Owen rapidly blinked his eyes as the light vanished. He looked around him to find himself standing in a sand swept marketplace, the sun high in the sky beating down on his skin. To his left was an old fountain, though pitted and scored by the sand caught in the wind over the years, he was still able to see the beauty it once held. The marketplace, normally a bustling center of commerce in the more player popular cities, had maybe only a hundred or so people sightseeing and shopping. Owen smiled grimly.
--Empty, just like we wanted. Thomas would have loved this place—
“Status”
Owen called out to the empty square. His status popped up as he expected, everything was as it should be except for his name which was blank.
Status WindowName:???Alignment:NeutralLevel:1Class:??Race:HumanGender:maleTitles:NoneFame:0Infamy:0-Health:100 / 100Health Regen:1.0 / SecMana:100 / 100Mana Regen:1.0 / SecStamina:100 / 100Stamina Regen:1.0 / Sec-Strenght:10Agility:10Vitality:10Inteligence:10Wisdom:10Leadership:0Luck:0
Following the plan he and Thomas had made and planned over countless times while preparing to play, Owen jogged over to a town guard standing lazily in the shade.
“Excuse me where is the training hall?”
The guard glanced over to him and with a sneer turned back to his careless guard of the square.
“Guard, could you please tell me where the training hall is?”
The guard turned his attention to Owen
“What could a low piece of shit like you want there? Go bother someone else before I arrest ya for disturbing the peace”
Owen was fuming. He could now remember why he had been shut in all those months. He was tired of how people acted, of how they treated others with no regard, of how hurt those around them to further their own ideals.
Owen’s face began to turn dark with rage and his eyes grew smaller as he focused on the guard. As he opened his mouth stupidly to berate the guard, a man appeared behind the pompous guard and gave him a quick hard smack on the back of his head.
*CLANG*
“Really?” “I leave for second recruit and I already find you slacking off, and threatening a traveler no less”
The guard has spun around spear in hand at the assault, but wilted quickly when he saw his commanding officer standing there with a stern expression on his face.
“I was just…but I was…he looked”
The guard stammered
“You are relieved recruit, go back to the barracks and don’t eat a big lunch” The officer smiled wickedly “You are gonna do some running”
The recruit paled and with a side glance at Owen sulked off to east. The officer bent down to pick up a stone and flung it forcefully at the chastised guard.
“DOUBLE TIME RECRUIT!”
Owen and the officer watched the now sprinting guard book it down the road. The officer with his eyes still on the recruit said to Owen.
“I’m sorry about him, we’re still beating the noble out of his blood” “The training hall is down the west road a bit you can’t miss it, big building, and it stinks of sweat”
Owen looked up at the officer appraisingly before thanking him and heading down the road
The officer watched as Owen turned the corner and said to himself
“That one has anger in his blood…” “Hope he finds what he’s looking for”
Owen found the Training hall and as the officer had said it did indeed reek of sweat. He tried not to breathe too deeply as he walked inside. In the hall there were a few players hitting dummies, some beginners to the game like him, others obviously higher practicing their skills. The instructor of the hall looked away from the others there and called out to him.
“Grab a weapon of the wall if you want” “Come to me with any questions”
Owen walked over and picked up a training sword. It felt wrong in his hands but just assumed that was because he wasn’t used to it yet. He walked over to an empty practice dummy and began to swing at it. The first hit reverberated through the wood and stung his hands but he kept at it. He didn’t know any forms or even how to swing it properly but he kept swinging. As he hit the dummy, he couldn’t help but think of what just happened with the guard. Someone he didn’t even know had judged him and passed him by like trash on the road. Owen swung the sword harder and harder, driven by his anger. He thought of all the things he found wrong with the world and grew angrier and angrier.
He was drenched in sweat and it had begun to puddle by his feet. At some point he had dropped the sword but he never moved an inch, he attacked with his fists hitting ever faster and harder. The hours flew by as Owen wailed on the impartial dummy, his anger growing with each swing. He began to think about what had led him here. He unleashed the rage of his circumstance, his infuriation with the world, his rage at the OTW, and his guilty anger at Thomas for leaving. With an anguished howl bursting from his throat as angry, leaping red flames burst from his skin, Owen demolished the dummy in front him. When there was nothing left but splinters, Owen stood amidst the debris, chest heaving as tears fell from his eyes.
The target of his rage gone Owen looked about confused until a hand fell upon his shoulder. He looked up at the instructor who had drawn near. The instructor had on his face a look of calm understanding and nodded in solace to Owen. Owen, in exhaustion from the anger he had felt and used in the past couple hours fell slowly to his knees and slipped into sleep.
Owen awoke peacefully for the first time in months. The anger he had had bubbling beneath the surface gone. But Owen knew that the anger was still there, a burning knot in the center of him. Owen slowly sat up on the bed and took in his surroundings. The room was plain but clean, with only a table, chair, and a chest, plus the bed he was sitting on. As he got up from the bed he heard a voice outside the door, he quickly sat back down as the door opened. He didn’t have to wait long before the instructor from the training hall came in carrying a basket. The instructor set the basket down on the table and sat down on the chair. As the instructor opened the basket Owen smelled a wonderful aroma, fresh bread and roasted meat. Owen looked upon the basket hungrily. The instructor seeing this gestured to Owen.
“I thought you’d be hungry after that spectacle” “Dig in”
Owen didn’t need to be told twice. He rushed over and tore into the bread and meats. Several minutes passed where all you heard was the smacking of lips and sounds of approval and enjoyment. After the meal was done and they both sat there enjoying the end of the meal, the instructor looked appraisingly at Owen.
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“My name is Cyneric, that was quite a display of rage you showed us today.”
Cyneric tore into another chunk of bread as he stared at Owen.
"What’s your name? I’d like to know who could show so much rage on their first day here”
“I’m ------“
Owen opened his mouth to say his name but no sound came out. His mouth moved yes no sound came out. Owen was surprised until he remembered his request to the administrator. He quickly answered Cyneric’s puzzled expression.
“I have no name yet, I asked the gods to grant me one based on my actions”
“Hmm?” “Well that’s not one I’ve heard before”
Cyneric looked over Owen carefully before making a judgment.
“Can you show me your status?”
Owen spoke quietly “Show Cyneric Status”
Status WindowName:???Alignment:NeutralLevel:1Class:??Race:HumanGender:maleTitles:NoneFame:0Infamy:0-Health:100 / 100Health Regen:1.0 / SecMana:100 / 100Mana Regen:1.0 / SecStamina:100 / 100Stamina Regen:1.0 / Sec-Strenght:10Agility:10Vitality:10Inteligence:10Wisdom:10Leadership:0Luck:0
*Ding*
Skills Gained
Skill Name:Skill Level:Skill Experience:Burning RageBeginner Level 10%
Skill Name:Skill Level:Skill Experience:Challenging Shout/Terrifying HowlBeginner Level 10%
“Well that certainly is interesting”
Cyneric said puzzling over Owen’s status window. Owen himself was surprised to see what was one there. He had gained two skills since he last looked at it.
“Show Info on Burning Rage and Challenging Shout/Terrifying Howl”
Skill Name:Skill Level:Skill Experience:Burning RageBeginner Level 10%An Explosive Rage consumes you. Increases your attack speed by 3% and damage by 3%
Strength +2 Agility+2 Intelligence-5 Wisdom-5
Attacks have 5% chance to apply fire damage and burn the target
After skill ends you are afflicted with exhaustion and your stamina is drained to 5% of maximum
5 minute duration
Skill Name:Skill Level:Skill Experience:Challenging Shout/Terrifying HowlBeginner Level 10%A loud shout that draws all enemies within 10 meters to you
By shouting while in a rage you can induce fear in enemies within 10 meters
20 mana per cast
--What the hell?--
Cyneric closed the window and looked at him questioningly
“That’s a unique skill you have there”
“Is it?” Owen asked.
“Aye, those who attack with anger will go into a rage but few have a rage such as yours”
Cyneric sat and thought for a while, as Owen cleaned up and put everything back into the basket.
“There is someone you should see if you plan on continuing this path. He could help you control and guide your rage so you don’t hurt yourself or collapse as you did before”
Owen looked up at the large intimidating man before him and asked a question that had been on his mind.
“Why would you do this for me? You don’t know me. I don’t know you. Why go so far to help me?”
Cyneric’s expression became downcast as he looked at Owen.
“That howl you let out was full of pain, a howl of those lost and in need of help...” “I ignored a call for help such as that one many years ago and lost someone very important to me...” “I couldn’t turn my back on someone like her in need”
Cyneric looked sad for but a moment when he composed himself and stood up quickly. He quickly rummaged around the chest on the ground for some paper and jotted down a quick note as well as a crude map.
“Head here and hand the Master the note he will know how to teach you much better than I”
Cyneric began to usher Owen out the door and said as he closed the door
“I wish you luck...I hope you find a good name”
*Ding*
Friendship With Trainer Cyneric Increased
*Ding*
Quest Gained
Find The Master Trainer Cyneric Told You About
Success: Chance for hidden class depending on resolution
Failure: No Reward
*Ding*
You've Accepted the Quest
Owen looked at the map Cyneric had drawn and headed out towards the east side of town
--Thank you Cyneric--
Next chapter: viewtopic.php?f=452&t=4243