[IC] Keratia: Tales of the Arisen One

[Lucius Cypher]

The next book, though just as thick, you go through it much faster in about half an hour now that you got your reading engines all warmed up. Erod's autobiography reads more like your typical fantasy adventure book that you've half a mind to think it's really fiction, but then again this entire world feels like it's straight from some fantasy fiction. It starts with Erod's typical humble beginning story where he's the son of a squire, his training and so forth, and it's only about halfway into the book that it actually gets to to the dragon. The first half was mostly his training and upbringing which seemed far too idealistic to be realistic. As for the dragon, it said that he came from the deepest pits of the earth, and that his wings cast a foul darkness across the lands. It cursed everywhere that the darkness touched, causing the dead to rise and monsters to be born from shadows. Many kingdoms formed an alliance to slay the dragon and it's army, but it's powers were too much even for them. Though they won many victories against the dragon's monsters, they could never slay the dragon themselves. It wasn't until Erod took a silver sword blessed by the maker himself that he was able to seal the dragon away, and cast the sword back into the darkness it came from.

Once more, details about the dragon but not so much why you're here. That being said perhaps this pit the dragon came from might be relevant, considering you too came out from a pit. Though how that relates to the dragon you saw in your dreams, that connection was unclear. You certainly didn't see any silver swords in that pit and even the throwing knives you found were more on the rusty dull side. Again if it weren't for the fact you were in a fantasy world, the entire autobiography could be written off as some work of fiction by a novice novelist. There was, however, one thing that might be a decent lead. When Erod had obtained the silver sword, it was because he had also obtained the name of Arisen. What that meant the book did not explain, but you do vaguely remember from the previous book that many kings have been called Arisen because of their deeds in life, though only if they had slain a great beast threatening the lands, which was usually a dragon. There was one minor example about a king who slew some sort of troll, but even that turned out to be partly draconic.

[Guardian Angel Haruki]

Sylvia's brows were furrowed in thought as she read and thought about the possible clues and thoughts in her head. She too came from a pit in the earth. But it quickly disappeared...could she have come from the same pit where the dragon was said to be? She almost didn't want to think about the implications that thought held. She did wonder as to why Erod casted the sword back into the darkness. Wouldn't he want to keep that sword just in case the dragon broke the seal? And if she came from the same pit, then why didn't she see a silver sword nearby? What if that dream she had meant that the dragon was going to break the seal, if it wasn't broken already? Judging from the text, the dragon from the dream and the dragon in the text may very well be the same if the army of monsters was of any indication.

Deciding that the questions and thoughts were going to confuse her and throw her into a tizzy, she shook her head and she kept reading.

The Arisen...

Reading about them, she couldn't help but think about that and recall them from the previous text vaguely. Deciding to look more into the Arisen, she decides to go back to the first book and reread. It couldn't hurt to reread and see if she could find any more details that she might have forgotten or missed the first time around. And if that didn't work, then she could ask the acolyte if there were any more texts on the Arisen.

[Lucius Cypher]

Unfortunately, the previous book didn't elaborate on what the Arisen is. It was simply one of the many titles of previous kings, usually followed by "earned by defeating the beast so-and-so the great and terrible". The main inconsistency was that it seemed the Erod gained this title before sealing the dragon, whereas it's implied that the other kings gained the title after the fact. Either way there wasn't any further information from the previous book. Even when you ask the acolyte, he takes some time to search but unfortunately the best he can bring is a few books about various heroes, and none of them mention the Arisen at least not in the titles or prefaces. You could try to read all of them, but there were at least eleven more books, and each one much thicker than the previous two you had. At least three hundred pages each.

[Guardian Angel Haruki]

Sylvia couldn't help but think that it was a weird inconsistency. Why did Erod receive the title of Arisen before sealing the dragon, and not after like the others? ....Or maybe there was something she was missing from the stories of the other heroes?

At the sight of the books that were thicker than the previous books, she let out a quiet breath. She had time. She might as well try to get through as much as she can and see if there was any more details she can glean off and help her connect the dots.

She opened the first of the new books and began to read.

[Lucius Cypher]

It took your quite a bit of time, but in the four hours you stayed to read, you managed to finish four of some of these massive story books. You where here for so long the acolyte was surprised, but he didn’t bother you. If you wished to take a short break, they had some communion wine and shortbread you may snack on, but not in the library.

The first book was actually about a king who managed to claim the title of Arisen. King Harshnag Bear-Wolf, Lord of the North, Hydra Slayer, and Arisen after he slew the Troll King Shagrol Fireblood, a massive troll warlord with dragonblood. Each section of the book detailed a particular conquest of his starting with his northern homelands, then slaying the Hydra who stalked the seas of Gransys, and finally repelling the Troll King. Strangely enough it seemed like it wasn’t until the third act he was even crowned Duke, as he was a mere war chief all the thee times. His tale didn’t go over much about what the Arisen do but it did tell you a considerable amount about trolls, as the book goes into great details about the things Harshnag learned to prepare and battle Shagrol himself.

New Lore

You’ve gain an academic knowledge about trolls. You know they have an amazing regenerative ability that can only be halted by acid or fire, though Shagrol in the story was immune to fire thanks to his dragon blood. You’ve also learned that it’s possible to sever the limbs off a troll and for them to still live, though severely weakened until they reattach their parts.

After you finished that book you decided to pick up a different one. Smaller than the rest, this book was apparently about goblins. Not slaying goblins, but the book was from the perception of a goblin. Her name was Orchid and she awoken in a cave, scarred and confused, but it detailed her rise through the ranks of goblin king as she fought against different types of beasts and monsters, eventually evolving to become an orcish warlord who created a kingdom for herself and her people. And this wasn’t because she was a mighty warrior either, actually it was because she was a very skilled craftsman and survival expert. There were even some weapon designs drawn in the book that you’ve committed to memory; who knows, you may need this knowledge later.

New Lore

You’ve gained survival knowledge to make simple weapons from basic materials. As part of a rest whenever you’re outdoors, you could try and craft a two dagger, three javelins, or a hand axe whenever you do a survival check. These items can only be made of basic materials such as stone, wood, or bones.

Onto the third book. This one didn’t have a specific main character, rather it was about a great cataclysm and how specific people reacted to it. The cataclysmic was one you might be familiar with: a zombie apocalypse. Only without guns and access to modern medicine, the book when into gruesome detail about the difficulties and horrors the common people felt when their lands were swarming with the living dead. Even nobility were affected as whatever turned these people into undead could certainly affect them. It wasn’t until the few focus characters finally managed to band together that they managed to organize the people and stave off the undead hordes, before finally appealing to the gods and creating a means for the people to protect themselves from the undead. Apparently this helped form the church of the Maker.

New Lore

You learn about some low level undead and their notable weaknesses and abilities. Skeletons have a notable weakness towards bludgeoning attacks, though their magically reanimated bodies allow them to act with better grave and dexterity to their fleshy counterparts. Regular zombies are notably slow and sluggish, very vulnerable to radiant energies, however their bloated and stiffen bodies can take quiet a beating. Lastly you learn a commoner’s means to make holy water using purified water, salt, sugar, liquor, and beetles.

The last book you managed to sit through was less adventure and more of a romantic drama. It was about a princess born from the east, who lived a quiet but prosperous life thanks to her father, a king. But soon political intrigue set in motion a chain of events that results in the death of her father while she is unexpectedly elevated to the position of queen, as her younger brother was not old enough to rule. It speaks about the various hardships women of this place struggle with even when they are in positions of considerable power, as her personal life and her political one become u comfortably intertwined but how she eventually overcomes it.

New Lore

You learn more about how to see through the lies of others. Whenever you have to deal with nobility or someone of greater political authority such as the guardsmen, religious leaders, or merchant groups, you’ll have a better sense of what they’re trying to do when they speak their honeyed words to you.

As you finish the last books a loud bell rings. It was very loud, especially considering that you’re right underneath it, and soon you notice some people coming into the temple. It was a mixture of old and young people, mainly young ones. They all gathered inside to sit at the pews, partaking in the communion wine and shortbread as the priest with the fancy hat began with what you would presume to be religious chanting. It certainly wasn’t words you understood.

In any case it was clear that it was roughly noon right now, and many people were leaving work to go eat or otherwise rest. Since you’ve spent most of time recent time reading in relative comfort you’re not tired. If anything you could use a good stretch. A lot of towns people moving out and about. Where are you going?

[Guardian Angel Haruki]

Sylvia took in the reading material, focused and determined to find the clues that could answer her questions. While she may not be any closer to finding the answers right now, she did learn quite a lot, and if Orchid the Goblin's story was of any indication, she was definitely on the right path. Orchid also woke up in a cave, scared and confused. Did all of the Arisen wake up in a cave confused? Probably not if a lot of them got the title after doing awesome stuff.

While she read, she didn't stop to eat or drink anything. It was like she was at college again, studying for a final exam. The sound of the bell did rattle her out of her seemingly meditative state as she finished the fourth book. She looked around and realized that that was the afternoon bell that just rung.

Oh, that's right! There were her clothes and the kitchen set that she needed to pick up at some point. She could visit the weaver today, and visit Iola's shop tomorrow. She also thought about visiting Pylia again, to talk about what she learned and what her idea was. But she also thought that maybe a little training (her versus a tree maybe) wouldn't hurt either. She got by on basic techniques, it wouldn't hurt to brush up on the more advanced techniques just in case.

As the mass started, she made her way out of the church as quietly as possible, so as to not disturb the religious chants. After making her way out of the church, she started to head for the weaver's first.

[Lucius Cypher]

You were able to slip out without any issue. The sun stung your eyes when you got out though; while the candles and radiant light from the tinted windows were enough to read your books, the sun itself assaulted your eyes almost as if you had been staring directly at it. Either way though you manage to get over this and head over to the weavers. There was actually quite a line as various village women and even men were here to get things mended. It was mostly clothing, but some fishermen needed sails and nets fixed up as well. Aestella was hard at work at the loom when she noticed you in the corner of her eye. "Ah, hello! Your outfit is done. Nalia, please give her number six."

One of the younger women, presumably, Nalia, went to fetch a wrapped parcel with a small tag labeled six. She went over to you and unwrapped it, revealing the traveling clothes you had scrounged before. However this time they were smaller, better to fit your body, as well as cleaned and mended. Compared to your current outfit it was still fairly drab and boring, but at least now you had some spare clothes if you ever need to do some dirty work. A few strips of cloth were also added to your outfit, though what their immediate use were for, you couldn't say for certain. "Sorry friend, I'm a bit too busy to chat right now!" Aestella calls over the roar of her loom. Nalia too went back to work, fulfilling her duties mending and weaving.

Not all was going to be too boring though. You'd soon see that thief walking by, seemingly lost in thought all alone. Even Iola wasn't nearby to bark orders at him though it seemed that Toi was tasked to keep an eye on him, though he also kept his distance. He had a small cudgel tucked into his waistband, presumably in the event that the thief reverted back to his old ways.

[Guardian Angel Haruki]

Sylvia squinted and blinked rapidly as she stepped out into the sunlight outside of the church. After blinking some tears away she muttered, "Ow," and continued on her way to the Weavers. When she got there she was surprised to see the long line. Sylvia couldn't help but count her blessings that she got to the Weavers when she did!

Of course, it didn't take long for Aestella to see her. She waved to Aestella when she greeted her. She accepted the parcel from Nalia, thanking her after receiving it. She was glad to see the clothes were mended, even if it wasn't as beautiful as her new outfit. She was curious as to what the strips of cloth were for though...

She called to Aestella after hearing her words, "Got it! Thank you, Aestella!"

She then started to continue on her way, only to stop when she noticed the thief alone and in his thoughts. She looked around to see if anyone was watching him, only to spot Toi with a smaller cudgel of his own. Sylvia smiled and gave a wave to Toi. She then turned her attention back to the thief. Come to think of it, he was still hiding some things wasn't he? Wouldn't hurt to have a friendly discussion to see if she could get him to talk more.

She walked up to the thief, and she tapped his shoulder gently, greeting him casually, "Hey there!"

[Lucius Cypher]

The young thief flinched when he heard your voice, and bashfully he turns to look at you. ”H-Hello there, yes. Just making your rounds I see. Is there something you need of me?” Toi stepped a bit closer, keeping an eye on him.

[Guardian Angel Haruki]

Sylvia answered the thief, "Just thought I stop to check in and chat a bit. How's the Community Service going?" She thought it best to try and ease the thief into the conversation before going right to the point about what else he was hiding. She noticed that Toi had stepped closer in concern.

[Lucius Cypher]

The young man still seemed guarded. ”Tis hard work, but that’s just due for what I’ve done. Miss Iona is a task master, but fortunately Mister Ricks is a kinder ser. Says he wants me to learn his trade, and I’ll admit it seems a better deal than heavy lifting.”

[Guardian Angel Haruki]

Sylvia chuckled at the mention of Iona and she commented, hoping to get the thief to laugh a little, "I could hear her from where I stood when I entered her store," She then continued sincerely, "I am glad to hear about you and Ricks though. Running an inn sounds like a good profession,"

She then blinked and she asked the thief, as she makes eye contact with his eyes, "You know...even if people are still kind of...not happy with your deeds, they're not bad people. If anything's bothering you, you can talk to them if something's bothering you, right? Myself included," She then shrugged and added "Just letting you know that people are willing to lend an ear. Talking things out usually makes people feel better,"

[Lucius Cypher]

The thief seemed a bit less nervous now. Even Toi seemed less imposing despite his tough look. The young man’s shoulders slumped as he leaned against a waist high stone wall overlooking the ocean. “Yeah... I guess I just... Just worried if when my best ain’t gunna be enough. I mean I’m good at stealing until I wasn’t. Used to be good at... Hunting, until I wasn’t. I’m fearful of giving my all for them and... It’s still not enough. Don’t wanna get too attached when I know it’ll just end in disappointment like it always does.”

It seemed almost like the young man was referring to someone else aside from the villagers from the way he spoke. And while his head was up and looking towards the ocean you can see that he still wears that iron hammer amulet around his neck, though it’s somewhat hidden by his tunic as well.

[Guardian Angel Haruki]

Sylvia mulled over his words and the fact that he was talking about someone else and he was still wearing the Iron Hammer necklace. Almost everything seemed to click in her mind. She couldn't be too sure as to who exactly he was with before he got caught, but she can be at least somewhat sure that he wasn't exactly treated with kindness. Plus, she knew that feeling all too well. Not being good enough...Not being able to measure up, and not wanting to be let down when the disappointment eventually comes in.

She whispered a sad "Oh buddy..." Her voice and face showed the sadness and sympathy she felt for him.

She thought for a moment, before deciding to encourage him, "My grandfather used to tell me that to err and fail is human. It's normal. Just because you failed at the things you were good at, doesn't mean you're not good at them anymore. If anything, those failures will help you improve. You learned something from those failures, didn't you? And if someone keeps berating you over them instead of helping you through, then...well, I'd hate to sound heartless, but are they really worth your efforts?"

She made sure that the question she asked him was directed more towards the people he had been helping before he got caught, not towards the villagers. She especially gave him a knowing look to emphasize that.

She then shook her head and apologized "Sorry...I might have rambled on a bit..."

After a bit of silence, she then said, trying to reassure the thief, "Well, I wouldn't worry about the villagers here in Cassari. Iola may seem harsh, but she's not going to hurt you. I'm sure they'll help teach you how to do better if you make any mistakes here,"

[Lucius Cypher]

The young man seemed moved by your words, at least rendering him speechless. He tapped his fingers together nervously before glancing between you and Toi, and then he spoke quietly. “T-Truth be told... I don’t want to disappoint anyone here either. Iola’s mean sure, but at the same time she at least respects my uh... My strengths, I guess. Ricks is pactient with me too. I just...” He let out a sigh before looking back towards the ocean.

“I guess there’s no real point in hiding it. I used to be part of the Iron Hammer. Used to. They’re bandits now but... They were good people to me. Took me in When goblins destroyed my village as a boy. Helped the survivors flee to the city. I stayed with em, when their leader took me in. He was like a father to me. Taught me how to use a bow. I thought... I thought we were gunna be heroes.” He clasped his hands together tightly until his knuckles turned white. He seemed very frustrated right now.

“I dunno what happened. Hunting goblins, wolves, or even the occasional ogre, I could do with the rest of the clan. But then he started harassing caravans too. I thought we were just warning them about the monsters in the pass. Escorting then to safety. I wanted to believe that. But... But when he started just killing them, taking their stuff, and no one stopped him I...” The young man looses his grip and laid his head into his hands. He struggled some tears and tried to remain composed.

“I didn’t want to believe it. I didn’t want to hate him. Took me in when I was still a baby. Taught me everything I know. Now he’s some mad killer and... I was too weak to do anything. I couldn’t stand up to him. But I couldn’t support him either. We started raising more caravans, even I shot some arrows at the guards but... I had to go. I couldn’t do anything.”

It was subtle, as he was trying to hide it, but the young man was crying. He would refuse to let you see him like this. Even Toi noticed, silently nodding to you as he gives the man some space to vent his feelings. He stands underneath a tree for now. “I’m already sinned. I couldn’t stopped the moment I laid eyes on it but I didn’t. I helped him, because he was family too me. Because that’s the honorable thing to do for the one who took care of you. But I’m a coward at heart. I couldn’t take on anyone, not even peasants. Certainly not my own father. And now I... I’m worried if that’ll happen again. Just beaten and bullied into servitude because... Because I’m too weak to say otherwise.”

[Guardian Angel Haruki]

Sylvia listened quietly as he spoke, recounting his past as part of the Iron Hammers. As she listened, she couldn't help but feel sadness for the poor thief in front of her. Her heart completely broke when she saw that he was crying. No wonder he was here resorting to stealing...

She looked to Toi and she nodded back to him before turning her attention to the thief. She slowly and gently pulled him into an embrace so as to comfort him and not scare him while she was doing it. She also lowered his head onto her shoulder so that he could cry without having others see him do so. She was literally giving him a shoulder to cry on. Of course, if he didn't want anyone touching him, then she wouldn't force him into the embrace.

After he called himself weak, she answered him softly, "You are not weak. Leaving them just proves you are of good character, and you are brave and strong enough to act on your morals. And just because you 'sinned', it doesn't mean you have no chance of 'redemption'. It doesn't have to be anything grand. Just small acts of kindness can be enough,"

[Lucius Cypher]

"But could I... So many people died, because I didn't do anything. Even he... Even that man who I called my father, he told me that... That the guiltiest men aren't the ones who commit the sin, but the ones who allowed it." At this point the young man was breathing hard trying to stay calm, failing to do so, shaking as he hugged him. He seemed to resist at first but it was mostly out of pride, and once that was gone he allows you to hold him. "I failed him, and everyone he hurt! And... And I don't know if I can do that again. If I can stand up to anyone. I mean when Iola was bossing me around I... I was tempted to just ignore her. Make the run for it. Gods, they didn't even bother closing the gate after they took the chains off of me! I could've been a free man in a minute. But I didn't. I was whipped and I know it. I was barely surviving out there on my own. Can't make fire without wood, can't get firewood without an axe, can't cook food without a fire. Hell I can't even hunt rabbits without any arrows. I can't... I can't do anything."

The young man continued to cry and rant for the next few minutes. People tried to gawk but Toi made sure to make them move on, leave him to speak his feelings. About thirty minutes would pass as the boy just told his story to you about his life, the things he wanted to do but what really happened, and of course his name. His name was Dirk, after the fighting knife since he was so small but scrappy. He remenised about the good times where he and his clan fought off three tribes of goblins who were going to attack the city of Gransys, and how he had helped his battle brothers take down a cyclops, with his arrow being the one to take out it's eye. But then he told you horrible things about what his clan had done, not just robbing people, but kidnapping the for ransom or... Pleasure. Even Dirk was terrified at what had happened, but was more terrified at what would happen if he had tried to stop them. He still remembers how the girls looked at him with both fear, thinking that he was going to hurt them, but also bleak hope that maybe he would save them. But he never did.

Eventually the tears would stop, as did the words. Dirk was just silent. His eyes were read and his cheeks stained with tears. He seemed defeated, yet at the same time it seemed like a great weight had been lifted from his shoulders too. "I... Just don't know how you come back from that. Everyone happened so fast but at the same time I saw it coming. I wanna believe I can be redeemed, I really do but... I can't... What could I do that could ever fix that? How many boxes and bags do I need to carry to justify the lives I took?" He let out a mirthless chuckle. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to burden you with my pathetic tale. I know you cannot help me, that this is something I need to handle myself. To get over it. But... Thank you for at least giving me this chance to tell someone about me. I guess I can take some solace that my tale has been told."

[Guardian Angel Haruki]

Sylvia was silent as she listened to Dirk. It was best to just let the poor man cry and vent his feelings out. She was grateful to Toi for making sure that the other townsfolk didn't just stand and gawk at poor Dirk. As she listened, she couldn't help but feel happy at the good times...and sad, angry, and horrified at the horrible things that Dirk had witnessed. She couldn't help but think about giving that leader of the Iron Hammers some good whacks with her staff in if she ever crossed paths with him.

Of course, when everything was said and done, Sylvia let Dirk go. She could see that he felt relieved now that he had talked about his past. After he thanked her, she smiled to him softly and answered "Hey, I'm just glad I can help out in some way," She then commented, "I don't think anyone really knows how to come back from that. But I do think it is possible. It might not be easy, it might not be crystal clear, and it might take a long time, but it is possible," She then pointed out, "While it is true that those who stand by and let evil happen are just as guilty, it still doesn't excuse the evil-doers. Plus, there's a key difference between you and the people he was talking about,"

"The people he was talking about...they don't give a second thought, or try to pretend that it didn't exist or never happened. You? You not only acknowledge it, but you also try to make up for what's happened. That means more than you realize,"

She then realized something, and she asked "Oh! Right! You were probably heading somewhere else when I started talking to you, right? Where were you headed? I can walk with you there,"

[Lucius Cypher]

Dirk just looked out towards the ocean still deep in thought. “I wasn’t really going anywhere. I was thinking about going to the temple but I was never really religious.” He signed as he picked up a pebble and tossed it over towards the beach, where the stone sunk into the sands. “I was just on break, but I guess I should head back to work soon.” But then as Dirk stood up his stomach grumbles. He looked away embarrassed.”... Forgot to get lunch.”

[Guardian Angel Haruki]

Sylvia heard Dirk's stomach, and she realized that he had missed more than just lunch. With what happened this morning and the night before, Dirk never had the chance to eat breakfast like she did! No wonder his stomach was growling so loudly!
She patted his shoulder gently and she suggested, "Let's go get you some lunch, Dirk. I'll pay for it," She then looked to Toi, giving him a questioning look as though to ask him where they could get food. She wasn't sure if the inn was the only place where they could get food for Dirk.