( GW2 ) Short stories

[Rumze]

Dance me to Sleep:


When I was young, and i got tucked in for bed, my mother and I had a ritual.

Id get ready for bed, and after I had said my prayers, my mother would come up to my room and we would dance.

She'd hold me, and we would sway across the room, with lots of twirling and spining and beautiful lines.

Of course, I wasnt the most graceful child, but my mother... well she moved like a dream . She would spin , and twirl , all the while holding on to me and I would go for a ride of wonder, squealing in delight.

And while we danced, she would spin tales of exotic lands far away.

Elona of the scorching sun.
A land exotic and mysterious , the birthplace of our sixth goddess Kormir.
She told tales of the dancing warriors , who sang out enchantments to aid them in battle, their words hitting the right notes, their scythes whirling through foes.

And even though I wasnt the best dancer, I was a good listener.
I may have not been the best at footwork, but those nights of movement and mystery sparked a hunger for the unkown me, in the scholarly arts.

And those nights came in handy indeed. Weaving strands of air and water to form ice, chanting runes with a focused mind, dancing across a battlefield leaving skeins of fire and earth in my wake, I feel like the dancers.

So now every night before I go to sleep, I dance in my rooms.
Ive gotten better but I still cannot match my mother's grace.

[Rumze]

Focus


Focus.

I kept repeating that to myself, over and over. My muscles were getting tired from holding their position. My eyes once on my target, had now started to wander, making me force them back when I noticed.

Pitter patter.

The fall rain had started a while ago, and my position hadnt protected me from it. It dripped from my hair, and my clothes were already drenched. I'd have shivered if I could but it would have scared my target away.

Wait. I think he was about to take bait.

Closer, closer.

Wait for it. Not too soon.

YES! With a quick yank, I pulled back sharply, expecting to see my prey gasping its last.

But no! Disappointment. Again!

"WHY DO YOU MOCK ME SO ?! WHY FISHIE MUST YOU TORMENT ME?"

My roar of anger frightened the birds nearby.

Plop.

Sigh, apparently they didnt take kindly to it either.

"Must you be so loud and obnoxious?" The girl glared at me, from her spot under tree nearby. "Come Adrian, I know of a waterfall not far from the lake." The couple took off, giving me haughty looks as they vacated their spot.

Ah well.

I moved to the now vacant spot and reattached the lure to the line.

With a simple cast , I returned to my task.

Builds patience, my ass.

[Rumze]

Wine at the beach

Sunset reds and dawn sky blues.

The sun blazed its good night through the hushed waters of the bay.

As I drank the last of the black berry wine, the quaggan began to sing their kids to sleep. As the lullaby echoed around the beach, the lights started coming on , like fireflies blinking into wakefulness .

All around the bay, the lights of lion's arch flickered awake, returning shadows to the city.
These were not the cool shadows of day that folks would seek out to gain some relief.

No not those.
These were the quiet ones.
Pools of darkness that kissed no cooler than the light, they promised instead secrecy. Perhaps a hint of danger. Danger that was never too far in this nautical city.

Drunken caroling slowly increased , as more singers joined in.

As the reds and violets of dusk faded, the soft gold of the earthbound lights took their place along with the diamonds, sapphires, winking rubies that painted the midnight blue of the sky.

As the days heat broke into the misty cool of night, the city of lions arch woke up, truly owning its place as the city of the night.

And I seem to have run out of booze.

Time to go caroling .

[Rumze]

Loyal friend

I watched the diminutive creature run around the lab.
Beakers were hastily lifted, powders were sneezed at, flames were started.

And still the Asura didn't stop. A sniff here, a stir there. A pinch of this, a packet of that. Gears turned left, lights tapped as they blinked on.

A quick wave back to me, no help needed as she whizzed by.


Run to the left, lunge towards a falling book. Order metal man to get more flour.
Green stuff added to that tray, doors to hot containers closed, while cold wafted out of another one forgotten open.

Sigh.
I hope she remembers to feed me.
Being a loyal friend to an asuran is such a pain.

Oh nEvermind, there's something to eat in the cold box.
I wonder how much I can eat before she notices.

Let's find out.

[Rumze]

Lone Wolf

Young ones these days.

Back in my day , we respected our elders. If we saw them doing something strange, we didn't label them as crazy!

I tell you what, I learned a lot by watching my elders.

These kids these days. They think I'm crazy.

Ha!

Why does that old lady travel alone? Does she want to get killed? Doesn't she revere the wolf spirit? What's wrong with her?!

Fools. I've been a wolf shaman nearly all my life. I know the ways of the pack better than most can claim to.

Besides , I'm a necromancer.

I'm never alone.

[Rumze]

Its in my blood

I have fought all my life.

I have fought since I was but a cub. Reviled for my father's allegiance, I earned my spot in my pack. Barely.

I have fought the ghosts that threaten us at every side. The past haunts me in many ways.

I have fought myself. I am good enough, and I am worthy. Self doubt plagues me but I fight every day to over come.

I have fought my race's demons. Ironic that I understand humans so well because of my family flaming past. I have to understand and have learned empathy and sympathy . Something other charr should consider learning more often.

I have fought despair. Every fight is worth the effort even if it's just to maintain the status quo . Every fight is for a better tomorrow . And every fight helps define who I am, who we are.

And I will fight tomorrow. I will fight till the day I don't need to.

And that day, I will finally rest.

[Rumze]

Memories


"That old woman is hogging the best spot by the fire against Stern!"

Sighing, the bartender picked up another flagon and continued drying. "Leave her alone Barr, she just wants to get warm."

"Ha! Warm, that's a good one. Didn't take you for a comedian you old fool. The only thing a Norn needs is battle and beer to stay warm! That's prime boasting location that is"

The burly man rubbed his jaw , glancing over at the woman huddled by the fire.

"I wouldn't be drudge her the spot, truth be told Stern but that one is a stick in the mud. Always going on about children doing stupid things, learn some manner , pay attention to your elders! She treats us like children and she cant be much older than us! No Norn can take that kind of tone for long without asking for a fight."


"Barr, I'm tellin ya again. Leave her alone. Let her sit next to the fire."

"But she cant be feeling the cold! By the spirits man, she just doing it to be petty! The same respect your elders hogwash she always spouts."


"Some memories are colder than the coldest touch of winter." Her voice drifted over from the fireplace, quiet and sad. Her normal fiestiness gone, this was the tone of a tale and the bar silenced itself as she started to tell it.


"It was many winters ago, before we fully realised how much danger the Ice Jormagg posed.

We were Norn! We met challenges head on, and this was just another one. Our people would come out stronger with more stories to tell.

My sister and I were eager to show our prowess. We set out on hunting trips , tracking down the ice beasts , the cold taint infesting our home. We slew them where we could and returned home triumphant each time.

One night as we were setting out, I saw a bad omen in the wind.

" You know , I thnk there is something bigger than what we can handle out there. Perhaps we should wait, join up with other hunting parties."

"Harrumph! And let them get all the glory! You are too timid sister, how will you become a shaman without some courage!"

"Being a shaman is about learning wisdom! Knowing your limits is part of it. I repeat, this hunt has bad omens. We should wait."

We argued for a good part of the hour, the moon rising above us, lighting the snow swept forest.

Finally, I was worn down and my sister gleefully set our pace.

Almost immediately, we came across tracks. Frost touched prints, leaving icy marks on the trees and plants, causing them to wither. Abominations! this affront to the spirits had to be stopped.

We both gave ourselves to the hunt, and we tracked them to a clearing.Feasting on the carcasses of a herd of deer. No not feasting, defiling. They were killing for the sake of it.

With a warcry my sister charged into their midst with me following close behind. Thuds and curses flew as we dodged and weaved. Once the initial surprise wore off, we realised we were surrounded.

Perfect.

We used their numbers against them. Missed claws tore into their own allies, and the blood that spilled was mainly there. Seconds, minutes , perhaps more passed.

The moon shone down onto a scene of carnage. But we had made it. Just barely.

"See a glorius hunt! Tales will be sung.."

She was cut off by a loud roar and the shadows of wings flying over head. A Claw had come for us.

"We can fight this sister! Quick let us get to the trees and force it to land."

But we both knew those words for what they were . Bravado. Its what Norn always do. Laugh in the face of danger even as it pounds our last breath out of us. Glorious , yes but there it was killing us.

My sister turned to run towards the forest. She didn't see it coming.

My blow took her out, and she crumpled passed out on the snow. A quick toss of the dead corpses covered her.

Then I turned and ran and screamed at the top of my lungs.

The claw heard me and it came, its wings flapping louder and louder.

And I laughed. For I am Norn and even in my dying breaths , I knew I had defied it complete victory. My sister would live.

They say wisdom comes too late sometimes. But it came just in time for me. And for my baby sister"


" They found me passed out underneath the bodies. A hunting party had set out when the claw had been spotted. They found my sisters weapons and some pieces .

You ask why I sit next to the fire, Ill tell you why. My memories chill me, my wisdom came at the expense of my sister.

And now I do what she would have done. Every day I live, I live to honor her memory and sacrifice. And when I complain about your stupidity , its because no one should have to learn wisdom the hard way. Maybe if I knock enough sense into your heads, more Norn will be around in the years to come.

Now shut your whining and bring me some ale and leave me to my memories. And go work off some that gut that comes from too much carousing and not enough work.

Young ones these days.

Harrumph."

[Rumze]

Icy touches

Snow is falling.

I can feel it feathering my skin , butteryfly kisses down my cheek.

Its cold. I can no longer feel my limbs, and Im slowly drifting. But the scary part is the cold.

I've never felt it like this before. Its sharp, biting with every breathe, but even the bite is fading .

I've never feared death. I've laughed at the world, eagerly accepted its challenges, steadfast and strong,  strong and proud. Laughing at the odds, jumping into the fray.

Now as I lay here, cushioned by the snow, painting the landscape with my life, pink blossoming across the ground, death is not what is scaring me. Its the cold.

I have never felt it like this. Icy tendrils sweeping across my body. Stealing my breath, leeching my body heat.

I am Norn, the cold has never touched like this.

Is this how Jormagg drove my people south? Not with the promise of death but this alien sensation. This loss of our fire, dampening of the flame that burns bright in us , in the spirits, in all that we revere about life.

Spirits guide me to the Mists. Take me away before Jormagg steals my flame, makes me into ice, both in flesh and spirit.

Forgive me Esme. I tried to hold on while you brought back help. But at this my last hour, I am still Norn. And I will not let the cold claim me.

I will wait for you in the Mists my sister.

May the cold never dampen your spirits.

Burn bright.

[Rumze]

The sun rises.

The sky is starting to turn.

The dark velvet blue of the night studded with its starry gems is slowly fading into a clear soft blue. The kind of blue one would see in forget-me-nots or the baby blue eyes of a quaggan child.

As the blue sparks across the sky, it paints the land with its glow and promise . The birds stir awake , and start practicing their morning calls, half asleep chirps as if they are trying to hit notes and remember their place in an orchestra.

The dew is starting to become visible, jewels catching the faint bits of light, adorning early morning frost, nature's jewelry.

And then the sun starts to rise and the world wakes.

Reds and golds burst from the horizon and at that signal the birds launch into their songs, woven together to be the symphony that greets the new day.

Light hits the dew, and what merely glistened now bursts into light, the frost that held them melting away.
The dew starts to move and fall from leaf to leaf, catching the light in their dance, so the forest seems to be lit by beads of light gentling raining down.

Light dances up the spectrum as the sun continues to rise , waking up the world with warm golds and bright blue skies, the clouds their counterpoint with roses, violets, reds and whispers of white.

This is my time.

This is Dawn and this is my dream come to life.

This is life.

[Rumze]

Rain falls, as I awake.

The world smells clean, refreshed. If only it matched what I see.

Crystal shards dot the surreal field, awash in purples and pinks, gleaming in the rosy sunset. My team picks it way carefully around razor edged fascia and lavender, a wrong stumble waiting to paint them crimson.

I feel like ive stumbled across a well crafted illusion, but no Mesmeric spell is this intricate , this real .

So real , it mocks my senses , my limited exposure to the world.

The dream never prepared me for this.

I fear the world is to complacent after the victory over the risen. Yes, we beat the green , black fetid armies of risen but I fear we will be blindsided by the vibrancy of the branded.

After all, what nightmares could pink hold.

We shall know all to soon.

[Rumze]

It's been a long road. And honestly , I'm tired.

Like I said, a long road , and boy does it stretch out. Id chuckle to myself, but the cold air has left my mouth dry, and it's hard to just swallow.

Cold air, sharp wind, white trees and a bright sun. And of course,the road.

It's funny how distance gives you moments of time to appreciate what you have, clarity to see what is important.

And right now, all I can say with any surety and with much gratitude, is that I'm glad that I'm an Asura and this dolyak is carrying me.

Thank heavens for common sense. Pity it didn't help me pack a bottle of water.

Next time.

[Rumze]

Summer rain.

It falls like watery curtains as far as I can see.

Gentle and refreshing, painting the world darker as water does but also crisper, making everything pop.

The pink flowers are no longer pale pastels swaying in the wind, but sharp pops of richness standing out in the grass.

The leaves no longer seem to float in a breeze, but are conduits for water, with tiny waterfalls above me , streaming down to the ground, all to the music of the rain pitter pattering along the leafy ceiling.

The small shafts of sunlight stand out even more. Not just content to be gold, they shimmer across the spectrum , rose-reds to soft yellows with hints of violet. Showing that there is more to see if you only paid attention.

And the breeze that causes the curtains to sway is hot and heavy, causing sweat to bead and clothes to cling. The rain is nature's loving side.

Ahh summer rain, you remind me of the love that I lost . Your passion and gentleness reminds me of what he taught me.

And while the world is still here when the rain is over, its not quite the same vibrant place I had grown to appreciate , something that only happened when it could be shared.

I should be sad at the memory and the rain should make me cry .

But it doesnt.

How could it?

It reminds me of the happy moments . Those cherished memories are still with me when the rain stops and I carry them them with me a while longer.

The rain invigorates me, like it invigorates the world.

Summer rain.

You make my heart ache and make it smile at the same time.

You, my friend, are the perfect weather for this charr.

Summer rain to go with my sad tears and wistful smile.

[Rumze]

Sword slash right.

Thrust, turn and slash up left.

Back on left, pivot forward, lunge.

Foward step, right slash, twist round, bring in for left slash, drop and then double upward slash.

Guarding stance, sword tip down, legs spread, right foot turned forward.

Double grip , full body lunge , extend elbows into shoulders, Lunge forward tip slicing up.

Pull back, right slash back , turn into it, left shoulder present, guarding stance with sword tip at rest at right foot.

Forward step right, right slash up, forward step left, reverse grip, left slash up, right hand grip draw sword back, left punch to nose, double grip sword hilt chin bash, step back, kneel down, sword double grip blade up, stand up from kneel, sword tip up lunge , impale and follow through.

Step back, quick slash left right down.

Sheathe.

"Warm up done. Time to go put down some Ice Brood. "