventually those in attendance were able to bid farewell to the departed and say private prayers with the strange priests before heading home.
The next day the crowd gathered again as well as the black robed priests to lay the departed into their peaceful graves, which took half a day to complete. Christophers father was surprseingly well composed as the casket of his wife and his son were lowered into the ground. The ceremony completed, everyone drifted back to their homes or the local inns where alot of relations were put up until the homes could be rebuilt. A few villagers had been away on bussiness at the time of the Easterns attack so at the very least there were a few survivors of the familes.
Christopher stood silently at his mothers grave as it was filled in, and watch with sadness as his was slowly covered with dirt as well.
"So thats it, I really am dead then..." he began to cry thiough he knew the dark priest's couldnt hear him, or so he thought. He jumped in surprise when the head priest looked at him, and there was no doubt he was the target of the priests gaze.
"It seems you linger still young man, we saw you in the church yesterday but we had hoped saying good bye to your friends and relatives would put you at peace". The priest said in a neutral tone.
"You....you can see me?" Christopher asked with alarm in his voice. It was then that he became aware that all of the priests were looking directly at him.
The priests began to walk down the hill, their rites completed and as the reached the bottom the high priest looked back at Christopher who stood rooted in shock.
"Come restless one, we have much to talk about".
Christopher silently followed them down the hill.