A struggle for life itself

by **Coren** on August 1st, 2012, 1:40 pm

1st of summer

Coren sat behind his desk in his room. His mind mulling over the many things that had happened to him, to Avanthal in general, this last season. It nearly melted completely, criminals had broken free and where still on the lose. The walls had been breached and while wild animals where prowling the streets together with the scum of the earth making it almost impossible for anybody to leave the hold without being in danger.

He let out an annoyed sigh and pushed those rather depressing thoughts out of his mind. Just sitting here and thinking about how everything had gone mad wouldn't make anything better. He was a mage for gods sake, there had to be something he could do with that without making it obvious he was using magic at all! He stood up, his face the text book example of determination as he walked towards the door of his room. He stopped a few inches though, his mind flashing towards the possible dangers of going outside. Wild animals, loose prisoners and other hazards to his health probably lurked there. Maybe he should take some precautions for his own safety first before he ventured outside

He grabbed his pot of ink and unscrewed it before rolling up his right sleeve. Dipping his finger into the ink he slowly began to draw the focus glyph's on the back of his hand, the inside of his hand and on both the inside and outside of his elbow. He carefully blew on the symbols to make the ink dry quicker without letting the entire ink drip of his arm or smudging the symbols even more.
“This should do it.” Coren muttered to himself after the ink had dried. He pulled his sleeve of his robe down and shoved his right hand in his pocket. That way it wouldn't really stand out.. then again who would recognize his personal glyph's anyway? Feeling bolstered by the fact he was now able to access his projection magic with more ease he walked outside of his door.

Coren tried to recall where the places in need of help where. The walls might need some extra hands to transport goods. The mines could also benefit from extra hands to clear the rubble fi they couldn't use him at the wa...

“Put your hands on your head and slowly turn around.” A harsh voice sounded out. Coren let out an annoyed sigh. As he put his left hand on his head. “I'm a cripple. My right arm is lame.”Coren lied as his djed flared once more and was forced to his right arm, pushing his astral body out of his arm.” he slowly began turning around a smile on his masked face as he felt the glyph's do their work and help ease his arm out.

“Then what are you doing outside. Don't you know its dangerous right now.” The man said in a mocking tone. When Coren had turned around he saw an illshaven man aiming a shortbow at him, arrow nocked and ready to shoot him as soon as he made a move he didn't like.”Why the hell are you wearing a mask. You so ugly you gotta hide your ugly mug?” The man said with a mocking laugh.
“Actually no.” Coren began, stretching his astral body and took a slight grip on the very top of the string of the bow. “Its to protect my face from when the string of my bow slips of the stock.” He said with satisfaction in his voice as he pulled the top part of the string lose from the bowstock. It violently lashed back. The man yelped in pain and instinctively dropped what he was holding to grasp his sliced cheek. Coren, while not a good brawler in the least knew that an opening like that was something you had to take. He quickly snatched up the arrow that had been nocked on the now ruined bow and took a stab at the distracted man.

The man however wasn't as distracted as he thought he was with the minor wound on his cheek and threw himself aside the arrow just scraping a small cut over his arm that barely even bled.
“What the Petch!” The man stammered out as he tried to regain his balance, fear creeping into his voice as the slow realization of what he was facing began enter the thug's mind.
But by either foolishness, reckless bravery or thinking that the only way to escape from a pissed mage was trying to off said mage he didn't stagger back in fear. He launched himself at coren. He tried to trip up the desperate man. But he was already close enough and still ended up bowling him over and landing on top of him when he fell straight into him. Pulling him to the ground.

Coren let out a groan as he hit the ground. Thanking morwen for the fact that the normally frozen ground was now plain mud thanks to the melted snow and hotter temperature. Coren began to struggle to get the man of him. But he only had one arm, and the man seemingly had a lot more experience in brawling then he had. He scrambled with his projecting arm through the mans quiver, trying to grab a weapon.
The man smashed his elbow in coren's face and forced his head against the ground. Black spots began dancing at the edges of coren's vision after the force of that blow.
“Yer not that tough when you can't use that fancy magic of yours. Eh freak.” The man hissed. His breath reaking of cheap alcohol and filth. Coren bit on his tonge as he finally got a decent grip on one of the man's arrows and pulled it out of the quiver and maneuvered it in position plunging it in the back of the person's neck forcing it through the entirety of the man's neck.
“Who said I couldn't use it?” He stated as he tried to ignore the blood dripping from the man's wound onto him. He pushed the wounded man of him without to much further problems. He was to busy at clutching his bleeding wound to actually do something against him.

Coren scrambled away from the man, pulling his projected limb back towards him, trying not to look to much at the man who was bleeding out not a few feet away from him and to ignore his chocked ghasps for breath as he was slowly drowning in his own blood.
He sat himself against the wall farthest away from him and slowly began slipping his astral body back in its place with utmost care. Concentrating with all his being on that to ignore what he had just done. He double and triple checked his work just to be able to keep his mind of what he had done.

But eventually it crept into his mind and he dared look at the now pale, silent and motionless man. His stomach lurching as he felt bile rising. Quickly pulling down his mask before he puked inside it he emptied his stomach in besides him. Shaking he let his head rest against the cold stone of the wall he was sitting against. Sure the person attacked him. But he could have tried to incapacitate him. Why didn't he ram it in his shoulder instead of his neck for one? It would have incapacitated him and he could have waited while the icewatch came around and put him back behind bars.

Coren just sat there for a few more chimes before he heard footsteps closing in.
“Hey you alright?” One of the group called out to him as he knelt next to him. A kind expression on his face. As his comerades concerned themselves about the body. “And what in Morwen's name hapenend here.”
“its an escapee.” one of the others informed the man as they identified the dead man.
“The guy attacked me. I..” Coren felt another wave of nausea come over him. “Think I killed him while I tried to defend myself.” The Icewatch let out a sigh and helped coren up. “You're not in trouble for that.” The man tried to assuage his fears. Completely overlooking the fact he was probably distraught of what he had done. “What is your name?” The man asked. “I'm coren... of the skyglow hold.” The man nodded.
“I'll get you home.” He grabbed coren and let the exausthed man lean on his shoulder and helping coren to his home.

by **Valkyrie** on August 9th, 2012, 12:23 am

The Icewatch patrol conveyed Coren to the doorstep of Skyglow Hold. Upon a guard reaching for the handle, the door swung open and the group was greeted by the curious eyes of a friendly looking old man. Most would recognize him as Vannis Skyglow, leader of the Hold, and nod their heads respectfully. Most in Avanthal had great respect for the quiet but friendly leader.

“What is all this about?” Vannis asked softly. The guard supporting Coren quickly explained what of the story they had investigated and gleaned from Coren. Vannis nodded and stepped forward to place his hand on the man’s shoulder. Vannis was always known to be quite compassionate towards the members of his Hold.

“It was brave of you to take on that man. I am proud that a member of our Hold was able to aid the city in this way. You know that the members of our Hold are taught to appreciate the human form, not destroy it so I understand how difficult it must have been. Your sickness is a sign of your compassion toward sentient beings and should cause you no shame. I would like to reward you for your deed, you will discover what it is in the morning.” Vannis let go of his grasp and stepped aside to allow the guard to take Coren back to the appropriate Arvinta.

When Coren woke the next morning he would find a small pouch and a folded note laid atop it. When Coren opened the note it read:

When I was a young man a merchant came to Avanthal
he carried many amazing and unique wonders and
I purchased this. I've never had to use it and I hope
the same for you. It’s called glitter and will aid you
If you should have trouble again. Toss it in the air and
the illusion of a bright flare will surprise your enemies.
Stay safe in these times of uncertainty.

The pouch fit comfortably in the palm of Coren’s hand and when he peaked into it he discovered it was full of a metallic powder.

Thread Award

Coren :

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