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chapter 1

 

A long, long time ago on our world….




There was a struggle.



Chapter 1: DAWN


“Master, master Sanctus sir.” A man of great stature turned. “Yes, what is it Skime?” “We’re losing the battle sir, we’ve lost many men already. Cybertron is too strong for us.” The man of great stature shouted. “THEN WHAT ARE YOU STANDING HERE FOR! GO FIGHT OR I’LL KILL YOU MYSELF.” Skime ran back to the battle and another man turned towards master Sanctus. “Bravd, we are losing the battle. The arena has been painted red enough for the day. Let us quit.” Bravd Sanctus, head of the Sanctus family, a man of stature and an amazing paintogenic profile, grunted. “I asked you nothing cousin” A spatter of blood, blood from one of his own men, sprayed down on his cape and Bravd sighed. “…Very well Dom, pillar, we will do it your way today…. Give the sign of retreat.” Master Sanctus turned once more and walked away, back to his family home. Alex shouted “ALRIGHT MEN, RETREAT FOR NOW! WE WILL GET YOU NEXT TIME CYBERTRON DOGS!”

“What is this? Since when is Bravd retreating? Very well. Alex, the new one, call off the fight.” A woman of great power, Fox Cybertron. Head of the Cybertron family. She, same as her Sanctus counterpart, turned around and left the arena for home. For Karmina, city of conflict.

Karmina lay just outside the arena walls. It was a beautiful city, many gardens lay scattered inside her walls. The town’s great plaza was the centre of all Karmina’s beauty. A huge fountain in her centre, surrounded by many stalls of the marketplace. Many a merchant had already found a fortune bargaining on the markets. Many a fool had lost his money in the gambler’s den conveniently located on the plaza. City hall, the excavation office, charm smith, several houses and the GC market were also located on the edge of the main plaza. Their beauty and wonder outshined by the main attraction of the plaza, the battle Arena. With all her wonder and ruin she was the focus of the entire town…no…city even.

Leading from the market towards the town gate you can find the main street. Many shops supplying furniture, shops supplying pets, art galleries and couple of blacksmith’s were located on this street. All there for those who can afford it, the rich and powerful and the clans, the only ones who can pay for a house inside the city walls. The residential area behind the arena isn’t called the clan district for nothing. Behind the arena and also surrounding the marketplace were the clan halls. Great fortified houses owned by the combating families or clans as they are sometimes referred to. Two families stand on top of the rankings. One is Sanctus, the other Cybertron. This story in not about their war though, this story is about two young ones caught in the middle of this struggle. It’s about their love.

chapter 2

 

House of sorrow and anger...




IN NOMINE PATRIS ET FILII ET SPIRITUS SANCTI



Chapter 2: MORN


“Welcome home father, how did the fight go?” A teenage boy in his prime. Innocent. “Rincewind, my son, the battle didn’t fare well.” Bravd, head of Sanctus, spoke to his son. Anger turned his face like blood. “We were WEAK! The men begged me for retreat! Follow me my son. Gaze upon how you must lead when I am gone.” Bravd walked to the hospital, with a pace like mad. Rincewind followed. “Father, where are we heading too?” Bravd answered not. They entered their home’s infirmery. Skime greated them. “Uncle! Graciously you visit us. The wounded will be pleased by...ugh...” Skime fell down. Drowned in a puddle of his own blood. “SKIME! FATHER, WHAT DID YOU DO?!” Then Bravd shouted. “THIS HAPPENS TO THOSE WHO ARE WEAK! WE NEVER RETREAT! YOU FIGHT TILL DEATH! NOW BLESS ME!” All men, some with their dying breath, blessed. “IN NOMINE PATRIS ET FILII ET SPIRITUS SANCTI!” Bravd left. Rincewind cried.

“Come cousin, let me take you away from here. Let’s go out tonight!” Pidgeon dragged Rincewind, covered in blood, away. “No, cousin, but Skime...he..” “Shut up Rincewind. You’re smart, but be it now. Know when to shut it.” “Alright Pidgeon, what did you have in mind?” Pidgeon smiled. “I know a bar. Loads of fun. We need to dress casual though.”

The house of Sanctus, worshippers of Tiamat. A place of sorrow and anger. A place led by the great and mighty Bravd Sanctus, also head priest of the demon worshippers. Said to have been granted his flame blade, sign of his leadership, by Tiamat himself. Also rumoured to have murdered his brother, the rightfull owner to Sanctus leadership, and his father. All to gain power over the family, all to plunge the family to the demon’s side. For it has not always been so, the Sanctus family used to be one of the two families leading the church of Ares. Now, they are one of the two families most feared throughout Alter-earth. So feared that many other families have sided with them, half of them to be exact.

Rincewind is the son of Bravd, a teenager by appearance, though a full blow adult in heart and mind. He is Bravd Sanctus’s only son and thus successor of the Sanctus throne. His father tries everything to educate his son about the way to run the family, to run the whole of Alter-earth even. Through Rincewind wants to have none of it. His father’s brutal ways aren’t his. His way is that of his mother, a priestess of Ares. She and his father were married long ago, before his father’s madness began. Before Tiamat came. Now she lives as the head of a small convict just outside of Karmina, left alone by all. Only visited on occasion by Rincewind. But for now, however, Rincewind and Pidgeon are preparing, disguising. For their visit is to a local bar, a bar outside of the walls. Though no amount of preparation could be enough, for what was to happen that fateful midnight.

chapter 3

 

House of blind faith...




love of bloody war



Chapter 3: MIDDAY


“Mother!” A teenage girl, beautiful and fair hearted. “Where have you been my child? I have not seen you here when I returned from our divine battle.” Child blushed. “I was in the arena gardens mother. Watching the rose beds and the fish in the pond. There was a man who was kind enough to...” Foxface commanded her daughter to silence. “Vulpine Siganus Cybertron, you have defied my will again. You know full well I do not want you to go to the gardens. Let alone fret with the commoners. They cannot be trusted. Defying the will of Ares as shamelessly as they do. The one true path to liberation is through Ares.” Vulpine looked sad. “I have to punish you, I forbid you to even go outside into our own garden for the remainder of this week. I hope this will show you the true path. Now, let us pray to Ares. GATHER! FOR NOW WE PRAY!” All relatives gathered around their leader, bowed in reverence. Foxface chanted.

“I’ll get you out of the house tonight.” Someone said, bowed in prayer. “Thank you, but why?” Vulpine said to her side. “Because I disagree with my sister-in-law’s ways.” “Ohh great Ares, god of bloody warfare, to the we give our blood.” Then nearly all used their daggers. Enlarging the mark of Ares on their flesh. Vulpine was mortified. “Thanks, Tybalt.”

Cybertron, a house in charge of the Ares cult. A house in blind reverence and a house led by Foxface Cybertron, a powerful woman. A grieving woman. A woman who, when her husband died, plunged into sorrow. To overcome this sorrow, she also plunged herself in the writings of Ares. Slowly she came to the conclusion that Ares would want blood above all and that they, as humans, had the task to give it to him. Thus she severed her family from the church of Ares. A church her family led, together with another. Now, they are one of the two families most feared throughout Alter-earth. So feared that many other families have sided with them, half of them to be exact.

Vulpine is the daughter of Foxface, a teenager most happy when she is up and about in Karmina with all it’s gardens. She is the successor to her mother’s throne. But her mother is very protective of her daughter; she doesn’t let her out of the house. She is afraid something might happen to her. That she might die. Like her father did. A father of whom she only has a few memories, she was a child when he died. Still, her mother tells her nothing about her father, afraid her daughter might get hurt. A daughter whom has everything in the world, except for the freedom she so longs. Thus she is preparing to leave, tonight, with Tybalt. They are going to the last place her mother would deem correct. They are leaving for a bar outside the city walls. Disguised they leave right after dinner. When they arrive at the bar, the sun is about to set. They enter and fate has it, she bumps into a person also in hiding.

chapter 4

 

Love eternal…




or maybe not?



Chapter 4:DUSK



“I am so sorry, I didn’t see you there. Are you hurt?” “No, I’m not hurt. The fault is mine. I should’ve…been paying….more attention.” “Ohh, no, it’s my…fault… entirely!” Two people falling in love. A thing most beautiful. “Allow me to introduce myself fair lady, my name is Rincewind…” Pidgeon gazed. “…Spirits. Pleasure to meet you.” Rincewind bowed. Vulpine blushed. “My name is Vulpine…” Tybalt intervened. “Madame Evo. Shall I get you anything to drink?” Vulpine turned. Tybalt whispered. “Using our family name is dangerous here.” Vulpine acknowledged. Rincewind responded “Allow me to pay for those drinks.” Tybalt looked wary. “Very well, I’ll get the drinks then.” Tybalt took the orders and left for the bar. “Heey! Some dicing. I’m going to be off and play a while. See ya Rincy!” Pidgeon said, then flocked off. “Do you mind if we sit down?” “Alright Madame Evo. There’s an empty table.”

“Please call me Vulpine by the way.” Rincewind smiled. “Then you can call me Rincewind.” The bar filled up, music started playing. “Is the one you’re with always so grumpy?” “Tybalt is just protecting me.” “He looks strong for sure.” “So do you!” Vulpine blushed. So did Rincewind. Music started playing, the bar went wild.

A while later, Tybalt returned with the drinks before being pulled away again to the gambling table by Pidgeon. It took a few more songs before Rincewind had the guts to ask Vulpine out to dance. Then a certain song started to play. A song Vulpine loved very much. She couldn’t help herself and started humming with the tune. A thing which didn’t go unheard by the members of the band. They stopped playing. “Lovely voice you have there miss.” The violinist, an old man. “Would you care singing with us on this one?” Vulpine blushed, the whole bar encouraging her to sing. Vulpine then nodded to the violinist who smiled. “That’s mouse, that’s Jay, Truth on the flute, Christiana on the piano and they call me Teach.”

Rincewind bowed, holding out his hand to take her to dance. The band started playing again, Vulpine sung whilst she danced and the bar was silent. When she was done singing, the bar exploded in cheers and applause. As the night progressed, Rincewind and Vulpine grew closer and closer together. They danced all night until Vulpine pulled Rincewind outside. “Let’s sit somewhere in the fresh air ok?” Right next to the bar was a park. Vulpine guided Rincewind into it and they placed themselves ‘neath a tree, a tree which looked like it had stood there for ages and ages. Tybalt and Pidgeon had followed them though. Pidgeon smiled. “You lied, she is not from Evo.” Tybalt smiled as well. “That’s right, we are Cybertron. You two are Sanctus right?” Pidgeon nodded. Tybalt left, Pidgeon followed. The couple were alone now. They shuffled closer and closer to one another. Then, under the beauty of full moon, they kissed.

chapter 5

 

Alright everybody, be ready….




this is the battle.



Chapter 5: DARK


A spy crept out of the dark. “What is it Leech?” The spy crept. “I have news for you, ohh great one.” Foxface grunted. “Speak, insolent worm. Please me and you’ll be rewarded.” The spy smirked. “You’re daughter is in danger, kind lady, fallen into the evil clutches of that Sanctus man’s child, Rincewind.” Cybertron turned pale. “On whose authority have you this information?” The spy acted saddened. “My own lady. Unspeakable horrors, your child tortured.” Foxface turned paler. “Vulpine…” Foxface shouted “ALEX!! GET OVER HERE!” Then new one ran. “What is it mylady Cybertron?” A raging woman. “I’VE HAD MY FILL OF THAT DAMN SANCTUS! WE GO TO WAR, NOW! PREPARE THE MEN. I WANT BLOOD!” Alex scurried away. “MEN, WAKE UP! THE MISTRESS WANTS BLOOD. TONIGHT WE FIGHT!” The new one spoke. The men shouted. “TO THEE WE GIVE OUR BLOOD!” A woman of crazed stature now emerged. “BLOOD! WHAHAHAHA! WE”LL SHOW THOSE SANCTUS’S WHAT WE’RE MADE OFF!”

A spy crept out of the dark. “What is it Leech?” The spy crept. “I have news for you, ohh great one.” Bravd grunted. “I’m rather busy Leech, my son is missing and…” Leech interrupted. “The news I have is about him, sir. Foxface, the heartless woman, has sent her wicked daughter to ensnare your son, whilst out in the gardens.” Bravd cried. “TO ARMS!”

What happened then needs no explanation. A battle of huge magnitude ensued. Both Cybertron and Sanctus left their respective homes and went out on a path of war. “WAR!” they shouted, a war they wanted. It wasn’t only the two most powerful families which were about to get locked into an epic battle. No, not only them at all. They were the most powerful families in the city of Karmina. Sanctus had half of the families aligned with them. Cybertron the other. One had Ares, the other had Tiamat. Both called upon the favour of their families aligned. Both called upon their gods to aid them in battle. The gods did not disappoint them.

What of our two lovers you might ask? Well, the tragedy of this event did not go unnoticed. Not to them and neither to their guardians. The words of war spread through the city like wildfire. Our couple were sitting under that old tree when they heard word of war ringing through the night’s sky. “War, Cybertron and Sanctus are at war!” They stood up. “Mother”, “Father” they replied. They turned and looked each other in the eyes, gazing in disbelief. “You are from Sanctus?” “You are from Cybertron?” Vulpine began to mutter in shame. “I… am sorry…I…” Rincewind smiled. “No need to apologise for a deceit we both made. Vulpine, I don’t care what your family is.” “Neither I about yours, Rincewind.” They both blushed and at the same time said: “I love you, for now until forever, Till death do us part.” Then: “We will stop this war. Make them see.” They went on their way, to a war zone, to their fate.

chapter 6

 

The bells chime….




the end is nigh.



Chapter 6: MIDNIGHT



The two mighty forces met each other at the place it all began. They met at the arena, centre of Karmina and its dark lore. This time however, they didn’t go inside. They chose Karmina square, with the arena on the background, as the host of this battle. As always in these stories, the weather turned for the worst. The gods began to meddle with the battle. It started to rain, started to thunder, the moon and starry sky blocked, their purity safeguarded from the onslaught by a blanket of clouds. The first bolt of lightning came shooting down, it touched the ground right in the middle of the warring sides. Approval by Zeus, starting the battle. More bolts of lightning shot down from the sky, hitting various buildings throughout the town, setting them alight. The two sides charged, weapons drawn, they hit. What then ensued was a beautiful chime of weapons clashing, rain, thunder and fire. A song of storm and fire.

Meanwhile our couple brave ran through town, shedding off their disguise to run more easily, a town in disarray. By now, fights had erupted throughout town. Factions had split off from the two warring sides on Karmina square, chasing one another, through town. Other factions had arisen from the chaos, bands of thieves who made good use of the chaos had started to pillage the town. Through this town, littered with bodies, children crying, people screaming, our couple, followed by their guardians, made their way to the centre. The going was tough though. The fiery heat made running unbearable, not to mention that a lack of disguise made them be attacked every once in a while. In the end though, they made it to the centre.

“Where are they?” Vulpine shouted. “There, beside the fountain!” Rincewind replied. Their guardians entangled in war. They ran. “I hope we’re not to late.” “We can’t be to late.” “You’re right, we’ll make them see.” “We’ll end this war.” “For everybody.” “We’ll stop them.” “Together” “Yes, together.” They held hand. They reached the centre.

“BWAHAHA!” A woman screeched. “I’LL HAVE YOUR BLOOD BRAVD! I’LL ENJOY SPILLING EVERY LAST DROP!” Slash, slash. “I’LL RIP OUT YOUR HEART AND SURRENDED IT TO TIAMAT WRETCHED WOMAN!” Slash... “STOP!” Two people stood in between, holding hands. “Please stop this war!” “OUT OF THE WAY STUPID CHILD!” “No, we wont!” ”THEN DIE AS WELL!” Bravd and foxface drew their blades. Two strikes, two bodies fell, holding hands. With their dying breath they turned to each other. With their dying breath they said “I love you.” Then death, silence. “No...My son…” Bravd gazed in eternity. “What? Tiamat? No, it wasn’t my fault lord, you saw it yourself, he didn’t, so I …I…AHHHH.” Bravd’s chest, his heart, started to burn, and then it stopped. Bravd had died as well. “Vul…pine.” Foxface muttered, her mind lost. Somewhere a bell struck twelve.

chapter 7

 

A warm fire…




…grandpa telling a story.



Chapter 7: NIGHT



“What happened then Grandpa?” An old man, sitting in his favourite chair by the fire smiled. Three tiny faces stared at him with wonder. “Yes…” The old man grabbed his pipe and took another tug. He made an o shape with his mouth and blew out the smoke which formed a neat circle. “Well, with their leaders gone, Tybalt and Pidgeon took over leadership of the families. With the whole city burning, looters rampaging, they had little time to mourn for Vulpine and Rincewind. They both set their men to try and extinguish the fires, battle the looters and get the city to quiet down a little at least. After that, they started to rebuild Karmina. A huge funeral was held for our couple. A funeral which the whole city visited. When all was done they went on and tried to create peace between the two families. It took a lot of effort and coaxing to get it signed, but it worked and we had peace at last. A statue of Vulpine and Rincewind was erected at the place they died, near the fountain in Karmina square. There it can still be seen today. Standing there as a reminder. To make us remind the story I just told you, so we’ll never let it happen again.” Somewhere a bell strikes one. “Ohh my, it’s one am already? You’re mother will kill me if she finds out I’ve let you three stay up so late.” The children objected. “Aww, but grandpa! You haven’t told us why we’re at war again now!” “Yeah, tell us!” The old man smiled. “That’s another story. A story for me to tell you another time. Now off with you three, to bed with you now!” Under heavy protest the three children went to bed.

A man walked in the room. The old man looked up whilst taking yet another tug from his pipe. “Hello, and who might you be?” The man walking in the room bowed. “Sorry for the intrusion at this late an hour sir Teach. Your butler finally showed me in here after a lot of nagging from my end. I came here with a request.” The old man looked pleasantly surprised. “You must’ve really nagged if Hamlet showed you in here. He usually forces me to go to bed around this hour. Well, spit it out then!” The man bowed again. “Allow me to introduce myself. I am William. I have come to ask you if you are willing to tell me the story of Vulpine and Rincewind. I want to write a play about it. The current war demands a revival of their tale. It seems to have been forgotten, together with its message of love.” Teach signed William to sit down in the armchair next to him. “Do you want some tea? Madame MacBeth, could you bring us some tea please? And some scotch as well. I expect this to be a long night.” Teach’s pipe had run out of tobacco by now, so he calmly prepared another pipe. Lady MacBeth walked in with a tray with two cups, a steaming pot of tea and a bottle of scotch, also with two glasses. She placed it on the table, poured the tea in and walked away again. Teach lit his pipe and took a tug. “Well, let’s see now…A long, long time ago on our world…There was a struggle.”