Banned
*I walk through dust and grit, the tattered cloth of my cloak billowing out behind me as I slowly traverse the cracked desert, its expanse seemingly endless. Beginning to trudge along, my pace slowing, I eventually come to a halt and fall to my knees. Taking a silver cylinder from off my finger I hold it up before the harsh sun overhead, letting the light stream through its center with a tired sigh*
Looks like time's up...
*Closing my eyes, I accept my inevitable fate, feeling my form and even the things I'm wearing slowly crumble to dust until there's nothing left but the ring, which falls to the dry ground below*
*I let out a frustrated sigh. It'd been hours since I'd left the merchants at Voson, yet the scene was still fresh in my mind. Granted I had gotten used to the killing. The fear... screams... gore... It was all necessary in this hell of a world, but there was something about this recent incident that left it burned into my mind. Maybe it was the merchants faces, their fearful expressions, or the sheer brutality of those attacking them, but I just couldn't shake it. Not now at least*
Well, shit. Looks like this is going to be another one of those days.
*I let my gaze wander over the horizon, when a bright glint catches my attention*
Huh. Wonder what that is.
*Moving towards it, I bend down and find a small silver cylinder. Curious, I pick it up from off the dusty desert ground. Wiping some residue off of it, I hold it up before my helmet and inspect it, taking note of the dark markings etched across its surface. Turning it over a few times, I place it on my left middle finger with a slight shrug not thinking anything will come of it till I feel... something. An odd buzzing sensation that faded a short while later, leaving me alone with nothing but the howling wind*
What the hell was that?
*I looked down at the ring and jumped slightly. The markings on the ring were now emitting a soft orange glow where they had been dark before. Holding up my hand, I stare at the ring curiously, when the sound of a far off motor causes me to break my concentration on the object. Whirling round I watch as several clouds churn in the distance before being parted by the patchworked silhouette of a dune buggy flying the trademark blue and black colors of the Anarchists, the very same gang of batshit crazy bastards who had attacked the merchants outside Voson. Drawing my revolver I take several shots at their tires, but to no avail as the vehicle swerves to the side and slams into my body, knocking the wind from me and leaving me flat on my ass*
Motherfuckers...
*I rise to my feet, my suit helping me, only to find the point of a crude blade pressing against my throat alongside several shoddy gun muzzles. Staring at the thugs through my suits helmet I watch as one of them-seemingly the leader of the posy-hopped out of the vehicle, his rag covered form slowly lumbering towards me, slug shooter in hand*
Gang Leader: Ello bastard. Funny we should find you all the way out here. See me and the boys, *He gestures to the other bandits around him with his weathered shotgun*, were just having a talk about what we'd do to the son of a bitch who threw a wrench into our operations outside Voson. *The man coughed up a gob of spit and launched it towards the ground* I was thinkin a simple execution would do nicely, but the boys raised a good point along the way. After all, why kill you when we could simply string you up like a hog, sell yer shit, and then drag yer naked ass out into the Darklands for the Carrions to eat.
*I scoff*
Please. You and I both know you and your boys don't have the balls to enter Carrion territory. As for your "operations", they're shit. Your brothers and sisters were so busy plundering they didn't even bother to watch their backs. Eliminating them was ridiculously easy.
Gang Leader: *He shrugs* Maybe, maybe. But considering where you're currently sitting samurai... *He tilts his head to the side, shoving the shotgun barrel in my face* I'd say it doesn't make much of a difference. Now- *He pauses, taking note of the ring on my finger* Ah what have we here? A trinket eh? Stolen from one of our own perhaps?
*The man wrenches my hand upwards and begins fiddling with the ring, rotating each of the bands to no result until coming to the third. Upon reaching it, the man twisted it clockwise, causing the ring to shift to a blue hue and the world to slow*
What in the hell...?
*I retract my hand, finding my movement unimpeded, and stand up with a smirk. Placing a hand on the hilt of my blade, I draw it from its sheathe in one fluid motion*
Looks like today isn't my day boys.
*Raising my blade I quickly dispatch my attackers, whose extremely sluggish movements are easy to predict and avoid, with several well placed blows to their arms, legs, and necks. Blood and body parts flew through the air in slow motion as I calmly strode up to the leader, who was trying to run back to the buggy, and stepped just in front of him, raising my blade up to his throat as the world sped back up*
Going somewhere?
Gang Leader: *He freezes, locking his fear filled gaze on me* H-how the fuck did you do that!?
*I shrug*
Does that really matter? It's not as if you're going to live long enough to appreciate any explanations I give you.
Gang Leader: *He chuckles nervously* L-listen mate, we don't have to resort to violence. W-we can settle our differences like civilized people, gentlemen, ya know?
*I shift my stance, moving closer to the man whilst simultaneously applying more pressure to the blade*
Ah but you misunderstand me friend, this isn't violence...
*I rotate my upper body, running the edge of my sword across the mans throat in an efficient manner*
This is pest control.
*Watching the man fall, blood spurting from his neck, I grab hold of the hem of my cloak and wipe my blade clean before sliding it back into its sheathe strung across my back. Granted I'd need to clean it more thoroughly later on, using various polishing stones and powders, but the field job I'd done would work well enough for the time being. Taking a moment to search the bodies and gather anything of value, such as an old patchwork sack to carry things and some more ammunition for my revolver along with some cans of food, I strode over to the buggy and checked it out. Seeing it was in relatively good condition, and its tank full, I took down the banners and cast them off to the side.
Wouldn't do to get mistaken for a bandit after all.
Hopping into the vehicle, I briefly glanced down at my new ring, the lights in it having returned to their original orange hue*
I don't know who made you, where you came from, or what the hell happened back there, but you saved my fucking life.
*I scoff, shaking my head, reminding myself of the rings inability to respond*
Annnnddd now I'm talking to an inanimate object. Great. Maybe I'm finally starting to loose it...
*Shaking my head with a small sigh, I turn my attention back to the buggy. Grabbing the keys, I slide them into the ignition and start the car, smiling with some satisfaction as its diesel engine sputtered to life. Depressing the gas peddle, I speed off into the distance just as a sandstorm begins to tear through the area, quickly erasing all evidence of the skirmish and my involvement...*
Looks like time's up...
*Closing my eyes, I accept my inevitable fate, feeling my form and even the things I'm wearing slowly crumble to dust until there's nothing left but the ring, which falls to the dry ground below*
*I let out a frustrated sigh. It'd been hours since I'd left the merchants at Voson, yet the scene was still fresh in my mind. Granted I had gotten used to the killing. The fear... screams... gore... It was all necessary in this hell of a world, but there was something about this recent incident that left it burned into my mind. Maybe it was the merchants faces, their fearful expressions, or the sheer brutality of those attacking them, but I just couldn't shake it. Not now at least*
Well, shit. Looks like this is going to be another one of those days.
*I let my gaze wander over the horizon, when a bright glint catches my attention*
Huh. Wonder what that is.
*Moving towards it, I bend down and find a small silver cylinder. Curious, I pick it up from off the dusty desert ground. Wiping some residue off of it, I hold it up before my helmet and inspect it, taking note of the dark markings etched across its surface. Turning it over a few times, I place it on my left middle finger with a slight shrug not thinking anything will come of it till I feel... something. An odd buzzing sensation that faded a short while later, leaving me alone with nothing but the howling wind*
What the hell was that?
*I looked down at the ring and jumped slightly. The markings on the ring were now emitting a soft orange glow where they had been dark before. Holding up my hand, I stare at the ring curiously, when the sound of a far off motor causes me to break my concentration on the object. Whirling round I watch as several clouds churn in the distance before being parted by the patchworked silhouette of a dune buggy flying the trademark blue and black colors of the Anarchists, the very same gang of batshit crazy bastards who had attacked the merchants outside Voson. Drawing my revolver I take several shots at their tires, but to no avail as the vehicle swerves to the side and slams into my body, knocking the wind from me and leaving me flat on my ass*
Motherfuckers...
*I rise to my feet, my suit helping me, only to find the point of a crude blade pressing against my throat alongside several shoddy gun muzzles. Staring at the thugs through my suits helmet I watch as one of them-seemingly the leader of the posy-hopped out of the vehicle, his rag covered form slowly lumbering towards me, slug shooter in hand*
Gang Leader: Ello bastard. Funny we should find you all the way out here. See me and the boys, *He gestures to the other bandits around him with his weathered shotgun*, were just having a talk about what we'd do to the son of a bitch who threw a wrench into our operations outside Voson. *The man coughed up a gob of spit and launched it towards the ground* I was thinkin a simple execution would do nicely, but the boys raised a good point along the way. After all, why kill you when we could simply string you up like a hog, sell yer shit, and then drag yer naked ass out into the Darklands for the Carrions to eat.
*I scoff*
Please. You and I both know you and your boys don't have the balls to enter Carrion territory. As for your "operations", they're shit. Your brothers and sisters were so busy plundering they didn't even bother to watch their backs. Eliminating them was ridiculously easy.
Gang Leader: *He shrugs* Maybe, maybe. But considering where you're currently sitting samurai... *He tilts his head to the side, shoving the shotgun barrel in my face* I'd say it doesn't make much of a difference. Now- *He pauses, taking note of the ring on my finger* Ah what have we here? A trinket eh? Stolen from one of our own perhaps?
*The man wrenches my hand upwards and begins fiddling with the ring, rotating each of the bands to no result until coming to the third. Upon reaching it, the man twisted it clockwise, causing the ring to shift to a blue hue and the world to slow*
What in the hell...?
*I retract my hand, finding my movement unimpeded, and stand up with a smirk. Placing a hand on the hilt of my blade, I draw it from its sheathe in one fluid motion*
Looks like today isn't my day boys.
*Raising my blade I quickly dispatch my attackers, whose extremely sluggish movements are easy to predict and avoid, with several well placed blows to their arms, legs, and necks. Blood and body parts flew through the air in slow motion as I calmly strode up to the leader, who was trying to run back to the buggy, and stepped just in front of him, raising my blade up to his throat as the world sped back up*
Going somewhere?
Gang Leader: *He freezes, locking his fear filled gaze on me* H-how the fuck did you do that!?
*I shrug*
Does that really matter? It's not as if you're going to live long enough to appreciate any explanations I give you.
Gang Leader: *He chuckles nervously* L-listen mate, we don't have to resort to violence. W-we can settle our differences like civilized people, gentlemen, ya know?
*I shift my stance, moving closer to the man whilst simultaneously applying more pressure to the blade*
Ah but you misunderstand me friend, this isn't violence...
*I rotate my upper body, running the edge of my sword across the mans throat in an efficient manner*
This is pest control.
*Watching the man fall, blood spurting from his neck, I grab hold of the hem of my cloak and wipe my blade clean before sliding it back into its sheathe strung across my back. Granted I'd need to clean it more thoroughly later on, using various polishing stones and powders, but the field job I'd done would work well enough for the time being. Taking a moment to search the bodies and gather anything of value, such as an old patchwork sack to carry things and some more ammunition for my revolver along with some cans of food, I strode over to the buggy and checked it out. Seeing it was in relatively good condition, and its tank full, I took down the banners and cast them off to the side.
Wouldn't do to get mistaken for a bandit after all.
Hopping into the vehicle, I briefly glanced down at my new ring, the lights in it having returned to their original orange hue*
I don't know who made you, where you came from, or what the hell happened back there, but you saved my fucking life.
*I scoff, shaking my head, reminding myself of the rings inability to respond*
Annnnddd now I'm talking to an inanimate object. Great. Maybe I'm finally starting to loose it...
*Shaking my head with a small sigh, I turn my attention back to the buggy. Grabbing the keys, I slide them into the ignition and start the car, smiling with some satisfaction as its diesel engine sputtered to life. Depressing the gas peddle, I speed off into the distance just as a sandstorm begins to tear through the area, quickly erasing all evidence of the skirmish and my involvement...*