Pilot ~ by Dean Ross (2012)

From the world of Lineage 2. Re-posting from  when the expansion for the Kamael race came out.


My first memory is of Gremlins, swarming, biting, and nipping at my flesh. My instincts told me to lash out, which of course I did. Each skull that was crushed beneath my blows seemed to make me stronger. Limbs snapped like twigs in a gale, bodies flew across the room, smashing into walls and slowly sliding down.

The red haze that clouded my vision slowly lifted. Bodies littered the central area of the birthing chamber. The blood of a dozen gremlins pooled gently around my feet, the warm stickiness sending waves of pleasure through my entire being. This is what it is to be alive … This is what it is to be Kamael.

Two figures stood on a dais on the far side of the room from the stairs that led to the surface, a male and a female of my race. The male looked to be more official then the diminutive woman standing beside him. I approached them and bowed slightly at the waist, never allowing our eyes to break contact. He shifted his head slightly to the side indicating I should speak with the female first.

“Greetings, I have come to fight.”

The woman smiled and replied “That is good, and as it should be. The Island of Souls has been thrust back onto the prime material plane. Our time is upon us, we shall gain our lost wing. One of those creatures behind you holds a very special gem; if you retrieve it for me I will reward you well indeed.”

I nodded my head once and turned to the milling creatures. My sight passed slowly over the throng. The gremlins were multiplying as I watched, new ones spawning from the very air itself. I lifted my sword and slowly walked down the 3 stairs to the floor; I lifted my bloody ancient sword in front of my face and charged. First to the left and then right my sword lashed out cutting the gremlins down like a scythe cuts through wheat. Whirling, leaping, and rolling through the blood and intestines that littered the floor, a power filled my entire being to overflowing.

The battle haze finally left me and I found myself in the center of the room. Hundreds of freshly slain Gremlins littered the floor. In my right hand was my ancient sword, more an extension of my arm then a separate weapon. In my other hand rested a gore stained Blue Gem, little pieces of grey matter still clung to it. I walked slowly to the woman on the dais, reached out and overturned my hand above hers, dumping the Gem and bits of brain into her palm. Nothing needed to be said, she silently handed me a slip of paper and with a nod directed me toward the male.

“My name is Perwan.” he took the now bloody slip of paper from my hand and handed me a package. “Here is a little gift to help you begin your adventures.”

I opened it to find magical potions that would heal wounds received in battle, and an item that would increase the amount of damage I inflicted with my weapon. “I thank you for these gifts, and shall bring honor to the tribe by slaying our enemies.”

“Go to the village and speak with the townsfolk. Fulfill their petty tasks and equip yourself for the coming War.”

I nodded once, turned and made my way up the stairs to the Surface of the Prime Material Plain. A cool breeze wafted across my body. The blood that covered me began to dry as I slowly walked across the field. Elpys and Keltirs played in the long grasses, those that came too near me died quickly and painlessly. I walked into the village of the Kamael covered in drying blood, an Ancient Sword clutched in my fist, and my lone wing slowly furling and unfurling. My name is Pilot and I will steer the course of destiny. I shall bend fate to my will and make even the Gods tremble.

For that is what it is to be Kamael.

The Game ~ By Dean Ross

I played a little with different styles of poetry here ... There is even a hidden style (OK, I'm stretching it thin with that lol).

Chess pieces scattered
Across the hard wood floor
Spreading their strategy far and wide
Rolling, clattering, attractor of cats
Madness lights their eyes

Collecting and placing, pieces with care
Order restored, the sides are now fair
The Pawn leaps ahead, earnest and eager
Starts off the game with a traditional procedure
Alone in the middle, he brandishes might
The opening move for a long thoughtful night

Piece after piece gets taken away
Lost, lonely sitting by the side, waiting
Reflecting on the sacrifice of piece for position
Defense or attack the moves are the same
It's what you do with them, that makes the game

Flame of Splendor Barakiel (Lineage 2)

    We began to gather, like bees around a hive. ... Some clearly buzzing with more gusto then others. We gathered to send one of our own into the realm of Nobility. Flame of Splendor Barakiel had stood many days mocking the mighty Vedileth, who's patience was evaporating like the water does in this accursed Valley of Saints. Angels stood before Ved mocking him with their partially clad bodies. Patience at an end Ved sent a message through the ether. No longer would he wait meekly for his destiny to arrive. He would gather the companions he had made over a lifetime and forge his own destiny. Our priest Codef called down the blessings of his God and immense power began to flow through our limbs. Silos, myself and Ved himself cast other helpful magics where we thought it best.

    We smelled the scent of death in the air. We could not leave, each of us had suffered in some small way. It was time ... Either them or us, no other ending could there be. Hellraizer, a Destroyer from a far away mountainous land led the attack. Swinging his mighty sword "DjavulClo". Gruntal quickly followed wielding another mighty weapon called "Starbuster". Both Orcs were like madmen in their frenzy. Striking with no apparent rhythm or reason. Our squad of fighters Tad, Deviant, Hiryu and Augustmoon leap to the attack only moments after. Working together to best protect each other and do as much damage to the enemy as they could. Spells began pelting Barakiel, who seemed to shrug them off like water after a shower. The Damage Hellraizer took in those first few moments of battle shook the very foundations of the temple we were in. If not for the Celestial healing powers of Acidreflex, Herz and Ved himself we surely would have perished in those first few moments. I could see that they grew tired and the drain on their mystical energies was immense. So I began doing what I was there for. I poured my energies into those that needed it.

    One by one Barakiels minions fell to the mighty power we had unleashed. As the last fell another wandering clan-less Orc joined us in our fight. Brandish he was called and his fame was know across the land. He carried a pole casually across the front of his body. He towered over the tallest of us and the flexing of his muscles sent shock waves through the air. Several times Barakiel attempted to emulate the style our Orcish fighters displayed by going berserk and hitting random targets. But is was a pale copy of the chaotic behavior our warriors presented. In desperation Barakiel gave a part of herself to re-summon the minions that had already failed her once this day. A new hope flared inside us, a minion of the heavens themselves trembles in our unified might. Barakiel ordered her minions to attack the casters and holy men, while she occupied the fighters. At first this seemed to work as Acidreflex tumbled to the ground his body twisted and ripped apart. Next they attacked Codef hoping to interrupt his communion with his God. But it was already far too late. We did not bring amateur healers to fight an Angel. One healer kept the holy man alive and the other brought back Acidreflex from the grip of death himself. Our Orcs stayed on Barakiel as our other fighters moved to kill off her minions. Once again they fell to our combined might.

    The fear was plain on Barakiels face as her minions were dispatched for the second time in only a few moments. True madness filled her eyes as realization struck her as hard as one of our Orcs might blows. She was going to die and not even the Gods would help her. She began truly copying our Orc warriors striking out at everything and nothing. Switching targets, running a short distance away, she even tried to fly off once but her wings were torn and bleeding and would not work. Once pristine in her whiteness she was now covered in blood. Her eyes began seeping fluid as freely as her wounds. Her eyes locked with mine and I knew she realized why these mere mortals were not tiring and weakening. She had ignored me during the fight because I presented no apparent attack. Her eyes began to glow red as the love inside her turned to molten hatred. A strange calmness seemed to envelope her and she walked straight to me ignoring the blows that continued to rain down on her like a tropical storm. She lifted her weapon and struck out at me. I stood and took the blow in complete faith that the Divine protection that Codef had called down would protect me. It nearly didn't and our healers had a moment of panic that they might not be able to keep me alive. They poured life energy into me as I poured mystical energy into them. Our fighters moved to attack Barakiels unprotected back as she focused her attacks on me. Again she struck me and again I would have perished if not for our healers. Again and again the blows struck. each one would leave a scar, any of them should have ended me, but they didn't.

    She died quietly, sinking slowly and gently to the sands, mocking the chaos of a moment before. We stood panting breathlessly, watching as her body slowly faded from this plane of existence. Like lightning Hellraizer bent over and grasped several items off the body before it faded completely. We gathered our parties closely together and with a combination of scrolls and spells we transported ourselves back to the civilized part of the world. A little township called Rune was our destination. As we materialized in the village market, a crowd of people began to gather around. I found myself placed on the back of an old run down cart and a crowd of eager townsfolk and adventurers looking up at me expectantly. I cleared my throat and began ....

    We began to gather, like bees around a hive. ...