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Published: 2011-11-07 00:48:04 +0000 UTC; Views: 73636; Favourites: 4696; Downloads: 3090
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Recent waterscape practiceHe tripped slightly on the rocky earth beneath him, one hand automatically touching the Mystei armor on his chest. The reassuring hum of magical energy sounded in his ears, and he slowed to a stop with relief.
Good. Everything was working. He'd made it this far on half-remembered stories and scraps of the Tome, and he was still alive...for the moment. Mystei armor was unstable, out of date, and offered poor protection, but it was the only relic of the Dargen Era he could find that contained Undria, the legendary crystal ore that was once used to power the Relk Empire of ages past. He smiled to himself as he looked around. The rocks were glowing now. His armor hummed loudly, resonating with the raw Undria crystals. It was here alright. It HAD to be here. The entrance to the Repository gaped in pitch darkness, daring him to approach. He wiped the sweat from his eyes and walked slowly forward.
rrRROOSH! A sickly-orange glow erupted from what he'd taken for a stalagmite, sending quivering light and shadows racing across the earth. He winced at the sudden surge of magic, his armor growing suddenly hot and painful as it tried to absorb the energy. But his eyes shown, his teeth bared in a smile only the crazed can muster. The Pillar of Relk-Saa! A great stone altar blessed by countless science-priests with the legendary Shard of Cohnai set at the top. He licked his lips hungrily, knowing its importance. It was Relkian power manifested in the physical world, a direct lightening rod of science and sorcery that acted as both a guardian and a seal. Only those with refined Undria could safely pass and not be struck from existence by its power. And he had a full SUIT of it. He smoothed his hair and activated the recorder, getting himself ready for this historic discovery. Just a few more steps and he would be there. All of the lying, the desperation and killing and murder was finally worth the price. It was his!
Softer than a shadow, he stepped into the blackness.
--------------BY ~Joshman88 [link]
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Comments: 170
Joshman88 [2011-12-01 05:18:59 +0000 UTC]
Okay, here's part two of the story to go with the second part of the picture. Its a bit longer this time, but it needed to be done I think:
She was cold.
Trying to stay in the light, the young Childe fidgeted, hopping back and forth from one foot to the other. She could barely feel the hand clutching the Schil, the ceremonial weapon at her waist that her grande-mother insisted she bring. And the Cavahr, which was too big on her. With its horned headdress and long sweeping skirt, it made her look like one of the Old Ones at the festival. Again, her grande-mother's orders. Stupid woman. All Childes had worn this attire since Relk was young, she'd said. It was of Glory to wear it. It was of Glory to have been declared the Ayme, the "Servant of Virtue." Everything about her childhood had been "of Glory." And here she was, down in the freezing-cold of the vestibule. Guarding a rock.
But no, not a rock. The great Wings of Stone seemed to stare at her, and she felt a pang of guilt. Every boy and girl with a drop of Relk in their veins knew the stories, even if they pretended not to listen. How the Relk had bloomed, created Pure Sorcery, grew great, and then when they tried to share that greatness, were destroyed by their beloved Dargen mothers and fathers. But at the end, the Relk could not let the Dargens have that power, so they Broke it. With the vestibule.
The Childe sighed, and almost Broke her teeth from the shiver that followed. She was miserable, but it didn't make it right for her to shame the old ways. And she was supposedly special; there hadn't been an Ayme among the Relk for almost two centuries. The older Childes may laugh at her if they knew she thought so, but it was the truth. And also her grande-mother's fault. Hot air from her mouth feebly tried to warm her hands, but only made them sting.
Her anger returned. No, her grande-mother was just a victim. It was those rumors of that man, the one who had been seen on the outlying villages. He'd been breaking into shrines and bribing the lesser Childes to show him their Lifewords, what outsiders called the Tome. He was also rumored to drink blood, be a Dargen monster in disguise, and talk to the dead. Stupid. If it hadn't been for him, her grande-mother would never have had the dream that the vestibule was in danger, wouldn't have invoked ancient and trivial rites of law, and forced her grande-daughter to carry out her "birthright" alone in a icy-hellpit with no--
rrRROOSH!
Fire suddenly roared to life, nearly blinding her. She gave a startled cry and dropped the Schil as hot magic hummed in her bones, a sensation she had only heard of in her teachings. Her eyes watered. The orange light...it was coming from the Pillars of Denial! Both the entrance and the Altar Pillars were alight, but that was impossible. It was a Relk creed that only Dargen blood could light the Pillars. Fear swept through her like a gale. The rumors. What if the stranger...the dream...and she was alone!
But the terror's reign was short-lived. Like a blanked of courage, the Childe felt the lineage she'd always hated come bubbling to the surface. Her limbs steadied, her breathing slowed. Quick as a flash, the Schil was in her hands once more. Soft footfalls echoed from the entrance, slow and sure. She muttered phrases from the Lifewords without thought, not even blinking when glowing blue lines appeared on her body and along the ancient edge of the Schil. The fear was still there, but it was tempered. It was as if someone else was controlling her body, moving limbs and muscles with a strength and skill she had never known. Almost dazedly, she realized that this must be what an Ayme felt before a battle. And as the young woman crouched down in the ancient fighting form of her ancestors, she faced this unknown threat and found herself smiling.
She was no longer cold.
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Axe-Cell In reply to Joshman88 [2011-12-20 06:17:07 +0000 UTC]
Found it and read it fully. Man, you have an assortment of creative names (because I've never heard of them
). The best stories read here are often the ones that doesn't have a proper introduction into the world and limitless endings.
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Joshman88 In reply to Axe-Cell [2011-12-20 23:54:24 +0000 UTC]
Oh yes, my names are 100 percent original. I like to play around with letters and sounds, then adjust accordingly so that the name looks cool when its written and sounds cool when its read. If uriska would post some new stuff I'm sure I could come up with something else too, maybe make it a series eh? Heck, I could totally write up a book with what I have so far. Hmm...maybe I should...lol
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benkulino [2011-12-01 04:54:12 +0000 UTC]
wow, great imagination, nice look...
i must learn a lot from an artist like u..
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NinjaDollLexi [2011-12-01 04:25:43 +0000 UTC]
The detail on this is unbelievably amazing, excellent job (:
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mypokeniverse [2011-12-01 04:00:57 +0000 UTC]
WOW ITS AWESOME AND VERY WELL DETAILED SPECIALLY WITH TEXTURES
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Manga-Blondie [2011-12-01 03:07:55 +0000 UTC]
Absolutely stunning!!
Congrats on the DD my Dear!
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Ishtar-FireLion [2011-12-01 03:03:11 +0000 UTC]
Thats so beautiful.... I wish it was real.
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TilverNev [2011-12-01 02:43:00 +0000 UTC]
The story and the image work very well together. The story is unique, (refreshing change in this "remake" world) you definitely should further it on.
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Joshman88 In reply to TilverNev [2011-12-01 03:07:23 +0000 UTC]
Thanks! I love to write, anything from RP-universes to poetry, and Uriska's image was just too inspiring to pass up!
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benartman [2011-12-01 02:13:08 +0000 UTC]
The first thing I thought of when I saw this was the Mythril Mines from the final fantasy games
Awesome scenery.
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XyzaDT [2011-12-01 01:42:13 +0000 UTC]
Wonderful, wonderful use of color. I love the clarity and detail. Beautifully rendered locales, bravo!
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RAMENmanga-ka [2011-11-30 23:30:20 +0000 UTC]
Person in the bottom picture reminded me of Sora.. lol this is epic
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Lord-Darcy [2011-11-30 22:18:41 +0000 UTC]
Wow! Just wow! Your artistic talent is so far beyond mine I feel like I'm painting by numbers.
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AnaButterfly [2011-11-30 22:08:07 +0000 UTC]
Wow!! I haven't words. Is it digital or tradicional art? ^-^
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Raygirl13 [2011-11-30 22:05:19 +0000 UTC]
Amazing! Simply Amazing! The deepest of the cave, the water and all the light/shadow effects are impressive!
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artlinerscum In reply to ??? [2011-11-30 21:31:34 +0000 UTC]
this is totaly awsome great job
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Oxudos [2011-11-30 21:02:50 +0000 UTC]
would be cooler if it was 1 big picture, for a background
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E-H23 [2011-11-30 19:38:17 +0000 UTC]
Wow It's gorgeous! I really like the colors and details!
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Lydhia [2011-11-30 19:21:00 +0000 UTC]
The pictures are amazing and the story you made up with them is really good. I hope you continue the story and make more beautifull pictures with it.
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Joshman88 In reply to Lydhia [2012-02-16 07:25:34 +0000 UTC]
There's a part two to the story actually, if you're interested! Its a few more pages in, to go with the second image
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Lydhia In reply to Joshman88 [2012-02-17 09:40:50 +0000 UTC]
I really like to read more it's a great story.
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wang2dog In reply to Lydhia [2011-11-30 19:29:24 +0000 UTC]
oops, that is josh, not me who wrote the story
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