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The Story of Valice Vardell
[disc:2a7b38b23a]This Story May Contane material unsuitable for children[/disc:2a7b38b23a]
Authers forward
unfortunatly this story has lost it's original formating, if i learn how to turn HTML on in posts, i may be able to fix this, please inform me if this story is not suitable for this section.
Vanis Vardell stood up and looked around. His shaggy black hair coming down across his eyes. He ignored it and started to walk down the street.
he heard someone moaning down a alleyway to his left he ignored it. People were being killed down alleyways every other minute when the king had raised the taxes so high that no one not even the richest could pay not even once that had been when this had started, a long time ago that was, so long indeed that hardly anyone in the town could remember that times had once been different.
Even Vanis’s best friend Oral had forgotten him and forgotten the time when the city had been the grandest city in all the world and there armies had marched across the battle field destroying all who came within reach. Yes Vanis and Oral had been in the army they had both been in the same legion they had both been majors and sense there were only seven majors in the camp it hadn’t taken long for them to meet, Oral was a half orc so when he came into camp naturally every one in camp drew there swords whenever he came within sight, even Vanis.
They were at war with the nearest orc tribes so it wasn’t really all that surprising. But as time went bye and Vanis saw him save numerous soldiers from the enemy orc (and how well he used his sword) Vanis decided to befriend him.
And being like all who bore the name Vanhell he succeeded with his strange way of acting. Definitely Strange, strange was probably the only word that could describe what was, and indeed had, happened to this town. Yes
it was hard to think of it as anything but a town, now. Once it had been the largest empire in all the world stretching across the largest continent on the planet reaching out to assimilate other civilizations into itself, the empire of Varudun (that was the reason so many names here started with V). But now... now it was nothing, nothing but a town,
all because of one king, one man, one man had taken down everything, destroyed the largest and grandest empire ever. All because of the birthright, because of tradition. The kings strongest son.
He who Vanis himself had trained to become one of great skill and conning, but that was the past.
Of that Valice was sure, the past was the only thing he knew wouldn’t change, as his own empire had.
Though he really couldn’t claim to be related to the king in any way whatsoever, he was. Not his son not his cousin, not even sure what to call it. He was the last Vardell. Though the name was strange, he knew it was one to be proud of.
He knew his ancestor had been the strongest of the kings sons, knew he would have been kinged, but his ancestor knowing that his brother was the better king, for the people needed wisdom and patients to grow into a great empire not strength. So he chose instead that he ,and all his line to follow (those who chose to), would be the kings guards and protectors. And so he changed his name from Varcell, to Vardell, and even to change it further because Vardell meaning (loosely) “To bring forth hell upon those of who would place themselfs within his/her path”, would his name be called Varhell, even though not a direct translation it was sufficient to confuse those who heard it from thinking of them as relatives to the kings line.
This was the hidden history of his line the line that would always help and protect the king from injury and harm. And indeed they were the greatest warriors who ever lived, it seemed to be some kind of strange blood thing, somehow they all seemed born with great dexterity and strength. This being useful for fulfilling there task they did not see reason to question it. And so was the history of the family of Vardell. However Valice now had reason to question this duty, the king had brought plague and famine to his people had brought fourth an evil servant to create an army of mutant soldiers, when they had no need of mutants with twice the strength of a normal man there army already had twice the strength of any normal man, the king had also raised taxes for no reason, the royal treasury was not the fullest of all kingdoms perhaps but in this kingdom they had no need of any royal treasury the people would follow the king they did not ask for money in exchange for there services that would be idiotic they would die without the protection the king brought. Strengthening the walls so the sandstorms would not penetrate into the city was crucial to the survival of everyone inside it.
Nothing the current king had done had any reason for being done he just did it without consulting his advisers , this new servant he had, Vincent was the only one he listened to, ignoring the others he had led the empire to rune. Valice had never had reason before now to question his duty but this...
Chapter 2
Walking up the steps to the palace Valice noticed the two guards on each side prepare to stop him, if he hadn’t been trained in ever martial arts class his father had known he probably wouldn’t have noticed it. But as it was, he jumped the last step the javelins lower to stop him. He reached out, grabbed both right below the blade and using the momentum from the their Quick descent down, he threw them both simultaneously at the guard opposite the one who had been holding it. The two guards fell, unconscious, Valice had no hate for them and no reason to kill them, and his father had taught him not to kill innocent people for no reason.
And Valice (never having landed sense his jump up the stairs) landed in the hall of the main court area, Valice stood up and walked through a tapestry to his left, leading him into a secret passageway to the kings chambers. He guessed it would take ten to fifteen minutes before the guards were noticed and the alarm sounded.
He reached the end of the passageway. He lowered himself to his knees and looked through a hole in the wood of the door, (there was no door handle so as to avoid any possible assassin escaping through it), he saw a female sitting on the bed apparently naked (apart from the blanket). The king was nowhere in sight. Valice stood and turned walking back down the passageway.
Where could the king be? His apartment was the kings only room to himself, apart from the kings study, but the current king never used it anyway.
So where... then Valice decided to search the dungeons for him, perhaps he was in counsel with that servant Vincent. When Valice reached the entry to the passageway he stopped. Standing there only a few inches from the tapestry he listened, as he had been trained.
And there it was. Four metal booted feet were pacing the hall, the alert must of come sooner then he had thought, while on alert the palace doors were closed two guards posted outside two inside the door, one in each passageway and one at the entrance of each door and one at the entrance and exit of each secret passage, (the one Valice was in was known only to he and other Vandells, he being the last noone else knew of it), along with all that various guard stations around certain doors like the kings room and study and the dungeons, plus various groups walked around the dungeons and main levels searching for the intruder.
Valice knew this well sense he was the kings personal protector, and had made some modifications to the standard areas and amounts of guards placed at different locations.
So two guards outside the tapestry the other end would be guarded as well sense the kings room was more important then the hall. Reaching his right hand over he slowly gripped the handle of his sword, a gift from his father the blade had been handed down for a long while having been made by his grandfather. He drew it fourth slowly so the sound was less noticeable, in case the guards on the other side of the tapestry were near the tapestry. Having drawn the sword out to it’s full extension he placed his left hand on the handle slightly lower then the other near the pummel. It was a katana style sword his and his father’s favorite, his grandfather having made it for his father, as a gift because his fathers favorite weapon was the katana and because his father had taught Valice how to fight his best, and after time, his favorite weapon of choice.
Lowering it to the ground in order to strike upward with greater momentum he reversed the blade so as to knock the guards out as before.
Taking his left hand off the sword hilt he place it just above the tapestry palm out ready to open it at any moment, ripping the tapestry back he jumped out, he saw two guards as he had suspected. lounging forward he brought the sword up smashing the guard’s helmet and knocking him out, he heard a bow string of some sort coming from the direction of the other guard, using the momentum from his slash at the first guard Valice swung himself around and dropped to one knee just in time to see a crossbow bolt zoom over head. He positioned his legs into a jumping position and lounged forward swinging his katana with one hand up and smashing the crossbow into a thousand pieces, tapping his foot the he reversed his hands hold on the hilt of his sword and brought it down against the guards head, knocking him out cold.......
Chapter 3
Valice heard a noise coming from a corridor opening to his right, he stopped.
“Yeah that’s what I heard, I don’t see why the king pots up with him. All he does is scare everybody half to death with fright, not that I blame them mind you, scares me half ta death to.”
Valice guessed he was talking about Vincent. He didn’t hear there boots so he guessed they were standing guard over something, likely a door.
Thinking he ruled out the possibility of blasting them with some spell or another, he knew Vincent would sense it, and he couldn’t let his presence near here be known yet. Reaching to his back he pulled a kris knife out of his cape, it was small enough to throw, but he needed another to knock both guards out as he heard the one talking as if to another he guessed at there being two or more.
But as the standard security alarm called for a guard of only one or two at each post, he guessed that there were only two.
He could hear a response to the guard’s statement, but didn’t bother listening. Pulling a tanto out of it’s sheath on his belt, he looked at the two then switched hand so as to hold the tanto in his right and kris knife in his left. At a normal walking speed, with great care to be quite, Valice walked around the corner. He had been right, there were two guards stationed at the post, switching his holding on the knives he placed them behind his hands in order to hide them from view, it would only be effective for a short period of time but it would not be needed long. Walking forward he still tried to be as quiet as possible. One of the guards looked over and saw him, then continued sweeping the corridor.
When Valice was right in front of them the guard said “hello sir, this door has been ordered locked by the king himself it cannot be opened for any reason. Sir.”
Valice looked at him “What is the reason the king has ordered this door be locked? What is inside?”
“Sir this is Mr. Vincent’s lab, sir.”
“I see...” Valice though a moment “is Mr. Vincent inn the lab right now?”
“Yes sir.”
“And where is the King at present?”
“I do not know, sir.”
This was bad, if the king wasn’t with Vincent, then where would he be?
Vincent would know.
“That will be all, private.”
“Si-” the guard began, but was cut off as he fell to the floor Valice’s Tanto, sticking out of his chest plate. They would be fine Valice hadn’t aimed to kill, in fact he had aimed to injure only . They would require medical attention however, and soon.
Valice eased the door open, looking through he saw Vincent, lying there his clothes torn blood spattered across his chest. There were a number of large circular holes in his skin right below and on his left shoulder.
Valice froze, he had been in here before. There was a large cage in the center of the room, the door was open, it was empty. “Oh my....” valice thought. The giant bat, the bat the size of three men had escaped!, this was bad. And it had killed Vincent apparently, it was probably in the room still. As Valice was still in the doorway looking around the room he could only see part of it, the bat was not in his visual range.
He eased out of the room, closing the door behind him. He wondered what he should do next, though he could go kill the king and leave. No that what not an option anymore, he had to kill the bat first, in some way. But it was a mutant, there was no way even his sword would penetrate. He could tell the guards, no one knew he was the one who had knocked out those guards, they should sleep til sometime tomorrow.
But no they were still his men, he couldn’t send them to there death like that...... there was only one who could kill it now..... the one he trusted more then any.........
Chapter 4 : Merlin.
Walking through the trapdoor to leave the dungeon. He saw two guards standing to either side of the trapdoor. Looking at the one to his right, he said “quick there are two injured men down there, go get a doctor.” the man hurried off.
Looking at the other one he said “go help them make sure noone goes near that corridor.” the second hurried off, through the trap door. Valice didn’t hesitate, he immediately left the room heading towered the hall. When he arrived he saw three guards and two doctors, walking towered the door he’d just left.
He recognized one of the guards as the one he’d sent for a doctor. He stepped aside to let them pass. Then he headed to the doors leading out of the palace. When he was halfway there, the doors suddenly banged open, smashing through the walls on either side.
The doorway was filled with bright blue light, and in the center Valice saw Master Merlin, striding through the door. He looked so mad that Valice stood still for a moment in shock, never having seen Merlin mad at anything before in his life. And now he was madder then Valice had ever seen anyone be in his entire life.
Then Valice blinked, Merlin had strode right past him during Valice’s pause. Turning he headed after Merlin. Merlin walked up to the doors leading to the central court area. Valice hurried forward, trying to get to the doors first to open them. But Merlin looked at them from ten feet distance, and the doors blew open in a blast of blue light.
Valice saw the walls on either side suddenly dent outward, he was going to half to rebuild this entire section of the palace if Merlin continued at this rate. But Merlin didn’t stop for a second, he continued his stride completely ignoring the doors, and the senators and diplomats and nobles on the other side.
He walked straight through the center of the room everyone went quiet and the pathway leading to the kings throne was suddenly clear, Valice had never seen anything happen that fast in that room. Running to keep up with Merlin’s great stride. One of the senators (or whatever, he may have been a noble or something.) Walked forward in front of Merlin, “Hey you cannot, just go barging in here like this is a throne room, you old cra-” Valice jumped for ward drew his sword so fast not even he could see it slashed the mans left arm (wounding only), gapped his throat and pulled him out of Merlin’s way and onto the floor. A sword at his throat, and said very quietly and slowly, “say anything at all to Master Merlin again and you shall not live long enough to see the sentence end.” The man’s eyes widened. Valice jumped up and ran to cache up with Merlin. Who hadn’t paused to see the man’s likely death.
Valice regretted not killing the man but he didn’t want to seem to much like a villain, as he was the head guard. Merlin reached the throne before, Valice could cache up with him. Merlin stopped at the throne, looking down at the King, he said something Valice couldn’t hear. But he could see the king cringing and twisting, trying to avoid looking in Merlin’s eyes. Not surprising considering they were glowing bright blue. Valice was a master of intimidation but Merlin didn’t need to be a master of intimidation to scare the life out of a human (or anything else that existed, live or dead), though he wasn’t usually a imposing figure right now Merlin seemed to look down on anything there.
Valice guessed that happened every time he was angered, though he had never heard of Merlin being angry before, indeed he normally was a practical saint, and his appearance being very old, indeed the oldest looking person Valice had ever met, could only add to the idea that he had to be some sort of holy man. Merlin’s great rage right now seemed somehow wrong, or at least out of character.
But then Valice didn’t know what had made him mad so he really couldn’t say if it was justified. But as it was Merlin, there had to be a good reason for it. And so Valice walked to the throne, sword drawn. And kept watch over the crowd of senators, knights nobles, diplomats, kings, wise men, and various other people who had become apart of the empire before and were now waiting for a conference with the king. Representing different worlds in this dying kingdom. Now Valice could hear what Merlin was saying.
“I told you NEVER USE the swords in attack!” Merlin roared at the king. Valice wondered wether Merlin was used to talking to kings like this
“w-w-well th-they were m-mying to use as I wanted you gave th-” staggered the king
“I GAVE your father the swords under the condition that they would never be used in BATTLE for the purpose of conquest!”
“Well that’s your s-s-...” but the king seemed to have lost his nerve. Valice could guess what he had been about to say, “stupid”.
“You used the swords in battle for your benefit now you pay the price for your ignorance.“ And with that Merlin grabbed the king up bye his collar and started to drag him down the path he had come through.
But the knights wouldn’t allow that, they all jumped in Merlin’s way this time. Valice rushed forward, having been left behind when Merlin had suddenly pulled the king from the throne. Merlin didn’t pause he just kept walking right at the knights, completely ignoring them.
They all drew there swords. But Merlin walked right through them, the knights couldn’t seem to get near him, whenever they tried some sort of shield stopped them pushing them away as Merlin walked on.
Valice rushed forward until he to was inside the round shield, Merlin must have made to it deflect the knights only because it allowed him through. Merlin walked straight out the doorways ignoring the people standing around him, Merlin must have set the shield to deflect more then the knights as it turned out because when two guards came running towered Merlin, to stop him from leaving the palace (it was still on alert, even though the front doors were permanently opened), they were thrown backwards by the shield.
Merlin didn’t drop the shield so far as Valice noticed, though as Valice couldn’t sense the shield’s magical energy he wasn’t surprised by that. Merlin walked straight out the palace and through the town not stopping for a moment. The people in the town stopped and watched him pass, (scrambling out of his way when necessary).
Valice could see the gates of the city had befallen the same fate as the once to the palace, they were both lying in large craters on either wall next to the giant doorway in the center, Valice had never seen a single desert storm nor attack by any army strong enough to budge the giant metal doors half an inch, and yet to a little old man with a staff they were nothing but a simple door, to be destroyed when in his way, (at least when he was this mad).
They reached a tower a few blocks down from the palace. Valice recognized it as the old kings home.
Though the king had lived in the palace he had had this tower made for his son and wife to live in, Valice remembered playing in the yard when he was younger (he had good memory, very good memory), his father and the king had been close friends, as had Valice’s father and Merlin, which was why Valice knew Merlin so well.
Valice also remembered seeing Merlin when he had been younger, though Merlin hadn’t changed a bit (though he hadn’t been this mad then...), which was why seeing Merlin so angry had caused such a great shock.
Valice knew Merlin was very, very old, in fact Valice had heard tales of Merlin dating back thousands of years, all the same description the same name the same power and kindness, the same man so far as Valice was concerned Merlin had lived that long, and indeed possibly longer. And that was enough to explain his normal patients and wisdom. So what in the world could make him angry?....
Chapter 5: The End
Merlin walked through the door to the tower (Valice was relieved to see he opened it with the end of his staff not by blasting it) Merlin walked through the walkways, passageways and the many secret passageways, taking them to the main study at the top of the forty storey tower.
When they arrived he finally dropped the king and walked across the room to the window.
“You used the Elixir-Excalibur Swords I gave your Father for the purpose of conquest. Do you deny this charge? ” Merlin said to the king.
“There my swords to do with as I please.” stated the king
“NO you fool those swords were made for the protection of this realm NOT for you to use as you wish.” responded Merlin rage creeping into his voice again.
“They are my swords not yours, just because you made them doesn’t give you the rite to state law-” but Merlin but him off
“They were your swords. And it is my rite to state law of them.”
“Wha-what do you mean were? They are my swords!” said the king fear starting in his voice
“no” Said merlin “I have taken the liberty of removing them from your...... animals you commanded use them. The mutants I believe you call them. They two are gone from your care, I have allowed them final rest and removed also from you the evil that spawned them upon this world once again.”
“N-no you-you can’t that... it-it’s not possible... they are immortal! They are my immortal army do use to rule the world in my iron fist!” said the king madness in his eye’s now.
“No, they were not ‘immortal’ they were merely hard to destroy with swords however those who can be reincarnated can be returned to there rest. It’s a simple thing really all you must do is dispel the magical object that holds them to this world. In this case zanith’s orb all I had to do was remove the power crystal. And the incarnates were returned to there rest.”
“What the devil are you talking about? They were not this “reincarnation” they were mere people made to serve my cause by my only adviser. Vincent” said the king “And who is this “Zanith” you spoke of? He is not of my employ nor my acquaintance.”
“Zanith was the one controlling. Master Vincent’s mind, he was the one who you served. Vincent was merely a way for him to do it without risking being seen by Sir Valice. You see Zanith was the dark mage who killed his father, and stole some weapon’s from the palace.” Merlin began “and he also was the one who was keeping your own insanity from being noticed by the knights. For without you to act through he would never have been able to raise a army of zombies to control, or get the Elixir-Excalibure swords to arm them with. For your father was the only one I ever trusted with weapon’s of that kind.” Valice looked at Merlin
“Did you kill Zanith?” Valice asked Merlin
“No, I think you’ll understand why soon enough... One last thing.“ Merlin turned back to the king, anger seemed to be rising in him again.
But the strangest thing.. Or was it? Valice saw a single tear fall from Merlin’s eye.
“This is why I have brought you to this tower king of Vagrak.”
“You see that island I defeated the “mutants” on has been tainted with more then just the few I sent back to rest. I saw more of them on my way back leaving me to believe that there were other power sources for them to feed off. and though it may be possible to restore order by sending them back to rest bit by bit and as slow as it would be it wouldn’t be much of a hassle... but that is no longer a possibility. For if Zanith’s work endures it would be possible for others to do it as well... so thus I have decided... To Destroy the island altogether. It was... probably one of my more difficult decision to make... but it must be. For humans will never be ready for that knowledge.”
Walking over next to the window Merlin pointed his hand out at the small island next to the mainland area. And suddenly the entire sky seemed to light up with a bright shape.
It was the same shape as the island itself. It was apparently made of lightning. It was slowly descending over the island.
“Merlin what about the people on the island?” asked Valice in a hurry
“there are none, I saw to that myself.”
After about two seconds of watching the shape move down the sky. Valice finally saw it start to touch the tops of the tallest trees. Valice saw the trees get blasted down one bye one. Just as the doors to the palace had.
Seconds after the first tree was hit he heard a loud crack. Like thunder.
“Merlin what is that?”Valice asked
“it is the sound from the island. It’s so far away that it takes time to arrive here.”
The sounds were ringing in Valice’s ears.
Then Valice saw the first Hill get hit. Tons of dirt suddenly got blasted downward. Seconds later a enormous crack split the air.
Then when the shape had finally touched the ground...
BOOM
the entire shape suddenly, burst apart filling the night with bright light. Brighter then day. There was a wave of dust and dirt flying through the air, blown up by the light.
Then
CRACK
the sound reached them, it was deafening. Valice fell to his knees hands on his ears. It seemed to last forever, Valice couldn’t tell how long before it stopped
Then the sound was gone, in a second.
Valice stood. A loud ringing in his ears. His eyes watering. But he had to see the island. Looking out across the sea he saw nothing but a huge wave and tons of dirt lying there. They would be underwater by high tide, and likely would be washed away forever....
The End
The King was sent to a temple, there to be seen to by the monks, he was discovered to be insane by the monks.
Merlin left soon after the king was taken off the throne
Valice soon changed his name to Nick Varhell and left the kingdom to live as a mercenary trailing throughout the land to capture his prey. Not all his prey were evil though...
The empire soon fell to the wraith of the kingdom the king had attacked with his zombies
Zanith died in the explosion of the island
This is a short story made as a character background for a book entitled “Neu”
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