Short Story Outline: Mage

Mage One relates his bargain to Rogue.

“My people had been slain. I called out to the Powers to help me. They answered.

“Roman himself appeared before me. How can I describe a god to you? I can’t. Suffice it to say that he seemed to me all that magedom represented.

Goes on to describe accepting of power and the responsibilities that accompanied it.

Rogue reciprocates by telling how she saw Mage I burn her mother into ash when she was only ten years old.

Mage I explains that the rogue’s mother was a dark priestess hiding out in a family life. She intended to sacrifice her daughter and husband to dark powers and use that act as a stepping stone to even greater power.

Mage: Has accumulated vast amounts of power and lost his humanity.

He is cursed with the gift of foresight and uses this power to slay those who might become dangers to the world.

Believes in Order but sees himself above any man made laws.

Harbors distrust to all others as they may eventually be “seen” and die at his hands. He fears to become attached to anyone.

Female Rogue: Her mother was killed by Mage, and she seeks vengeance. The mage spotted her as his killer, but for some reason, was unable to find her. She is given the task to destroy the Mage and is joined by several adventurers. She is given an item that will drain the Mage of his power if he voluntarily uses it. During the journey, she is captured by Mage and comes to see some of his thinking.

Two fall in love and the Mage sacrifices power and regains humanity.

Warrior: A warrior hired by the same people who hire the Rogue. He and the Rogue begin to have a romance, but she is captured. Warrior swears to find her and slay the wizard.

Mage Two: A seeker of ancient power, he goes along on a quest to protect Rogue, but is hoping to apprentice himself under Mage One. He winds up betraying his comrades for power by taking Mage One’s power and then decides to kill them all. Warriors kills Mage Two but is also killed in the process.

Roman: God who makes Mage One power and latter realizes that the power has corrupted his minion to the point where Roman cannot wrest the power away from him.

Dragon: A friend of Mage One. In Mage One’s early days, the two disagreed about methods of preventing those who would rise to power. The Warrior and Mage Two seek the dragon out to gain information.

Warrior Two: Female warrior, tough as nails. Mercenary in it solely for pay. Is loyal but simple. Thinks that actions speak louder than words. 

Written probably in early 90's late 80s. Didn't have to correct too much when I put it into electronic format. Funny how some of this is basically Civil War 2 Storyline eh? Precog is a bitch!

Country of Zarlas

Country of Zarlas

Ruled by a king with support fnrom the Church of the True Faith. The country is very old and has advanced beyond most of the surrounding countries. At one point, Zarlas ruled most of Tarnill.

The country of Enkol, with its horse raiders, was the first to fall.

The main battles were waged through the Giant Spine Mountains with giants acting as mercenaries for both sides. Giants were betrayed by wizards of Tarnill and many were trapped in the mountains.

The resistance of the country was broken in the Battle of the Dead Men’s Hills.

The Firelands fell next, the Kiln Elves, never an aggressor race, gave several noble children as hostages and a champion to earn Zarlas’ trust. It was the last of these champions who helped put down one of the Grey Lords rebellions.

Borlan has always been on friendly terms with Zarlas and the two have often been at peace. Only once in the long history has Brolan attacked Zarlas and that was under the influence of Par Lethas. 

One of the reasons the two countries don’t get along. The second reason is that the True Faith declared magic heresy. Those mages who did not die fled to Par Lethas. They helped the natives master their magics, cutting their studying time in half.

Zarlas lost its hold on the land due to the Three Grey Lords. During the First War, the Kiln elves suffered massive casualties and retreated. Soldiers were recalled from Enkol. The natives of Enkol helped in exchange for their country’s freedom.

Running through my old notes and found this brief summary of one of the countries I made for my old fiction writing. As bad as this is, it's better than when I actually wrong it. There were numerous misuses of words that sounded similar but are different. It's good when you're able to catch these things without the computer telling you so I know my knowledge or at least editing skills have improved.

Alranis Fragment

Artan-Ennui

Magic. The word came easily to Serok’s lips but even so, he wondered if he was making the right choice.

Not twenty feet from him, a youth, sat studying an ancient text on the God Kings

Smiling, Serok approached his only pupil. “Greetings Alranis. How goes the study?”

Despite his youth, Alranis’ short hair was bone white and his hazel eyes surrounded by crow’s feet.

“Ah Serok. Have you come to test me anew on your mysteries?” Alranis waved his hands at the shelves and the books lining them.

“Why do you always think that’s my purpose in tutoring you? Can I not merely come by to observe your studies?” Serok pulled back his black hair with a wrinkled hand.

Seeing the serving girl waiting at the entrance, Serok sat and waved her near. “I’ll have a cup of tea. For you Alranis?”

Placing a gold covered book mark onto his tome, ALranis smiled. “The same.”

Folding his hands, Serok eased back into his chair with a sigh.

“So old teacher, do you honestly mean to tell me that for once there are no tests? No quizzes?”

                “Why bother? You’ve always worked yourself harder than I ever could.”

                Alranis remained quite for a moment expecting Serok to continue with a “but” or “or” but his mentor said nothing.

                “Well, perhaps I do push myself harder because I’m privileged enough to be here.” Alranis poked the table with a slender finger.

                The maid returned with a stainless silver tray and two large cups filled with tea. On the side, a decanter rested next to a round silver half orb filled with sugar.

                Alranis sipped his tea without tasting it. Serok was too quite. What could his mentor truly want? Had he fallen behind in his studies? Failed some unknown test?

                Serok’s eyes narrowed as he placed one gnarled hand over his cup. “It is time for the truth.”

                “The truth? Have I been doing so poorly in my studies that you’ve had to lie to me to encourage my failures?”

                Serok smiled. “No pupil, nothing so simple as that.” Rising from the table, Serok straightened his back.

                “Nothing so simple?” Alranis followed his mentor in rising, his eyes burning with anger. “I’m no longer as stupid orphan boy Serok. My thoughts and feelings are not to be dismissed like some serving dog!”

                Serok stopped smiling. “Alranis, your anger does you no good here. I’ve always allowed you to follow your own path, even when I felt it wrong. It’s time I told you why I’ve allowed you such freedom.”

                “You mean I’ve been allowed to pick my own path not out of your lack of interest but for your own purposes?” Alranis eyes rounded with confusion. He always felt privileged but at the same time, trapped.

                Trapped by obligation to his mentor. Trapped by feelings of inadequacy. All in all, traps of his own making.

                “Well Serok, you have indeed made me everything I am today. I’ll try to listen without interrupting.” Alranis lifted his tea and eased back into his chair.

                “No need to be totally silent pupil. This is a story about you, indirectly at least.” Serok slowly sipped his tea. Still too hot.

                “It beings at the dawn of humanity. Our race has always been plagued by creatures of a hateful nature. They originally came from dark planes where light has no power and no influence. You would call them demons.

                “Now the gods saw these creatures creep into Allore, their home, and were not pleased.”

                Alranis frowned and sat up. “Pardon me, but I have studied them. The gods  setup puppet rulers called God Kings who fought against dragons, demons, and eventually each other.”

                Serok nodded, pleased that Alranis knew this but annoyed at being interrupted. “True. There were however, other power groups during this time. One such group was the Overlords. It was they who created the order of Demon-Slayers.” He paused anticipating another interruption. When none was forthcoming, he continued.

                “The overlords consisted…

 So that's a fragment I found from way back in the day. Probably late teens, early twenties. Makes it over twenty years old.  Pretty generic setup if I recall. Alranis has a brother whose a sword master and there were some other vague thoughts and bits. Inspired in part by one of my friend's home brewed 2nd Edition Dungeons and Dragons campaign.