The gentle hymn of prayers echoed throughout the caverns as the sun descended into its resting place until the morning, bathing the carved rock walls in a warm orange glow. The priests prayed that the lost spirits of the world be guided to rest, so that they may return to the fires from where they were born and scoured of all their sins within the flame. Finally being able to rest in peace.
I knew these hymns off by heart, having listened to them at this time of day every day since I was born. But I was not encouraged to join them myself as I was still very young and lacked the strength in voice as the elders. Their combined voices seemed to reverberate the very stone where we sat with their deep baritone.
As the sun finally sank beneath the mountains the only light remaining in the cavern were dozens of small conjured flames, each resting in the cupped hands of all the other Roegadyn present. These flames differed in colour, each one meant to reflect the soul of the one holding it. The one I conjured was a bright orange colour and it was something that I was praised for, as it mimicked the colour of the sun itself.
"I don't get why you do that all the time", a voice whispered next to me.
"The fire is a reflection of your soul, temper yourself and follow the twelve and yours too shall be bright and warm like mine", I replied, managing to keep the smugness I felt out of my voice.
"Yes, I know that, that's not what I meant though...", a slight annoyance had crept into the voice.
"What do you mean", I looked toward the source of the voice, a Roegadyn of the same age sat next to me. His flame a dark blue colour.
"I mean why have a colour like that for your soul...." as the Roegadyn whispered, his features started distorting into an evil grin, the blue flame that he had in his hands changed to cold black. The dark flame flared and suddenly the lights surrounding us vanished. Feeling fear seep in I quickly glanced around the room and realised that we were the last ones sitting in the chamber. The last light in the room was the one I held in my hands and even its bright orange flame was slowly fading.
I stared at the Roegadyn, unable to move or say anything.
"...when yours could be black...JUST LIKE MINE!"
***************************
A sharp pain shot through my side as my vision started to clear. I was lying upon a hard wooden floor that felt like it was shifting constantly, it also seemed like I've seen it before. I was vaguely aware of frantic movement in the dim light but was unable to raise my head to look around as there was a heavy weight pressing my neck down. As my senses started to return I also became aware of a raspy voice that seemed to be shouting directly into my ear. As I opened my mouth to speak a heavy iron boot came crashing down upon my head.
"Wake up!", the boot crashed down again on my skull that was still ringing from the previous and as I felt blood trickle down my face something finally clicked back into place. I was on board a pirate ship. The heavy weight upon my neck was a iron collar that kept me chained to the mast.
I was the 'Red Dog' of the Sea Serpents Bane. A large vessel that was a fearsome sight to any on the sea. Bristling with cannons and painted an angry red. Its namesake came from the skull of a gigantic leviathan that was attached to the ships bow.
I briskly got to my feet in order to avoid the third boot that slammed into the deck where my head was resting a moment before.
"Finally awake? I should toss you overboard ya piece of shite, d'ya know how long I was yellin' into ya ear for! We gots a raid a'comin'..", the captain of the vessel was a deceptively diminutive Hyur standing a head and a half shorter than the rest of his crew. An easy looking target, this changes when his enemies get close enough to notice his thick arms covered in scars of previous people who were initially deceived, only to be quickly overpowered.
Giving the chain attached to my collar a firm yank, the captain led me over to the railing and jerked a finger at a vessel not that far off. It's white sail standing out in the pitch black of night.
"Tis another pirate vessel, we're about t'teach them that these waters be ours. Kill any who board me ship and don't let me see a bit of hesitation or you'll be findin' yourself dragged along by a rope in these waters till we reach port...Remember you owe me.....and you know the drill..NOW BURN THEIR SAILS!"
I raised my hands and let the elements flow through me as I prepared set their sails alight. It was just another pirate ship. Full of people the same as my captain. Full of murderers....just like me.
I knew these hymns off by heart, having listened to them at this time of day every day since I was born. But I was not encouraged to join them myself as I was still very young and lacked the strength in voice as the elders. Their combined voices seemed to reverberate the very stone where we sat with their deep baritone.
As the sun finally sank beneath the mountains the only light remaining in the cavern were dozens of small conjured flames, each resting in the cupped hands of all the other Roegadyn present. These flames differed in colour, each one meant to reflect the soul of the one holding it. The one I conjured was a bright orange colour and it was something that I was praised for, as it mimicked the colour of the sun itself.
"I don't get why you do that all the time", a voice whispered next to me.
"The fire is a reflection of your soul, temper yourself and follow the twelve and yours too shall be bright and warm like mine", I replied, managing to keep the smugness I felt out of my voice.
"Yes, I know that, that's not what I meant though...", a slight annoyance had crept into the voice.
"What do you mean", I looked toward the source of the voice, a Roegadyn of the same age sat next to me. His flame a dark blue colour.
"I mean why have a colour like that for your soul...." as the Roegadyn whispered, his features started distorting into an evil grin, the blue flame that he had in his hands changed to cold black. The dark flame flared and suddenly the lights surrounding us vanished. Feeling fear seep in I quickly glanced around the room and realised that we were the last ones sitting in the chamber. The last light in the room was the one I held in my hands and even its bright orange flame was slowly fading.
I stared at the Roegadyn, unable to move or say anything.
"...when yours could be black...JUST LIKE MINE!"
***************************
A sharp pain shot through my side as my vision started to clear. I was lying upon a hard wooden floor that felt like it was shifting constantly, it also seemed like I've seen it before. I was vaguely aware of frantic movement in the dim light but was unable to raise my head to look around as there was a heavy weight pressing my neck down. As my senses started to return I also became aware of a raspy voice that seemed to be shouting directly into my ear. As I opened my mouth to speak a heavy iron boot came crashing down upon my head.
"Wake up!", the boot crashed down again on my skull that was still ringing from the previous and as I felt blood trickle down my face something finally clicked back into place. I was on board a pirate ship. The heavy weight upon my neck was a iron collar that kept me chained to the mast.
I was the 'Red Dog' of the Sea Serpents Bane. A large vessel that was a fearsome sight to any on the sea. Bristling with cannons and painted an angry red. Its namesake came from the skull of a gigantic leviathan that was attached to the ships bow.
I briskly got to my feet in order to avoid the third boot that slammed into the deck where my head was resting a moment before.
"Finally awake? I should toss you overboard ya piece of shite, d'ya know how long I was yellin' into ya ear for! We gots a raid a'comin'..", the captain of the vessel was a deceptively diminutive Hyur standing a head and a half shorter than the rest of his crew. An easy looking target, this changes when his enemies get close enough to notice his thick arms covered in scars of previous people who were initially deceived, only to be quickly overpowered.
Giving the chain attached to my collar a firm yank, the captain led me over to the railing and jerked a finger at a vessel not that far off. It's white sail standing out in the pitch black of night.
"Tis another pirate vessel, we're about t'teach them that these waters be ours. Kill any who board me ship and don't let me see a bit of hesitation or you'll be findin' yourself dragged along by a rope in these waters till we reach port...Remember you owe me.....and you know the drill..NOW BURN THEIR SAILS!"
I raised my hands and let the elements flow through me as I prepared set their sails alight. It was just another pirate ship. Full of people the same as my captain. Full of murderers....just like me.
