Rise of Heroes Backstory Intro and chapter 1

JamesP

RISE OF HEROES

A Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game

Written by

Duane Beckett

Copyright 2009

Prologue

Like a wild fire in dry tundra humanity expanded saturating beyond the comforts of the soil underfoot. In a millennia to evolve to intelligent life it took what felt like a blink of the eye to devour the nature that nurtured them from amoeba to man. In a century of new discoveries it was time to find a new land, a place where those with power and wealth could start new and leave the plagues of wild fire behind.

From every shore surrounding these lands man could only see oceans. The religious swore “we see only what the gods allow us to see, seeing anymore is blasphemy!” and the scholars proclaimed to know “we see no further because the world ends, cascading waterfalls to another plain of existence!” As the debates filled the great halls, Inn’s and streets the king and his guard secretly assembled a crew.

At sunset on a day forgotten in time they set sail on a grand ship called the ‘Heroes Journey’. They had the single objective to find a utopian land beyond the horizon. The ship never returned... The crew lost in history... This is their story.

Chapter One

The Heroes Journey

 

The sun peaks in the sky, its radiance washes clean the blue of the vast ocean. A vessel carves through the waters, its sail full of wind. At its mast was a carved crown decorated in gold and gems, the ship could only be that of the King. This vessel was the ‘Heroes Journey’. It was built by the greatest shipwrights Asia had and its crew was ordered to find a utopian land.

 

At its helm were Captain Kin Si Tow, a legend amongst honoured men and a prized scalp to collect from the savages he aid conquer during the many campaigns he led. He looks out into the abyss, dressed in full military attire his chin partially raised and his battle scares worn with pride. At his side was San Tao, a loyal friend and his second in command. He had lost a hand in a previous battle alongside the Captain. Yet even with all the disadvantages a one handed man may bring to the deck the Captain wouldn’t trust another at his side. San Tao speaks “The sea is kind to us”, the Captain without moving from his proud stance “Chaos normally follows calm.” San Tao smiles and says “I wouldn’t have it any other way.” The Captain gives San a simple smile then a calming hand upon his shoulder “And that’s why I’m lucky to have you here my friend.” As for the rest of the crew they were made up of the best mercenaries and assassins the Kings gold could buy. Strength, cunning and determination were the order of the day when selected; all of them were proud and quick to anger. The only pacifist on the ship was a clergyman called Alric; he once was the favourite of the Kings but since his drunken antics with a royal maid his graces have been cut short.

 

The first three days of voyage pass without incident, well except for the constant request from Alric for additional supplies. The fourth night arrives and punctually Alric staggers up the steps to where the Captain and San Tao stand. “Captain, what’s the verdict tonight?” A foul stench of booze fills the air surrounding Alric, his beard and gown soaked from spills. “The same question every night will get the same answer clergyman.” Alric struggles to stand, the booze and his sea legs don’t mix well. Propping himself up on the rails he mutters “I was the Kings voice once...” San Tao speaks “Once... Not anymore, your reputation precedes you - a bit like your stench!” Alric enrages and leaps towards San Tao with the bottle of wine he clutches out stretched. San Tao, even with one hand overpowers and pushes Alric to the ground. From the ground Alric looks to the Captain “Well!!!” The Captain responds “You need to be more careful when on a voyage, especially one that could be as treacherous as this.” The Captain and San Tao walk away. Alric shouts to them “You don’t deserve those medals!” Alric climbs to his feet; he grabs his wine. He looks out to the sun disappearing behind the horizon and he whispers to himself “I’ll show you how treacherous this voyage can be Captain...”

 

Over the next several nights Alric waited for all to be asleep, he would then step quietly across the deck and down into the stores where all supplies were held. Each night he would take handfuls of bread, bottles of wine and water. He would keep some in his private quarters while the rest was thrown overboard into the abyss.

 

On the eighth night as the mercenaries and assassins sit scoffing bread and drinking stagnant water Alric sits down amongst them. Xna the strongest of the mercenaries speaks up “Are you lost holy man?” Alric shakes his head as he pulls a bottle of fine wine from his gown. “Where did you get that?” All the mercenaries and assassins look to him, “It’s from the Captain, he has many bottles in his private quarters.” Xna stands up, kicking over his bowl of water and marches off to the Captains private quarters, the others follow him equally enraged. Xna barges through the door as the Captain and San sit opposite each other, empty bowls in front of them. San Tao stands and shouts “What is it Xna!” Xna and the others start rampaging through the quarters. The Captain draws his blade and looks at Xna “what is it you’re looking for mercenary?” “Booze” shouts Xna. “The holy man says you have it!” The captain places his sword away and sits back down, “I have none mercenary. Yet if you want to believe the words of a drunken clergyman that’s your choice.” Xna and the others stop, look to each other and then storm out. San Tao shouts “Come back and tidy this mess up!” The Captain tells San “leave them.”

 

The following morning as the Captain meets San at the helm of the vessel they look to a sky fiery red and filled with chaotic storm clouds. San says to the Captain “this doesn’t look good.” The Captain responds “you’re not the only one who thinks that” and points to the mercenaries and assassins looking at the heavens. Xna shouts to the Captain “you seen anything like this before?” The Captain simply shakes his head. Xna states “the holy man was right...” San Tao looks up and down the ship and shouts to Xna “where is Alric?” Xna looks to San and then points to the top of the mast. Alric sways as he hangs by his feet. “BARBARIANS!!!” shouts the Captain. San Tao charges down to the mast, finds the correct rope and cuts Alric free carefully. His body lies limp on the deck, his flesh sliced and his gown soaked in blood. Xna stands over him “he said the gods would seek revenge if we hurt him.” The Captain pushes past them all; Xna shouts “we didn’t believe him!” The Captain looks at the stormy waters before shouting “WE ARE NO LONGER IN THE GODS GRACES! GET READY!!!”

 

As the rain pounded down and the thunder and lightning ripped through the sky the mercenaries and assassins sat cowering under the deck. Each muttered about the warning the clergyman gave. As for the Captain and San, they were top side struggling against the wrath of the ocean. San Tao stood tied to the wheel while the Captain stood at the front directing San, with each gigantic wave that crashed and slammed into the vessel the Captain roared “Is this all you have!” In the distance an enormous wave filled the sky. The Captain looks back over his shoulder to San and mouths the words “my friend.” The enormous wave engulfs the ship, its rolls and crumbles. The ‘Heroes Journey’ is no more.

JamesP

What do you all think of the backstory so far?