Stop Saying That

A month had passed since I dealt with the blackmailer with the annoying voice.  I had of course gotten back in the hunt for figuring out what was wrong with me, and once again forgotten to do basic things like shave, bathe, or sleep (seven days was my record, well I think it was my record, past a certain point things just kind of blend in to a massive mix of weird, like talking to a tree version of yourself weird).  Scrolls and various old books I and Valrya had accumulated over the years were laid scattered about my home, various potions were brewing, burning, and exploding everywhere.  My "bed" if you could call it that, was a blanket on the wood floor amongst the chaos.  My only contact with the outside world was the occaisional messenger dropping off missives from the Prince about something or another, and the shorty that my shop sent with my weekly stipend of money. Outside of that I was all alone with my research and damnation, a terrifying thought for anyone who's ever known me.

A knock at the door woke me from my most current bit of sleeping while still working moment.  I cocked one of my pistols and cautiously approached the door, earlier I'd had audio hallucinations (well either that or asshole kids banging on doors like the ruffian jerks they are) so I was on the defensive/crazy even more so than my normal bit of paranoia (on a scale of one to ten I'm normally a fifty, that day I was a hundred, yes I know when you set up a scale and start above it it makes the scale stupid). I looked through the peephole from an angle that would be hard to stab me in the eye from (I read that in a story once, or maybe I wrote that in a story once, either way I worry about getting stabbed in the eye), the person knocking on my door was Lisa the shorty who delivered my money (they used a shorty because everyone else I yelled at, shorties and I are a kindred group, they are slighted because of their height and tribal nature, and me because I'm an unrepetent murderer who's lived too long). Lisa had brown hair and olive toned skin, I've heard other shorties call her attractive, but I just didn't see it (and not just because she was short, though that definately played into it).

"You look awful." I'd opened the door a crack and ushered her inside, my neighbors didn't know I got a weekly delivery of money and I didn't want them to know, not that they cared, but still like I said earlier massively paranoid.

"I wish people would stop saying that."

"I wish you'd stop looking awful, look at this place Trezlan you have been going at this nonestop and you still aren't any closer to fixing whatever you are trying to fix." She picked up a discarded piece of paper and recoiled in disgust when she read the first sentence.

"That's not true, the other day I gave myself really bad gas, if I combine that with ignition, boom thats some fire ability!" I'll admit I was grasping at straws.

"You need to get out of this cottage, maybe find those blind guys."

"They are gone, I've tried! I can't find a single one, damned blind order of blind jack asses! How dare they do this to me!!!!" My rage wasn't really sustainable, between all the potions, smoking, and general insanity I've done as of late I'd lost a lot of my ability to maintain anything, let alone emotions.  I was lucky to stay on thought, if I didn't know what being crazy was like I'd assume this was being crazy.

"Look I've got something for you, but you have to promise me..." I was next to her in an instant my pistol drawn.

"Give it to me or I kill you."

"And here you go." It was a small envelope, it didn't smell funny or contain anything that jingled.  Behind me I heard Lisa cursing me and shutting the door, I'd have to repair the damage some other time (and by that I mean months later when I remembered I may have you know threatened to kill her).  The letter was from the Shining Darkness, it was a location, date and time.  Now ordinarily I'd be suspecting yet another trap, but this was different, I freaking knew it was a trap.  Either the blind jerks were setting me up, or the group that the annoying voiced blackmailer worked for were doing it. Whatever was going to happen I knew it was a trap, and yet for the chance to use magic again, I had to go.  Such is the nature of being addicted to power, even if you are going to be killed for showing up, you still have to show up for the chance at getting back on the power train.  One of these days I'm going to use this against someone else for a change, probably the same day I stop chasing problems and start creating them (well you know creating them on purpose).

Treegotiations

You ever see a tree standing alone in a field? Yeah probably some horrible deal took place there (well that some hangings, illicit meeting for sex, and the occaisional shitty game of hide and seek).  I swear people plant one lone tree in a field explicitly to serve as a meeting place for bad people.  Sure it might not start out that way, but thats how it always goes. All this to say I wasn't surprised I was to meet someone in a meadow with a singular tree as the focal point. It was great for line of sight and I could see the rider long before she arrived (though if I was smart this is also bad in the time of long range fire arms, the other day someone demonstrated a rifle to me that can hit someone accurately at the spec on horizon range, we are in scary times).

She was riding a black horse and dressed in red, so even if I was having vision problems (I don't normally, but some of the crap I had been doing to free up my magic had had some weird side effects, like one day I saw in black and white, it was amazing, I literally saw the world in black and white) I could have seen her from miles away.  The red outfit was a flashy cocktail dress, not exactly the kind of thing you expect blackmailers to use, for a moment I thought maybe some poor common person had been roped into helping the blackmailers, or some dumb noblemans wife had thought she had stumbled upon a means to making easy money.  Alas both those were of course wrong.

"I don't have all day you know, I have important things I have to do." I always tend to start conversations with annoyance.  The sun was high in the sky at this point, and it felt hot, whether it was or not I'll never know I only report how it felt not how it was.  I remember wiping sweat from my brow for what felt like the eight hundreth time that day.

Her voice was like getting stabbed, each sylable was pain, I've heard death rattles from creatures long gone to time that sounded more pleasant.  You could record someone having bad gas, and play it over the sound of small animals dying, and it would be more pleasant than listening to this woman talk.  You notice I say this all before I write what she said, because I want you to understand just how horrible what she said sounded like. 

"What you got something better to do?" The question was insulting on top of her horrid voice.  Clearly I had more important things to do, having my toenails ripped out by a drunk blind person would be more important than dealing with her.

"Look just leave the prince alone, he's an idiot, but he's my idiot, and I don't really want to have to kill you." I didn't, because if that was her normal voice I couldn't imagine what a scream would sound like.

"We don't care about the prince, we care about you Trezzie poo, and you fell right into our trap." Trezzie poo, if I'm alive and you try and call me that, I'll devise of a method for death beyond what even your worst nightmare can come up with.

"What trap? A tart on a horse in the middle of a field does not a trap make," Its true damn it, a trap is an easily ambushed spot with multiple men, beasts, and preferably some enviromental danger. That's a real trap damn it!

"I'm the trap Trezzie darling, ME!" She shouted the last line and then started looking like she had to go to the bathroom really bad, I could see sweat forming at her brow, but nothing was happening.

"Well your voice is pretty awful, but if the best you can do is look constipated I got business elsewhere, leave the prince alone ok?" I started walking off (because you never leave your horse by a meeting place, thats an invitation to losing your means of escape), she grabbed a hold my arm and I responded by drawing one of my pistols and sticking into her face.  "Let go of my arm or I'll blow a hole through your face." She continued to grimace at me, but then in a breath of exasperation she let go of me.

"What are you?" She was panting heavily, whatever she'd been trying to do (most likely conjure magic) had used up a lot of her stamina in its inability.

"Pissed off for wasting my time, you see me again it'll be the last time." I left annoyed at having wasted an afternoon, though there was a new wrinkle in my antimagical hoopla.  It appeared not only could I not conjure magic, neither could others do it to me (which explained why the three idiots I shot in town were really easy to defeat, they were coming at me unarmed).  Now more than ever I had to find someone from that blind order, because as cool as it was to be magic immune, it was also horrible not being able to use magic myself (mostly because without magic I didn't have necromancy, without necromancy, I was bound to die like the rest of you plebes and thats not what I ever want to happen!).

When Your Problems Have Problems

I'd drank, chewed, smoked, and stabbed just about every fluid, root, rare animal organ, and bark I could to try and free up my magic.  Turns out all it really did was make me an irritable person (well more irritable) I did manage to make my urine bright purple too, but I figured outside of a really cool party trick, that was functionally useless. My home looked like some exercise in alchemy gone horribly wrong.  I hadn't left home in two weeks, my beard was scraggly and I'm sure I smelled awful.  So when a messenger knocked on my door I was less than happy for the incovenience.  I was even less happy that it was the Prince requesting my assistance yet again (and I didn't even have a made up issue, so this one was clearly a real problem).

I harumphed told him I'd get there when I did and slammed the door in his face (see I didn't shoot him, I just told him to piss off, completely different dismissal all good). It sucked for my overall plan I had to humor the Prince.  I thought by now I'd put in place enough good things that the local monarchy could run itself, alas when you do a good job people start thinking you're the best at what you do and rely on you to fix every little damn problem that comes along.  All this means I cleaned myself up, got a pair of my pistols (because honestly carrying four was a bit much) and made my way to the castle to see what the little jerk wanted.

"You look awful Trezlan." I took it he wasn't commenting on my outfit, which I thought was fairly nice looking.  Even cleaned up my eyes were bloodshot, my skin a kind of ash grey and I'd lost some hair from my beard despite it growing wild (damn strange remedies have no respect for the human body).

"Well thank you my liege, if you only called me here to comment on my appearence you can check that box off your day." The Prince in the time since I'd been serving him had gotten fat off my work, literrally, he was getting quite bulbous, such is the nature of making someones life easier, they just go on and get fat on you.  I made a move to leave because honestly I had more important things to do than get insulted.

"I called you here to help me, but if you look as awful as you do, I don't know if you can help." I kept walking, because again he insulted me and then did it again.  I made it to the doors of the throne room doors before he called out, "Wait!"

I turned, in another time I'd be smiling because I'd gotten him to rely on me so much that trying to solve problems without me was a win, but right now it was more an annoyance, "Yes my liege what do you need?"

"I'm being blackmailed Trezlan!" He was crying now, it was kind of sad, I was magicless and his big concern was someone was extorting him for something or other.

"For what?" It was kind of confusing, how can you extort an unmarried guy who sleeps with everything that walks by him?

"They've got my son Trezlan, if I don't help them they'll kill him." I was taken a bit back, he had a child and I didn't know about it? I started to wonder what else I didn't know about the person I'd been playing.

"I was completely unaware you had any children."

"Me too! But I got a letter..."

"You're an idiot!" I screamed it a bit louder than I wanted to, but annoyance and surprise don't exactly make for subtlety.  "This is the oldest con of them all, suddenly you have some surprise heir they are threatening? Come on you can't really be this stupid."

"Its all in this letter Trezlan you have to help me!" He was crying now, I felt disgust, I couldn't use magic and this idiot was being taken by a simple con? I almost wanted to take a pistol out and put a bullet in his head to save the world another damn fool. I snatched the letter out of his hand and read it, it was pretty simple with threats and areas to pay the blackmail, no proof of anything of course.

"You haven't paid them yet have you?"

"I was going to, do you want to deliver and get my son?"

"Oh I'll deliver something, and I'll find your 'son', but promise me something."

"Whats that?"

"Whatever the solution here is you don't get all blubbery on me again, you look worse than I feel." I heard his sniffling a thank you behind me, as I left the throne room.  So now on top of trying to find a way to free my magic up, I had to figure out why petty criminals were exploiting an idiot.  It was one of those lose/piss me off scenarios I had been so good about getting myself into. I swore to myself leaving that this whole political intrigue to destroy my enemies was more trouble than it was damn worth!

Gotcha Dead Bang

There were three of them, just standing in the street, I know I said ambush but I'm sure you've caught on I use a lot of words inappropriately.  The only unifying characteristic was dirty, the leader standing in the middle naturally (just once I wasnt to see the leader on the left or right of a three man formation, just for a change) spoke for the group, I couldn't make out most of his face due to him wearing a hooded outfit and that his teeth were so blackened I felt a slight revulsion everytime he opened his mouth.  My hand naturally fell on my revolver on my left hip, I hadn't tried quickdrawing, but I felt I was about to test the ability.

"Easy there Lorentino, would hate for you to have a mistake out here in the open." His voice was like garbage, which doesn't describe a voice, but use your imagination.

"The only mistake you made here was approaching me in the first place." I wanted to just shoot them all on principal.  Even though Ronerawth had become more civilized, they still weren't that civilized, and shooting dirty people in the street was a past time of a lot of the nobility.

"I'd heard you were having issues, I had no idea things had gotten to the point of using a weapon of the mundanes." Magic users, even dirty filthy ones always regard those who are without magic as a mundane, someone incapable of great things, even if the magic user themself could barely light a candle with their ability. Though his words told me more than he probably intended, I'd only failed to kill the jerks who were threatening me the previous evening, for him to be aware I was without magic this fast and get to a town where I was at was a lot more than coincidence.  Either it was well known I'd had no magic for fifty years and I didn't know it, OR this was a more recent affliction that I was just now becoming aware of.  Which might have left the blind group off the hook, though I wasn't entirely sure of that at the time.

"I like to mix things up," My hand hit the hammer back on the pistol, my patience for the coversation was nearing an end. They weren't armed it didn't appear, so they were either magic users or idiots, probably fifty fifty on that.

"Easy there, this is a social call, I just wanted you to know that I know all about..." The bullet hit him in the chest, recoil was a bit more than I'd expected, it had been a period of time since I'd fired a pistol my left wrist stung from the impact.  His associates looked shocked for a brief moment and then moved to attack, I emptied the revolver in response, if they had been magic users they sure sucked at it.

"You're making a..." The leader was talking again I had reloaded a round into the cylinder cycled it and put it through his forehead coating the cobble stone behind his head in a black ooze.  Bystanders looked on to see what the shooting was about, and I could hear horses coming in the distance, I reloaded my pistol and holstered it. I had to give the weapon credit, it was entirely satifsying to just shoot someone, especially someone who just couldn't stop talking. The first townguard who arrived hopped off his horse and had his weapon drawn I stuck my hands up in the air.

"What in the five fires happened here citizen?" The guard had a long bushy mustache and a commanding voice.  His uniform was the normal Ronerawth purple affair, leather coat and pants, I figured some tannery was making bank on all the outfits for Ronerawth's government.

"Dirty vagrants tried to rob me," It was as good an excuse as any.

"Really?"

"Yes of course sir." I had reached into my pocket and fished out a couple gold coins, he looked at them, looked at the bodies and then harumphed and took them from my hand.

"Damn shame they ruined your day sir, I'll make sure they are cleaned up." The guard looked at me with a nod and moved toward the crowd forming to tell them to go bother someone else.  If there was one constant in Ronerawth it was money talks the loudest, and I had plenty of speaking to do when I got in trouble.  Still I was mildly peturbed, dirty was probably not going to be the only person coming for me now that I was magicless.  I guess I get a mistaken hope that as time passes my enemy list would get smaller due to them dying off, but apparently they pass their damn grudges on to their kids or something!  I swear I still have this come up from time to time, all the more reason to support my purge the entire world of all life theory.  As if I needed more of that!

Trezlan Lorentino: Gunslinger

"You sure about this boss? I haven't ever seen you use a pistol before, let alone several of them." I occaisionally visited my store over the years, at least enough for the employees to know I was the true owner of the place, and for them to make some obvious assumptions.

"I don't sell things I don't know how to use Rico, I'll be fine." I had aquired several of the hanlon eight round revolvers (by that I mean four) plus ammo, I wasn't exactly expecting to go to war or anything, but without magic I wanted to be prepared.

"Its your funeral." Optimism like this always warmed my heart, if I still had one to warm (I think I do, maybe). I wasn't lying either! I knew how to use firearms, I had taken time to become familiar with them in case what happened to me happened to me (well it was more in case I got shackled and had to use a pistol or something, I never assumed some blind jerk would lock my power inside of me, its not a scenario you plan for normally).  I did have to change my clothing to better synch up with carrying pistols (because robes can get caught in the hammer on a draw, and honestly you don't look as cool wearing a robe and carrying a pistol, you look like an idiot).  So I was wearing a pair of slacks, a dress shirt and pinstripe vest (the vest because I still had to have some fashion).  Thankfully Ronerawth had no laws against openly carrying weaponry, so I was able to just walk around with my pistols in their various holsters (one on each hip, one in a shoulder clutch on my left hand side, and the last one in a rear holster right above my ass.  I'll admit the ass one was a bit sketchy kept worrying I'd sit down and put a hole in myself)

I wasn't even a block away from my store when some trouble found me.  I had been walking because I'd taken the train to Rolak and I had my horse stabled back in the prince's lands, also I wanted to carry the heft of my new equipment.  It definately felt more intrusive than my sword normally did, they also kind of jingled when I walked, which definately was a more audible prescence than the sword. I did feel a lot safer though even magic less, which is probably why I walked right into the ambush I did.  Because when you feel safe is right before the rug gets pulled out from under you.  And that's what I'll talk about tommorrow, because thats how I am with you little journal!

Mistaken Identity

I left the bar a bit woozy, I should have taken that into account (you know despite my big talk about drinking all the time I really don't, so most of the time I'm drunk on a very small amount of actual liquor, yes years and years of life and I'm still a pretty lightweight drunk).  So needless to say I was stumbling a little bit, which as anyone can tell you, is a bad idea in the nasty parts of any town let alone a hole like Rolak had turned into (though to be honest most of the major cities in the empire were getting pretty ugly, sure sure it was nice in the rich areas, but outside of those? Chaos city).  As one can imagine this attracted a group of men following me, I'm not an idiot (ok normally, ok not all the time, ok SHUT UP!) so I knew it was time to flee.  I thought I had the advantage of knowing the city pretty well, but in my time away the city had changed some walls and added others so of course I came to a dead end (a more aptly named thing I have never run across).  My followers four in all pinned me in, I could hear their chuckling as they approached.

"Get lost on your stroll?" The kind of gutteral growl associated with people who look dirtier than mud.

"Yeah you kind gentelman wouldn't happen to know the way back to my hotel would you?" I didn't have my sword with me of course.  I did have my magic because I'm never without that.

"We saw you talking to the town guard, you ratting us out?" I swear the dirty poor criminals of every town are the most paranoid pieces of crap that ever existed, its almost like they think the world revolves around them! Which is totally not true, it revolves around me clearly as my stories have shown time and time again.

"To rat you out I'd have to know who you guys are, which I don't, so I think we're done here." I went to leave and they pushed me back.  The nerve of some people touching others without their consent, who do they think they are? Me?

"Sorry now that you know about us can't exactly let you leave can we?"

"I know nothing of you sirs, nor do I want to or care to know who you are or what you're doing here! But if you persist be aware I am a user of magic and I'll burn you all down here you stand." I went to make some kind of magic user pose for effect (because despite what you've probably seen from magic users there is no actual point to the silly fire throwing hand waves, they are just more fun than simply standing there). They backed off a little bit, even idiots know that magic is dangerous.  I went to show them a little flash to back off and I came up empty.  Its a strange feeling not being able to conjure fire at will after doing it for so long, its a bit like not being able to get erection when you want to (not that I've ever had that problem at all, ever, nope, no sexual problems here ladies). I strained myself more, felt sweat beading on my brow, but came up with nothing.  And the rubes clued into the fact that maybe just maybe I couldn't actually conjure fire anymore.  I let out a little chuckle and went to run, this time since I was at a full on sprint I managed to break through and into the street.

I heard their calls behind me as I ran again (I swear most of my life is like this, doing the same things over and over again hoping for a new result).  I found my way out of the seedy side of Rolak into the slightly better lit area and ran right to the waiting arms of the town guard, who was riding his horse looking bored as all get out.  My pursuers stayed back where they had been chasing me and I heard a couple grumbled curse words.

"Problem Citizen?" His voice betrayed that bored "I don't really want to help you, but I have to ask" tone I'd found myself doing many times.

"No I uhh got lost a little bit, thanks though."  I did have a problem though, I couldn't conjure fire, I hadn't noticed till now because frankly I hadn't had to use it.  Sure I'd thought about fire, or burning people down, but never came to actually using it.  I racked my brain to the last time I'd actually used fire and could only really remember during my dark days.  I was terrified, had that blind jerk stripped me of my magical ability when he "fixed" me? My temporary problem of ruffians was solved, but my long term problem of not being able to use magic was just beginning.  And here I thought I only had one issue with a traitor, but like most things in my life, its never, ever that simple.

Rat Hunting

The bar was a seedy sort that had popped up all over Rolak in my abscence.  Much like my shop turned from being a small custom tailoring place to a weapon and pawn shop, Rolak had moved on to being a place you didn't really hang out for very long if you were on the up and up (and it used to be such a nice place to take the family, not really, but someone must have!).  The bar was not the only one in town, though it was one of the dirtier ones in town which was why we had chosen it to meet.

The man sitting across from me was wearing a rather comically over large cloak of the type that was favored by bandits and to be honest anyone traveling a long distance who didn't want to get rained on. He was neither.  We were seated in the back of bar my back was to the door, his eyes were scanning about before he spoke, like some of the drunks trying to make it with a waitress several years past attractive were suddenly going to become enemies.

"What do you want Lorentino?" His voice was the opposite of the get up, high and nasal, it reflected on years of high society.

"Ronerawth has a rat feeding information to the Red Hand." I put the letter on the table, but he did not pick it up. Instead he laughed, and I'll admit it caught me a little off guard.

"You say this like its a revelation? Aren't you yourself from their lands? Lorentino do not waste my time." He got up to leave and I grabbed him by the sleeve.

"Are you saying you're aware of someone who's feeding information to your enemy and do nothing about it?"

"I'm saying let go of my sleeve." And with that our conversation came to a close, he walked off letting me stew in anger that Ronerawth was aware of their traitors, but didn't care enough to stop them.  I finished my drink and sat there in the dark trying to think of someone else I could turn to who could help.  I mean someone had to want to help me right? I helped everyone (after being drug into it against my will several times, but I digress!) So there I sat drinking a poor fluid that didn't deserve to be called ale and I tried to think of a way to kill my enemies without getting killed myself, or hell to even discover who my enemies were in the first place! Also known as a normal Lorentino evening.

Just a Moment

"If I can have a moment of your time." The annoying man was following me, he'd been following me since breakfast and I'd brushed him off the entire time. He was my third annoying person who only needed a moment of my time and I was rather getting tired of all the moments I was just giving away.

"Far too busy sir, come back never ok thanks." As I said in yesterdays entry everyone wanted me for everything and frankly I was very tired of the whole thing.

"If you would just stop for a moment sir this would be over!" He was basically chasing me at this point, which is kind of funny now that I think about it, being chased by some balding little man hollaring after me. I ducked down an alley and then regretted it immediately when I realized there was no way out, my left hand instinctively went for my sword that wasn't by my side because I didn't wear it anymore (the problem of being legit, you can't just threaten people with a sword).  I tensed up ready to burn down the little bald man, when he produced a letter, handed it to me and left.

So there I was having run from a messenger that entire time and feeling pretty stupid about the whole affair. And then I remembered the curse assassins and really had to think about opening that letter carefully. Which ultimately didn't matter with them, the letter itself was more of a calling card, if I was cursed I was screwed anyway. So I opened the letter up and read from it and then crumpled it in a fit of rage, I was about to burn it when I decided to hold on to it for posterity.  Here is the missive in its entirety unedited.

---Trezlan glad to hear you have given up that whole revenge thing and moved on to more important matters like bettering yourself.  And in case you haven't given up on revenge know that if I see you at all I'll kill you without a second thought.

Your Friend

Councilman Morley

I learned two things about this.  1. Morley's handwriting was way better than mine And 2. Morley obviously had an inside man in the Ronerawth government.  So I knew I had a new task in front of me, finding this person and ending his life, hopefully by necromancy so I could learn all about what he knew about Morley.  Its always nice to have goals, even if those goals involve horrific murder.

Empire Maker

You know whats the easiest thing in the world to fix? Made up problems! Seriously folks if you're a struggling government and your people don't like you? Just make up some problems and fix them! Now of course this solution requires you to lay some groundwork in advance (like paying bandits or other ruffians to cause issues), but once you "fix" these made up problems, the real problems don't look so hard to the general populace AND they will pitch in and help because "Hey he fixed those other issues didn't he?" Its genius!

All of this was to say that over the next several months as being the Prince's "Advisor" things worked out beautifully.  I became the not so secret power behind the throne (everyone in his fiefdom knew to come to me over going to him, it was a rare time to be recognized for something not horrible).  It was thrilling though tiresome.  I'll admit staging all of this crap to get to have an opportunity to kill Morley was killing me!  I was used to rushing in against impossible odds and getting out alive, all this patient political power play with the hope of getting what I really wanted was extremely difficult on my patience.

I mean sure it was nice being respected and feared, but with that came a bunch of whiny babies who wanted my attention at all hours of the day.  I'd be eating a quiet meal and a bunch of chattering jack asses would ruin it to ask me for assistance! I honestly think the Prince welcomed me taking over because it meant he got more time to have sex with women and do nothing and I had to solve all of his problems for him! Which is what I wanted but still! Little ungrateful jerk, I'm glad what happened to him happened to him even if I didn't cause it at all (but thats a story for another later entry).

All of that was to say six months after I dealt with just about every problem I set up in that hamlet to cause issues I was really getting tired of fixing actual problems I had not created. Because problems you didn't create suck to actually solve, especially when they are economic or someone mad at someone else because of none murder reasons.  I swear its just easier to kill everyone than talk to them, thats actually my ideal governement, everyone dead in the whole world and just me ruling nothing.

Political Banditry

There were six of them, all armed with pistols (the good kind not cheap banditry pistols that most highwaymen use).  We met at a wooded meadow within viewing distance of the road, they were all standing in front of me, their mismatch of rich person clothing with dirty rags showing some of the spoils of their looting.  Their leader was a clean shaven well spoken guy, it wasn't very surprising they'd looted caravans all along the route without having fired a shot, the man could sell anything.

"Lorentino." The voice was jovial in its greeting, the rest of them were happy to see me as well.  See I forgot to mention previously, they all worked for me (you can't exactly count on problems to just naturally show up, sometimes you have to create them).

"Devin good to see you, how goes the robbing?"

"Getting a bit thin Trezlan have to say, I mean sure the merchants drop their drawers as soon as we show up, but the wares they are piddling is kind of sad, hell we let one go the other week because he had nothing worth stealing." I had assembled this group a couple years previous, had to do a bit of digging to make sure I didn't hire idiots, but it had worked as good as I had expected.  I only had one rule, no unneccesary killing, I didn't mind them robbing people (because in a way we are all thieves anyway) but killing people raises the bar on the situation and that brings in nastier people (well nastier than myself).

"Well in that case I have good news, well good news and bad news." They all shifted their body posture at the bad news part, I could sense that the wrong word could turn this from a polite conversation to a deadly one.

"What's the bad news?"

"Bad news is this route is done, the Prince has asked me to get rid of you all he didn't even want you taken in chains just murdered and bodies quietly disposed of." This brought a chuckle from the assembled thieves.

"And the good news?"

"Got another task for you guys, I want you to go up north." I tossed them the pack I had brought with me, in it were maps, contact information, and money I'd socked away.

"How far up north?" Devin was asking while looking through the pack.

"Red Hand territory, fatter trade routes, though a bit more dangerous than down here." At the mention of Red Hand the group all let out a variety of swears, most people who were born and raised in Ronerawth hate the Red Hand, its drilled into them at a young age.

"Any restrictions this time?" Devin seemed a bit more open to the idea than his five compatriots but I knew he could sell them on it, thats why I hired him first.

"None, hell I'd like it more if you killed everyone and put them on display, though I don't know if you are up for that kind of thing." In the years since my torture at the hands of the councilman I hadn't really buried the hatchet with the Red Hand.  On top of that, them having trade problems worked into my plans, well my longer term plans of killing Morley.

"And if we refuse?" That was Devin's second in command, a large man that had acted as his body guard when I first met with the man, and he still looked to be in the same category.

"Then I burn you all down and start the next phase of my plan regardless." That got a chuckle as well, but I wasn't laughing, people with pistols tend to think of magic users as a simple issue to deal with, never realizing that you may be a fast draw, but we don't have to draw anything, and I've had years of experience proving that right.

"Easy big fella, the plan sounds solid Trezlan, I figure from the money, maps, and contacts in here we're done after this?"

"You figure right Devin, if asked I'll deny you ever worked for me, you guys can keep what you've stolen same as our prior arrangement, I want none of the spoils, I just needed a problem to solve, now its time to solve it." Another great thing about causing the issue you are solving, it becomes a lot easier to fix then if you had to actually figure out a different solution.

"It was a pleasure Mr. Lorentino, I figure we won't see you again."

"If you do it will be on less than friendly terms Devin, but I don't suspect that will be a problem." He nodded as did the rest of the bandits and they left. I waited some time in the meadow thinking about my next move and properly thinking about what story I'd tell the prince and then I left as well. In a rash coincidence that I in no way orchestrated just as I arrived at town a fresh shipment by a merchant caravan arrived full of luxuries that the local nobles had been denied recently.  The Prince was celebrated as a hero and I cemented my place in his small court.  Things were going just as I had planned, but you know what they say about best laid plans...

A Problem Fit For a Prince

It took a week for the prince to get a hold of me, I bided my time readying supplies and tying up business arrangements (my little tailoring shop in Rolak had become a gun shop/pawn shop, with industrialization in Ronerawth custom tailored clothes just weren't selling like they used to, a real tragedy for the sophisticated). The prince sent a royal messenger which I'm sure surprised my neighbors, but those people don't matter in the long run and I really don't care what they think (I've never really liked living near people, its a necessity as cities grow bigger and places get more developed, but theres just something wrong with living right next to someone). The message was a simple "I may need someone like you." And a time he wanted me at his castle (royalty and castles go together like horrific monsters and caves).

I knew where the castle was, and not just from being there earlier at his fancy party.  Like I said I planned the long game, I had been there a few times previous on small errands under false pretenses (in the fifty years since my blowing off the world I'd gotten quite good about being places without being seen, I know its amazing that I learned to be subtle!) The guards at front nodded as I passed inside and I was directed to the "throne" room.  I put throne in quotes because honestly it was just a more lavish sitting room, the prince wasn't exactly prince of anything important (his lands were mainly marsh lands with a couple farms sparsed in between, its why I chose him to be my in because no one would look too hard about some out of the way prince in charge of nothing). His lands and royalty were like back ups for more important people elsewhere, he knew it too, but didn't seem to care all that much (I mean its not like he wasn't rich, well fed and had every need catered to anyway). I stood across from him while he sat in his throne looking bored to even be there, the heavy doors I entered slammed shut and it was just me and the prince (proof yet again no one cared they basically let a potential assassin right near their royalty and cared not at all).

"Lord Lorentino I hope you are well." His voice echoed in the empty room, his dress was less showy than last time, just simple slacks and a shirt that looked dirty, no shoes or socks.

"I am my liege, I'm also intrigued why you sent for me."  I kept my tone measured, didn't want to let on I knew all the problems his little kingdom faced and knew an untold number of solutions for all of them (again I played the long game on this one, I'll keep writing that until you believe it!)

"I have a problem with some bandits up North Mr. Lorentino, they aren't a large group, but what they lack in numbers they make up for in cunning, they are robbing trade supplies from us and preventing work on a rail line to connect us to the empire.  I've tried to call on the military but they think it a small issue and despite my militias best attempts they have alluded us entirely."

"Do you want them dead or imprisoned?"

"Dead, I'd rather not have the small band marched into the town and show us all for what fools we are, if you can remove them from me, I'll be most gracious." The words written down sound grander than they were spoken, that's all I'll say.

"I have my task my liege, I shall be back when it is accomplished."

"I trust you can keep this quiet then?"

"But of course secrecy is my specialty, I have ways of disposing of troublesome bodies." I smiled at that last bit and he waved me off, he pressed a button and the large doors opened and I was freed.  I kept the smile on my face out of the castle. I was pleased with my assignment, because simple bandits are no real difficulty for me, and in this case they weren't really bandits at all... But that will wait till tommorrows entry. Because much like with the prince I'm writing this journal for the long game (thats my new phrase I like it, I hope you like it, though if you're reading this I'm dead so whatever!)

Lord Lorentino

Fancy parties are always fun.  You get to dress up nicer than usual, most people aren't directly armed (well most fancy parties don't have people openly wearing weapons other than the occaisional military invite), no one can ever say your name properly and tend to get it wrong in different ways everytime (this can be used to your advantage when you do this to them which only tends to propogate the cycle until none of us are who we claim to be). And the best thing about fancy parties, getting close to members of the ruling class to hit them up for favors.  Its kind of the opposite of what they tend to do to me, so I relish being the aggressor.

The fancy party I was attending was for some out of the prince who was in line for the throne, but only if the entire royal family and their pets got killed (you laugh about the pets line, but history has shown thats happened more than once even!). What that meant is that he was important enough to warrant a title, a castle, and an entourage, but not important enough to have better people checking the guest list and keeping people like myself out of the party (because a necromancer with a dubious past in Ronerawth should never be invited to your fancy party).  It also meant that the Prince was innundated with people asking for his help on little stupid hamlet decisions and overall the poor man (who couldn't have been a day over 18 from the look of him) spent the majority of the party looking sad and desperately wanting to get out of there, but not actually able to.  It was at this moment I struck, like a waiting viper.

"Lord Lorentino my liege." I bowed a moment to show the proper respect, even though it was a half hearted gesture and I have no idea if it was a proper anything, he looked up from his drink and kind of sighed.

"And what do you want Lord Lorentino? What exactly are you a lord of?" His voice was that of someone bored out of their mind and wanting to do anything else.  The price was an attractive enough guy, young with long hair and that thin neck and narrow face the ladies enjoy, his clothing was a royal puple suit, it looked very smart though I could see where his tailor was screwing him over based on shoddy worksmanship.

"Of paying people to introduce me as a Lord but not actually be one." I smiled and he smiled back, we were all alone in his sitting parlor no guards nearby, but I'm sure he could have called them should the situation require them.

"Intriguing, do go on not Lord Lorentino."

"I see that you are surrounded by people asking for things but no one I'm sure suggesting what they can do for you, or what you need am I right my liege?" Royal people love when you humor them, they love it even more when you humor them with how put upon they are, because someone who's never had to work a day in his life and will be provided for until the day he dies, is put upon.  That famed Royal logic at work.

"And you don't need anything, but would like to provide I take it?"

"I'm willing to offer my services to you for no cost of course, I'm magnanimous like that."

"You're services?"

"I'm an advisor of sorts, I have quite a lot of knowledge on a lot of different topics of discussion, and when the time arises I'm not unwilling to get my hands dirty, let me give you my card," I produced the thin white card I'd had made up for this particular situation, on it was my current address (in a small hamlet within this princes domain, I'd set this up years prior to his birth, again when you're a necromancer you can work a long con), my name and advisor underneath it.

"I'll think of you should the need arise Not Lord Lorentino."

"That's all I ask, and if you'll excuse me I've got to get running before you realize I shouldn't be here at all." I smiled and gave him my leave another half hearted bow on the way out.  I knew he'd get a hold of me, people like the Prince like to think of themselves as free thinkers, but ultimately they are being lead around by those smarter than them, they just don't realize it.  Now I admit I'm being lead around by someone smarter than me probably, but as long as that person stays in the shadows I don't have to worry about it, now do I? Ha perfect logic!

Nothing Says Hello Like a Punch To the Face

Crunch!! My fist connected solidly with the bridge of the young mans nose, it exploded in a gout of blood.  His previous look of mild amusement was wiped clean and turned into a look of outrage. I had previously called him lefty though he was alone now in the small Ronerawth sitting room I'd been directed to upon arriving back in the empire. Lefty did not appreciate the strike to his nose, he scrambled for his pistol but I had him beat with my sword drawn before he even got close.

"Lorentino you're lucky I don't kill you where you stand." He was doing his best to wipe the blood gushing off out of his nose with a cloth napkin, it was a losing effort.

"You have no idea what I've been through because of your organization, you're lucky I didn't burn this entire place to the ground on principal." It went unsaid of course that in my madness earlier I had actually planned on burning everything down, the entire world even.

"Three months we waited for you to do something, three Lorentino! We thought you'd ran, and now you finally do kill the councilman and you want what? A cookie? A thank you? You almost failed us." Eye was swelling up now I could see it looking pretty bad. It was infuriating that people who had forced me into doing something for them, were blaming me it took too long to accomplish, especially after what had happened to me. If I hadn't already broken his nose I'd have done it again.

"I want something you weasly jerk, I was tortured for you guys! Tortured, I lost my damn mind, and now you act like I should be thankful you don't kill me? You guys are assholes and I'm done with this. You don't look for me, you don't ask for me, and you sure as hell don't send any goons locking me up to make me dance for you.  Hell if I see you again I'll kill you." With that I left, I left Ronerawth society entirely, I turned my shop over to the shorties (still keeping a managing interest mind you, I needed money for what I planned, but didn't want to be directly invovled) and I went off to what little wilderness existed anymore to plan out how to Kill Morley.  I heard on my way out Lefty shout something about how we weren't done, or that things aren't over or whatever, but he never really carried through on his threat, they never do.

And so I let society take care of itself for around fifty years (have to play the long game when you are an immortal necromancer).  In the time I was gone I heard Morley had gotten a seat on the council (the same one of the guy I murdered), and The Red Hand was looking at a new war within its own borders (the one that would eventually bring them down).  I knew my time was coming for being able to kill Morley, but I also knew I had to game the system like he did.  And so with that I returned to Ronerawthian society, as much as I hated it, I needed it. And thats where I'll start tomorrows entry. Trezlan Lorentino Socialite!

The War of the Lorentinos

"So you've locked me in my own mind?" It was like being stuck with Valyra all over again, except now the blind creepy white eyed guy was here with me.

"No, you've locked you in your own mind Trezlan, you are the one who is trapped here while the other you is out there."

"That doesn't even make sense."

"Because you can't see him, you will in a moment, but I need to prepare you, you can not simply defeat yourself or destroy this other part, you need to reconcile or you'll forever be a shattered person." Don't worry it didn't make sense to me either.

"Who are you anyway? Why are you doing this?"

"Who I am is of no matter, I work for a group called the Shining Darkness (see because they are all blind, ha see, god I love sight puns) we represent an interested party in saving you, so here I am." Everytime I think no one likes me, they hire some creepy sightless person to save me from me.  Ok so this happened one time, but still it was a lasting impression!

"I'm still at a loss here, why do I need saving?"

"Look I don't have much time, you need to confront your other and fix him so that you can be whole again Trezlan, I can not hold him back any longer." And with that the blind man was gone, in his place was me, except this me had had things rougher than I currently looked (I looked as I normally do, bearded, bald, dressed nicely) he had no beard, and was draped in various scars cuts and other damage, one arm was completely corrupt and from the look of his eyes the rest of him wasn't far behind.  The sad part was he still basically looked like me because he was really.

"If I kill you I get to be this way FOREVER!" The voice was mine, but not exactly, it was a lot crazier than I think I've ever sounded.  He rushed up to me and I could feel his hand on my throat, which was weird because it was really both of our throats in our mind... look its best if I try not to over think this. You ever heard someone say that they were choked by crazy? No? Well its a phrase for us ok, and I was literraly being choked by my own insanity (as opposed to someone else being nutty, because that happens to me all the time).

I didn't know if I could die in this place, but I figured if it was like my experience with Valrya I didn't want to find out. I punched the not me in the face, a couple times and the grip loosened, able to breathe again I quickly used that to my advantage and grabbed his left arm and snapped it (secretly I was hoping I wasn't actually injuring myself because yeesh that would hurt like all get out to heal). This caused crazy me to take a step back and whimper and cry.  Like he immediately collapsed and start bawling like a child.

"You hurt me! Why did you hurt me?" It came out between sobs, I thought it was reasonable why I hurt him, but seeing the pathetic state he was in, it also seemed like outward cruelty.

"You were trying to kill me, I had to stop that, I don't want to die." I felt sorry for myself, even if I tried to kill myself, which is weird to admit.

"It hurts so much Trezlan, I just don't want to hurt anymore."

"You don't have to, I'm stronger now, I can take the pain, you can be free of it." I didn't know why I said that, it just made sense, I figured somewhere the blind man was helping me.

"What will become of me?"

"You'll become me again, we'll be one again, I can't do this without you." I extended my hand and the twisted broken me took it up and I could feel it all again, all the pain, misery, and wanton destruction was back.  I hadn't realized at the time I'd shut it off, basically made another version of myself to take it all and thought one day I'd be ok, but I wasn't, and it wasn't fair to have a part of myself shoulder the burden all on his own.

With the pain and misery back where it belonged I opened my eyes once again in the room I was in before, the straps were off and my blind assistant was gone.  On the desk he was at was a pouch of coins and a note describing a way out of the city that would skip by the guards.  No other instructions were included, no name or contact information. My sword was leaning against the desk and I made sure to put it back in its rightful place.  I still hurt from my ordeals, but I could deal with it, and the madness was gone (well the direct madness honestly what I do is crazy enough I'm not entirely sane).

So I made my way out of the city as the blind mans instruction lead me to and I said good bye to the lands of the Red Hand again, and again vowed never to return.  I did have myself a new goal though, to Kill Morley so badly he winds up alive for me to kill again. Like I said the crazy never really leaves me...

Blind Trust

"I won't talk." I was restrained to a bed, leather straps had pinned both my arms to my sides and my legs had very little movement either.  The bed was soft though and the room was of adequate temperature so I didn't feel cold, so they at least cared I was comfortable.  My jailer was the blind man, aside from the bed was a desk of sorts I couldn't see what he was well I don't want to say looking at, but he had some kind of instruments in front of him, I figured for interrogation.

"You don't know what I'll ask, I could be asking if you'd like a lot money, or if you'd like the greatest drink in the world, would you feel silly if you just refused to talk." His voice was scholarly its the only way I could put it.  Hair was red and looked a little unkempt, I don't know if that was to sell the homeless person illusion or he just didn't care since he didn't see his hair.

"The Red Hand aren't normally eloquent conversationalists, and I doubt you are intending on asking me anything I'd like to hear, especially not considering my restraints." Even crazy with anger I could be rational, well somewhat.
"Is that who you think I am? The Red Hand? Surely even in your madness you'd realize if I was with them I'd have cut your throat and strung your entrails around the city as a reminder of who not to mess with, no Mr. Lorentino I'm here to help you, if you'll let me." The voice was calming, but I feared he was trying to get into my head (even if my head was a scary place full of anger and crazy).

"Let me out of these restraints and I'll see how much you want to help me." I wasn't wearing shackles, but I had no magical ability, it was a strange feeling, like instead of a cork being in my magical prowess it just wasn't there at all, like my captor had somehow removed it from me entirely. He turned to look at me, or whatever a blind person does when they face you, he wasn't angry, but I could detect what looked like sadness? I dunno it was hard to read someone when you can't see their eyes.

"Trezlan I'm here to help you, and all you have to do is listen, I can not guarentee there will not be pain, I can't say there won't be suffering, but I can tell you, if you listen I can save you."  The voice again coming like a calming melody I could feel my eyes getting heavy.

"I don't want to listen!!!" I struggled against the restraints but it was a losing battle, my captor wiped a cloth over my forehead and I felt a surge of something inside and then the world went white and I was out of the restraints, but not free, instead I was in a new prison one of my own choosing, a completely blank white empty space with only myself and the blind man, who wasn't blind now, he had piercing white eyes.

"Welcome to the prison in your mind Mr. Lorentino."

Blind Man's Blam

During that time of madness I didn't really have many thoughts in my head.  I knew I had to keep out of sight and not be obvious (and the paper was right I shaved my beard). Outside of that I was just a random murderer.  The Red Hand were known for exageration and lying to public, but they weren't lying about my crimes.  I did kill two entire families and its shameful to admit why.  Even in my madness I knew right from wrong, I just didn't care. I just wanted to inflict punishment and destruction, and thats the difference from my madness and corruption inspired madness, the corruption over takes you and changes you, and you don't really make decisions anymore.  Where as in my madness I knew what I was doing, I was inflicting damage and punishment to any and all who would get in my way, and I just could not care.

It was in this mindset I came across a blind beggar in a side alley. It was early in the morning businesses were opening up in the city and I could smell the fear from everyone around.  No one knew what I looked like or how I acted, but they were all afraid.  All of them except the blind guy.  I assumed blind because he had bandages over his eyes, so he was either blind or someone who was trying to start a new fashion.

"I bet you won't see this coming." Yes I went for the obvious blind joke before I killed a blind beggar, sadly thats just my normal sense of humor.

"I see more things than you do Lorentino." I was caught off guard by him not only knowing who I was but what I assumed was voice alone, but he also called me by name something that was not in any of the papers.  He followed up with the verbal stun with a physical one, I felt a gust of wind lift me off the ground and slam me into the wall behind me.  My head made a sickening smack from the impact, as I drifted off to sleep I heard the blind man say "Bet you didn't see that coming either." And then blackness.

Read All About It

An excerpt from the paper during my murder spree, I keep this mainly to remind myself what happens when you truely lose control in an enviroment full of people.

--KILLER STALKS STREETS

Be warned citizens! At least fifteen people have been burned alive after a convict recently escaped Red Hand Custody. The Red Hand cautions all citizens to report any suspicious activity. The convict is brown skinned six feet tall, bald with a beard though they caution he may shave the beard off to make identification difficult. Be warned he is not selective in murder, he has killed two entire families for an unknown reason.  The Red Hand assures everyone he will be caught and brought to justice, but for the time being there a curfew is now in place, anyone after dark will be arrested for defying the curfew, imprisonment shall be for no less than a year.

You're Driving Me Insane

The ship was burning, the corpse of the councilman was a mutated husk of left over remains, I had my sword again (because it seems everyone who takes this from me just leaves it lying around right next to their bodies), and next to no clothing (because when you are a whipping boy no one really cares how properly dressed you are). I'd burned the exit, the ship was full of people who wanted to kill me and I was completely insane.  Like laughing while swinging burnt body parts around in a room quickly filling with fire crazy.

Even then though I still had self preservation (yes even crazy people don't want to burn to death).  Now a normal not insane fire user might think that more fire would not be an optimal solution, but again I was crazier than that guy down the street who think he's a god (no not Valrym, this is some other nutter that lives near me, he's facisinating in that "What the hell is wrong with you?" sort of way, but I digress).  So I of course thought the solution to my problem was to just blow a hole through the hull of the ship to escape into the freezing cold water (like I said I was crazy). Ordinarily this would take time, you have to worry about using too much magic, or burning down the part of the ship you were in, not so much when you are insane, nope I just conjured a large fireball (thank whatever gods I deal with that the idiot councilman had a wood ship, though I guess if it was metal it wouldn't have caught fire in the first place) and vaporized the wood between me and the outside. The cold wind actually rushed through and put out the flames from what I had destroyed.

I had planned on just leaping into the water (again must I remind you, I WAS INSANE!), but luck had been kind to me, below the hole I'd blown in the ship was a group of soldiers escaping the flaming wreck.  So of course I lept off the ship, landed in the boat, murdered all the people on board and rowed the boat to shore (I did all of that while singing a song I can not recall the words to, but I think it had something to do with murder, I don't know for sure, I just recall being deliriously happy about having killed a lot of people).  When I got to shore there were members of the Red Hand military who had arrived to figure out what was going on, I didn't let them ask me a question I killed them too and kept walking, though I did steal some clothes from one of the dead people.

Things were only about to get worse of course.  I was a person gibberingly insane in the middle of a city full of people who I felt had wronged me, while disguised as those very people.  If you think things got worse before they got better, you are absolutely right.  Though better is obviously a matter of opinion, because for me that was one of the happiest times of my life, which is scary to say when I was basically a walking murder machine hell bent on killing everyone who looked at me funny.

To Be Lorentino'd

Lorentino'd: To lose to Trezlan Lorentino at an improbable moment after your victory was assured due to superior numbers, strategy, or magical ability.

No these aren't actually in the dictionary, yes I've been trying for a long time to influence society to get them there. See Morley and I are like cosmic opposites.  He exists to screw over people and leave them in danger while benefitting himself, and I exist to destroy his plans by complete accident/luck or happenstance.  I've ruined Morley's plans without even knowing I was doing it, I'm just that good. Which isn't to say Morley directly intended on betraying me from the start to better himself, but once it became clear he could well his mind was made up immediately.  Not to mention whatever he intended the fact I ended up tortured for three freaking months shows what a horrible person he is (ignoring what a horrible person I am, I don't leave people to be tortured for three months, well on purpose!)  Anyway revenge blah blah blah, not going to leave you some revenge blue balls, because then you might find me if you are still alive an exact your own revenge and then not tell people about it properly and the sequence as they say would continue.

"Dance for me." Just writing the word now makes me seethe with anger. See what the councilman meant was not actual dancing, he meant whip me until my wailing and agony was a nice "dance" for him. This had been my routine for three months, the fact unkempt councilman asks me to dance and his sadistic guards whipped me.

That day they made a mistake.  You ever make a mistake and have that moment of "oh shit?" Like right after you screwed up you can see the result of it in a moment of clarity.  That didn't happen for my captors, well it didn't happen right away. The councilman wanted a new show, he tired of my anguished dancing attached to shackles, so he figured I was so defeated they could take them off, and just whip me free form as it were.  Now for most people this probably wouldn't have caused an issue, but for a magic user, especially one like myself who had been plying my trade of fire for over a hundred years this was one of the worst things they could do. Remember how I've said in the past pain can make your magic more potent? Yeah imagine being whipped for three months unable to release rage building in your veins and slowly going crazy over each beating.  It was like a might river damned up and then suddenly released, power flowed through me the likes of which I've never had or hope to ever have again (raw power on that scale is dangerous, not just because of corruption, because of personal destruction, its like trying to hold on to a lightning bolt).

So when the shackles came off I did what came naturally.  I laughed, I laughed long and hard, it wasn't a good wholesome "Oh that was funny." laugh. It was a madness laugh, it was a "Oh crap we let a psycho have a moderately sharp edge." The councilman got a sour look on his face, I was not doing my normal dance and he was not happy with my laughter. There were four guards there, he pointed to one to restrain me again, but it was too late, I grabbed his hand instead and devoured him.  My necromancy was also super charged, his body was a dessicated husk within a second of me grabbing him, the wounds on my back healed painfully, but I didn't care, I was swelling with power and anger. I didn't have thoughts, just emotions, raw anger prevalent. With a wave of my hand the other three guards were engulfed in flames, the flames were so hot I actually burned myself being near them.

The councilman panicked, he screamed for more guards to come but I burned the entry way (now you might think its a bad idea setting fire to the only way out of a room you are in, on a ship you are currently on, but you weren't driven mad by torture).  Now I have no idea what magical ability the councilman had, or ever had, I do know that he died horribly,  I won't go into detail here other than that.  Mainly because its a memory I return to when I feel down or bad and I really don't want to share my personal moment of joy at the death of another man.

So I was on a ship that was on fire and getting worse, I was more than partially crazy and still surging with power and corruption and that's where I'll leave you, because I'm lost in the memory of murder and enjoying it too much to finish the boring stuff that happened next of being insane with power and destruction.  Wait that wasn't boring...

To Be Morley'd

Morley'd: To be screwed over at an improbable moment by Morley, usually resulting in pain, torture, and possible death.  See Lorentino'd for the opposite.

You know of all the places I end up imprisoned, I hate ships the most. Its something with being rocked while being chained to something, some people find it relaxing, for me its a bit nauseating, and it really stops me from getting a proper rest on. Not that I was really getting a lot of time resting, no I got about 6 hours in the cell, and then the next 18 forced to stand in the central chamber Morley betrayed me in. My captors not content to just force me to stand would whip me and apply a burning solution to the wounds on my back (to heal and of course to inflict more pain).  This was all done for the overly fat disgusting councilman I had been sent to kill.

He was like some kind of sick child clapping with delight at each strike. Grooming was apparently foreign to him as well, the room had a very prevelant odor I didn't notice until I had been spending my time there almost exclusively, he had a wild beard that ran the entire length of him, and he never wore clothes.  I was under the impression he was some powerful magic user, but I never saw it.  Just his stupid childish grin through a disgusting ragged grey black beard and that damn clapping (which at times was in rhythum with the whipping, its funny what you notice when you are trying to divorce yourself from pain).

I'd like to say I never broke or cried out, but thats a lie, I screamed like a new born child everytime.  I wept and begged and pleaded.  There was no answer of course, they didn't want anything from me they didn't already have, this was of course my punishment for having the audacity to fail at a task I had no chance of succeeding at.  I didn't see Morley again after his betrayal, and that was for the best because if I did I would have tried to rip his throat out with my teeth, or see if you can literally kill a man with words.

I've gone over how I've been crazy before, even been taken over by an evil former master that had somehow gotten into my head. I'll admit something here, towards the end of my time with the slob councilman I wasn't much of a person, I wasn't much of anything.  I was a weeping screaming child covered in scars and broken as a person.  I didn't talk in anything but gibberish, I didn't think in anything but pain (you don't want to know what thinking in pain is like, its hard to even put to paper).  As I write this now I feel the old wounds still there even though they are long since healed, my hand shakes with each.

It was a three month imprisonment.  Three months of torture and madness and begging.  In the end it was a simple mistake that killed them all, one little screw up that anyone could make.  See thats the thing when you break someone, you think that you own them.  That their wimpers are that of submission and that you have nothing to worry about, but in fact you have everything to worry about, because you have really just cornered a wild animal, and as soon as you look away for a moment that animal is unleashed.  And tomorrow I shall write about the most delicious vengeance I have ever tasted, even in the midst of madness it was exceptionally satisfying.

From Greatness To Failure In Record Time

You would think being in a food crate would be not terrible.  You'd be wrong, its cramped, you really can't see as well as you'd like, you can't really eat the food (because its wrapped or uncooked, or looks disgusting).  Not to mention people who carry food crates are apparently jerks who don't understand a light touch when moving things around (I swear this is a common complaint that when I'm carried either on purpose or accidentally people are real dicks). And then there is the issue of how long do you wait before you spring out of your crate.  Do you wait until you don't hear anyone (I mean its not like I could tell what time of day it was, or even if they were on the day night cycle normal people were on the ship).  I knew I'd gotten in the crate at night, went to sleep at some point and then woke up hopefully what I thought on the ship at a time when I could get in.

So with a bit of fear I slowly cracked open the lid of my crate and looked around.  There was no one of course I was in the bowels of the ship, I could hear the rocking of water hitting the hull (something I apparently missed while sitting in my crate). Of course I did have to wonder if I was on the right ship, but that was a problem you run into after you get out of your food crate (well if you stole my brilliant plan, you plan thief!) Anyway problems of what ship I was on aside, I had to get out of the hold and up top to try and finish my plan.

So out of the food hold I crept, into the galley that was also empty (this is what we call foreshadowing kids).  The whole ship felt pretty empty.  I moved from the galley to an outside hallway, it was lavishly decorated so I figured I was on the right ship, but it was all empty.  No guards, no passing servants, no one.  It was rather odd to be on what felt like an empty ship just slowly tilting in the water. I continued down the hallway to the rear of the ship (I forget the sea term some kind of dumb term that makes no sense), it opened into an even more lavish sitting room, with no one inside it either.  It was here I knew I was in a trap, I was about to turn and flee when I felt a solid blow strike me behind the head, my eyes were full of stars.  The shot sent me crashing to the ground, behind me heavy boots coming up the carpet told me I was about to be shackled again like so many times before.  I turned around and was caught a bit surprised by who was there.

"Morley?"

"I told you to walk away Trezlan, but you never ever listen to me." He's right I don't, and I really should, especially when he was planning on betraying me. I didn't know that at the time mind you, but I should have.  Because he's freaking Morley, that's what he does!