NickDean
11-27-2007, 04:45 AM
Are you good at coming up with descriptions, names and back-stories? I'm looking for an aspiring writer that would be interested in writing for the mystical world of Halhan. In the world of Halhan you can be born into one of four villages, Each village represents an element (Fire, wind, water, air). Certain spells can only be learned in certain villages. (i.e fire in fire village). Upon birth you may choose either Wizard, Monk, Warrior, Or adventurer each having their own advantage.
Some other things about the site that are interesting:
-Complete AJAX battle system, Item dueling winner gets items
-Character evolution, Your character evolves at certain levels if you allow it (Similar to pokemon evolution)
-Skill system for making items such as Smithing, Herblaw for potions
MSN: NickDean@GMail.com
Viral
11-27-2007, 10:04 AM
Sure.
Scroll 1: Into the Brink
Actually, he wasn’t a demon. He was a half-demon, and though such things didn’t exist, it made him feel better about his position in the hierarchy.
Not a demon my ass, Malik thought, digging through the rubble. His claws were already starting to ache; when he looked at them, the bases emanated intense heat and throbbed with his heartbeat. Now that he thought about it, his whole body ached. That made sense, considering the previous tasks. He didn’t have anything to eat, so maybe rest was in order.
The thought sounded appealing. A rock didn’t make a good pillow, but what choice did he have? Besides, even a wink of sleep, after the rocks, after the flame…
But then he shook his head. No, I can’t rest. That’ll make me look weak. Who knows how many apprentices and spinners are watching me right now. What if lords are watching me? Maybe even one of the kings… no, this won’t do. Rest won’t do.
He pushed himself more, continuing to dig. Every so often, a tiny rock would wedge between his claws and the fleshy pads that protected them sheathed, but at that point he could barely feel it. Sometimes he’d catch himself wincing, but that was it. The entrance couldn’t be too far away, could it? He paused a brief moment, rubbing his eyes with the back of his hand. His skin was still burnt. The way it rubbed on his bones gave him a creepy feeling deep in his stomach. If he’d been able to see, he’d probably be terrified to behold himself. He was sure his hair was gone, burnt away, and his entire body itched.
Not a demon my ass, he repeated to himself, huffing as he worked. I survived that, didn’t I? How many non-demons can say they survived a Launch? Even with Viral’s power, I barely lived… They certainly wanted demon-hood to be an exclusive group.
Digging a little more, Malik felt dirt shifting under his fingers. At least that’s a good sign. If I have to dig through any more rock… He plunged both hands in, scooping dirt out, feeling particles catch in the sweat that plastered his body. It couldn’t be too far down now. As he sank his hands in again, he pictured who would be waiting for him. Maybe not a whole bunch as he had thought. Probably just the spinner who had found him, and the apprentice who was with him. Figures. No one really cares about the launch of a new half-demon.
A rumbling sound shook the cavern; he could feel the vibrations shooting up his fingers, rattling the bones in his arms. No. No, that can’t be, he thought, jerking his hands out of the ground, scrambling to stand, movements unbalanced. I survived the boulders and the fire. That’s enough. Isn’t it? They wouldn’t subject me to another nightmare. Most of my powers are gone…
They must want to kill me… He moved back against the wall, cocking his head so he might figure out what was coming before it hit. Maybe an enormous monster? No, no, that couldn’t be it. He stepped to the side, foot falling into his hole with a splash. Splash?
Malik knelt, running his fingers along the bottom of the hole. They returned slick. What? Why the Gras is there water in the hole?
The rumbling sound echoed through the rock again. Don’t tell me…
Whoosh.
That was definitely water shooting out of a break. Breathing in sharply, Malik turned and dug his claws into the stone wall, claws scratching at it to find any sort of indentation. He quickly found an allowance and reached up, jabbing his feet into another. Scaling this wall was going to be difficult. His fingers complained with every grasp, and he felt all his weight supported by them. Damn, they ached…
The sound became louder, and with it, Malik’s heart beat faster. Stop complaining and get moving! he ordered himself, reaching up for the next indentation. This one was larger, and the more he felt, the more he wondered if it was a balcony of some sort, or an overhang. Feeling a spark of assurance, he lurched forward, catching the edges of the overhang with his elbows. Rock scraped away skin as Malik struggled with his protesting muscles, biting his tongue to suppress a wail.
He felt water lapping at his feet.
Move faster, he urged himself, heaving. He managed to get his torso on the overhang, and after that, pulled his legs up. Only his hearing gave him any sort of indication of how high the water level was. That in itself wasn’t too accurate. If I could have sight anytime, now would be good…
The water responded with a roar, pounding against the side of the wall. He could feel rocks shaking off the side, pinging as they hit the water. Crush me, burn me, and drown me. Suitable, he thought, his breathing becoming shallow and panicked. If I can survive this, there’s no way there’ll be another obstacle… this has to be it… and it’s just a bunch of water…
A low, pulsating growl registered in his ears.
Malik let out a faint whine and dove for the wall, feeling along the side for another indentation. He had to get higher. There was something obviously there with him, and with his luck, plant-hominid would taste good.
He heard dripping and whirled around, watching as a huge column of heat rose from the water. It gained height for a few seconds before curling into a curious s-shape (so that’s how high the ceiling is? Malik thought absentmindedly). He thought he could distinguish gaping jaws from the rest of the mass…
Hate, was all he could form in his mind. The towering mass lurched toward him, and he jumped to the side, feeling spiked scales rubbing against his tender skin, ripping it away as it crashed into the wall. The ground shook under him, and he had to crouch and dig his claws painfully into the ground to keep from falling over the edge of the overhang. The rumbling ceased, and he felt a cold wind whipping at his side.
Struggling to pull in a breath, Malik shot for the wall, edging away from the enormous hole the beast had left. All right. Standing here like bait isn’t going to work. And jumping… well, not like I can swim faster than it, and the chance of impaling myself on a sharp rock dredges up worry… He moved swiftly but carefully along the wall, feeling to make sure the ledge wouldn’t give out into a void. It looks like this ledge circles around the whole cavern. Damn! What powers do I have left to deal with that creature? Stupid thing’s armor plated, so I can’t slash through it with my claws, and it’s a hell of a lot bigger than me anyways.
Finding a sharp stick as a weapon is crap, since I can’t even see where I’m aiming!
Hyperventilation crept up on him, but he forced himself to stay calm. Don’t be stupid! Panicking will kill you! What other way is there to kill that thing? I could chance that it doesn’t have sharp teeth—or, it does and it’s not a chewing creature—and dig my claws into its throat. But what if I miss and slide down into the stomach? Then I’m done for…
The thought of slowly being eaten away by acid made him shudder violently, moving quicker than before. There was only a brief second of rumbling when the wall exploded outward again, the enormous block of heat slithering down into the water below. Chips of rock ricocheted out, catching Malik. He suppressed a growl and moved to the side, carefully watching as the creature moved about in the water below.
It then occurred to him how much closer the water was to the ledge. That creature could easily rear up from the water and pluck him off. Heart beating faster from this revelation, Malik turned back toward the wall, feeling for something he could climb. If he was lucky, there might be another ledge up there. If he wasn’t, he’d be stuck on the wall, easily prey.
Damn! I don’t know what to do! Climbing the wall is stupid, standing here is stupid, and going into the water is stupid! It’s like the only thing NOT stupid is to die! He ran along the ledge, away from the two holes, feeling his muscles protesting all the way. The overhang’s floor had a slight convex, but it was enough to catch his feet and send him sprawling across the rock. Flesh itching and burning, Malik righted himself, only to run face-first into the wall.
“Oof!” he exclaimed, putting a hand over his nose. It ached, probably broken. His other hand brushed against the wall, feeling something rising from its surface. A series of letters embossed—he brushed his fingers against it again, hoping it would give him something, anything to help his chance of survival.
… ‘Exit in the water’. What! Damn well figures they’d have something like this! Considering I can’t see! I’m lucky I tripped over that bulge… but I can’t just jump in the water, that’s like inviting that creature to slurp me up in one gulp. I have to be smart about it. Maybe I can coax it to plunge into the rock again, then I could use those precious moments to get into the water and find the exit…
God, it makes sense. Of course I wouldn’t find it. It’s probably above my head. Need water to be able to get to it… at least that eliminates a part of the search, since it won’t be below my height. I just have to go in a ring and search up.
He peeked over the edge again, looking for the snake-like body of heat. It was there, swimming upward, but fortunately not toward him. With a rumble, it crashed into the rock again; this time Malik had the foresight to crouch and cover his head. When a chunk of stone smashed into his arm, he was glad he did.
I have like ….five minutes, tops. Damn, that was convenient. I sure hope that thing can’t hear my thoughts.
There wasn’t time to waste. He jumped into the water—an icy death surrounded him, and it was only with his fervent will that he could get himself to move. His fingers and toes grew numb in the icy depth, but as his body gradually lost feeling, he didn’t have to deal with the itching pain that kept nagging him. At least that was good.
Right. Right… Now where could it be… He reached the bottom, feet touching down on the frigid rock floor. Putting a hand above his head, he measured, then dug his claws deep into the rock, etching a little sign to himself—“M.” Moving to his left, he made marks in the stone where he had moved, quick but deep, unable to feel the pain in his claws anymore.
After what felt like ages, he reached his original M, floating a little higher to make an M2. He repeated his previous pattern, moving quicker this time, body sensitive to any sort of vibration in the water. If that beast was coming, he wanted to know fast so he could make some sort of split-second decision on what to do.
This is hopeless, Malik thought, feeling the pressure in his lungs build up. Going to get air is going to kill time, and if I kill any more time… damn, no! I’m not going to survive this, am I? He began to move up along the wall, consciousness slowly drifting, though the icy cold kept him sharp and alert.
His hand brushed against something.
Malik peered up at the surface – or where he hoped was the surface. With a lack of vision, he could be heading in any direction, about to drown. Shuddering, he brushed his hand against the wall again, wondering what it was that had got his attention. Was it worth the pain swelling in his lungs? Red dots exploded in front of his vision.
There was something there.
He pushed at it, and it gave way only a bit, water leaking in from the crack. Heart jumping, Malik shoved his shoulder against it harder, but this time it refused to budge. Figures! The only way out and I end up jamming the door! God damn it, I’m going to DROWN! His strength waned fast—he slammed his weight against the door again, gasping as it gave way. He toppled onto the ground, water rushing over him.
No way in hell I can push that shut again. No place else to go but into the brink, he thought, drawing in a few breaths of precious air before bolting down the hallway, no idea where he was going, or if he was going to even survive.
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