Chronicles with a new style... Ch 1 and 2

(5 spaces)

     Humanity long ago was bound to a single distant planet. In its infancy, humanity caused much strife in war and in peace, both to its own kind and to the planet itself. Until there was no other choice except to leave.

-   Jonathan Enigma, Excerpts from Home

(5 spaces)

CHAPTER ONE

     “Dad, tell me a story.” Kip said.

     “There once was a great soldier…” his father started.

     In the next room was Kip’s older brother who was preparing the wood furnace for the night, before heading off for the night watch.

     “Mother, when will he ever grow up?” Blaine asked. He always wants to hear another story, and Father always tells him the same boring old tale.”

     “Hush dear,” She said hoping Father hadn’t heard. “Your father loves that story, and so does Kip. As for when your brother will grow up? Well, it takes time. You enjoyed Father’s stories at his age too.”
     “I don’t ever recall liking them,” Blaine refuted.

     “You may do a man’s work,” His mother glared, “But pretending you were never a boy first, shows how childish you still are.”

     Blaine stayed quiet, her comment was a stinging blow to his pride. He also feared to misspeak to his mother. He respected her more than his father, and didn’t want her to turn against him.

     “You even used to look up to your father,” She continued.

     His mother was good at making him feel guilty. Blaine had recently joined the city night watch, and had his first experience killing a shade. This was why there was contention between him and his father. He had ignored advice and in his recklessness caused his father an injury, which prevented his father from participating for a little while, costing them money.

     In the other room the story continued…

     “He fought with only sword and Rokri and defeated the mightiest of the Guilded Order.”
     “And…” Kip interjected excitedly.

     “And then he fought the Guild leader himself.”
     Kip jumped up out of bed and made sword noises.

*Clash Cling Clang Clash*

“Yes, and they fought as the last survivors of that great battle, in a final duel to the death!” His father made a sword motion back to him, and then guided him back into bed.

“Now here’s something I’ve never told you before.”
     Kip’s young eyes widened.

“He was from this very town.”
     “Did you know him? Did you ever meet him?”
     “No, but I have seen him once, and I heard his name among the crowd. Zunery.”

“Zunery,” Kip repeated.

“Now you must sleep.”

“Oh-kayee,” Kip said as he rolled over and closed his eyes, hoping to dream of heroic battles.

On the Use of Magic:

The use of Rokri staves and crystals are permitted under The Law of The Kommons. Although once regarded as bad mannered, they are now generally accepted. However, should you choose this form of combat, we will not train you in it.

-   Handbook of the Royal Armies [K]

CHAPTER TWO

(Ten years later)

     The sun was lifted high over the southern mountains, bathing a lonely cottage house in rays of light. To the south was a steep canyon and to the north could be seen a beau              tiful field of wild grasses that stretched on until Zerin, the capital city of planet Zosa.

Outside the cottage, a man of pale complexion and even paler hair was busy picking bean-like pods out of his garden. After gathering enough to fill a small basket, the white haired man rose and entered into the house. The hair was a striking feature against his stern green eyes and a solid jawline.

He sat down at a small table in the center of the house with the basket in front of him. The pods in the basket were pinkish. The man sat relaxed breaking open the pods and eating the mush from the inside, crabmeal. It was a type of grain that was mildly sweet, soft like fabric, but filling like meat. It was a common food for the Kommon people.

     After just a few pods he stopped eating, tossed the shells away, and swapped the basket in front of him for a book, “Princess Ruby: What Was She Really Like?” The book teased as if it held grand secrets about the former princess, but it came across as a disconnected thrash of words. The man skimmed it, but put it down within an hour. Just as he went to grab a new book, a knock came at the door.

     ‘Surely, someone is lost. Not sure how though, since I’m the only person for miles,’ He thought almost aloud. (He had a habit of almost speaking when he thought, often mouthing his words.) In answering the door he found a younger man in his late teens standing in his doorway. The stranger had on a uniform inscribed with the letter K, the insignia of the royal army.

     “Hello Sir,” he said as he bowed, “News from the King.” He pulled out an official looking letter.

“General Zunery,
Rumors have been traced from Zosa to Zeirth, the Guild gathers members numbering in the thousands. They take shelter in the marshes. I seek your help immediately.

Signed, King Katav”

     “It’s about time,” Zunery smiled. In the time it had taken the messenger to deliver his message, Zunery had gathered a sword, a Rokri staff, a charge gun, and a white cloak with red and black trim. He quickly threw on some body armor which bore a Z crest on each shoulder, and linked the chain of the cloak with a small K crested medallion made for that exact purpose.

     “Shall we go then?” Zunery asked, as if to demand to leave immediately.

     “Yes Sir!” The messenger bowed and escorted Zunery into a small hover vehicle, and they took off racing northbound towards Zerin. Zunery carried a smug smile on his face. It had been months since he had last tried to smile, and his cheeks looked like they were refusing to participate.