glass clinks on Isaac's lips as they sip their pint, what follows is the sound of glass shattering. "Isaac, I'm gonna need you to leave if one more of my glasses break, next time bring ya own flagon, I'll top ya up instead", the barkeep says with stern urgency.
"Why not just give me one of your flagons, I see them right behind the bar" Isaac slurs.
the barkeep with a smug look reply's "these flagons are reserved for the city guard when they visit, I know to keep these topped up, a little code of honour of mine. A way to provide the city."
"That's a pretty ridiculous code, but sure humour me, how often do you see the guard in these parts of Graygard, there's a drunken fight casually taking place every 20 minutes right out that door" Isaac points to the front of the pub humorously. "Surely the guards aren't present these parts".
The barkeep looks at Isaac with annoyance "maybe you've had your fill tonight I'd suggest getting some rest, you've got a fight tomorrow right?".
"Yea I have a fight but I'm not too worried, this Yvil guy with a funny way of spelling Evil, I'm there for fun anyway. But I'll heed your warning and head off, g'night."
Isaac Saunders off through the still active nightlife of Graygard, the night air brushing off his grey, cold skin. Isaac is a gargoyle. He's 6'1", maybe aged 24 with long grey hair tied behind his head, his stony skin with a strange softness yet still firm provides him with enhanced endurance.
Isaac stops to gaze at the sky, dimmed by the blazing fires of graygard, the city of wealth and fortune. For those who see the glass half full anyway. Isaac has seen the city for what it was, just as cold and grey as his very skin, he feels at home this way.
"Hahaha, Isaac!!" A voice calls, Isaac slowly turns to see Z, a handsome elf with expensive silks tapered along his body, with pitch-black hair that reaches the lower back. The elf pulls a pouch from his pocket and hands it to Isaac.
"What is this Z? And what's the getup?" Isaac says precariously
The man morphs into something very different, a shorter halfing with ginger hair in about their 20s wearing tattered leathers and cloths. "Oh haha this is like 300 gold pieces, I stole it off the cider house treasurer it's nothing when you look like Alexander himself" Z giggles.
Isaac looks to him with a smile as he hands the pouch back, "you know you're getting too good at that, haha. I may need it someday so keep practising I guess.
"I heard you're fighting tomorrow, king Vellemy will for sure be watching, you nervous?" Z says jokingly.
"Ha, your funny but no never nervous, even if I lose it's just a fight at the end of the day. I do it for fun, not fame you know this." Isaac states.
They both continue to chat, whilst walking along the gravel path before Z trails off home.
Finally, Isaac stands at the gates of Graygard, the lycanthropic soldiers grizzled in fur stand watch in the night and wave him through. Isaac sees the sky once more as he strays further from the rising embers, stars begin glowing brighter, he notices a particularly large light red moon and begins to reminisce to himself.
"What were those stories, the ones my father told me, oh.. right haha the age of humanity, that was 300?.. 400 years ago now right. He always told me monsters such as us were legend and remained stories to scare children, well I know it's gotta be true but, could it be all that important if what happened happened, 'A black flash, followed by blindness followed by pain, Then you looked to the people around you and yourself, all monsters,' he said, monsterification they called it. or at least back then it was monsters, can't call each other that when you too exist as their kind although different." Isaac continues to ponder his likeness as a gargoyle before finally reaching home.
He comes to this rickety staircase that sticks out the edge of Graygard plateau, he follows the siding steps until he is finally to his house which lay embedded in the side away from the city chatter with the view of a lifetime, overlooking the great fields of siflsheim.
Isaacs home is quaint with a small fireplace that bellows out the side through some iron piping. He sleeps atop a regular bed although comfort is a numb feeling but remains to beat perching on building corners and statue pedestals as his father did. He looks to a book on his shelf above the bed, brushes the dust off, sits and begins to read to his best ability. It's a book about fairytales predating the current era, a lot of people he knows as close friends even family like Z are on display in this book, depicted as horrifying and deadly, that may be true for some but he's known a couple of ghouls who took up the farming life, always supported the people, but it's rather unsettling some of the tales detailed in here. Finally, Z turns to the centre of the book curious as to what could be, as he never truly made the effort to read. The pages part and a small piece of paper unattached fall to Isaac's feet, it's a note from his father.
'Isaac, this book, it's honestly a little inappropriate in these times but I thought since you wanted to be like me what better way than to have an uh bestiary.. a little insight on your opponents haha. It's your choice to use it but we girsts didn't need the help anyway, I think you'll find that out someday. -your father.' At the bottom of the page, some of Isaac's father's granite is rubbed off with a grey smear. Coincidentally this very page is the gargoyle insert, "ha he figured I might be curious about myself at the very least well today's your day old man." He begins to read, 'gargoyles- stony complexion and a gaze ever so fierce. Sitting atop buildings and pedestals they look upon the humans, once thought to be a ward of evil a dormant piece of art and slight function, but rather now believed to be cunning constructs of the devil itself, living for 1000 years or so gargoyles continue to scheme and plot, maybe those disappearances were not by fools actions but by the sneakiness of such beast.'. "Thousand years aye, looks iv got a hell of a life ahead of scheming and kidnapping people" he giggles to himself before laying his head to his pillow.
Isaac begins to doze away.
The hot sun peeking through his window has begun to turn his head into an oven top, moisture sizzles and steams off. He looks outside to find he's slept through the morning and into the afternoon. He stands and puts on his daily attire, a black tunic with some leather strappings for armour, he didn't necessarily need pants, for the most part, gargoyles procreated unusually in these times, unnecessary information Isaac always felt. Finally, he walks to his door with tea freshly brewed and stands upon his outdoor overlook of the plains.
"fight should start in 2 hours or so, better stretch," a soft voice says from above him as he walks onto his overlook. He looks above and finds what is a woman but her skin is green and warm, leaves and yellow petals fall from her as she rustles, small patches of seeds and leaves cover her body.
A vine from her hand stretches down to tickle Isaac's nose as she smiles to herself, to which Isaac responds annoyed "so you just hang out here do you Synthia, don't Flowans prefer the open field in this heat, not the side of a cliff."
"Well yes but I'm here to ensure your ready, Z was worried you'd had too much last night"
Although Isaac is numb to some physical feelings a hangover is not included, he grabs his head as his body thuds slightly. "Okay fine, he had the right idea but when were you in on the fighting rings, if it's to support me, then I gotta be honest I'm surprised.".
"Haha well after all your father was pretty close to my brother and father so it feels right to honour the legacy. Your a top fighter Isaac but this Yvil guy is much less of a joke than his name implies, he comes from some rich Aaracokra family who got their start in the fighting business over in bandit cove and moved up here, too much money for a small life they say". Synthia smugly replies.
"Well, wait in the arena I'll see you there before the fight same with Z, got some stuff I do before a fight."
"I'll still do as I please.. but I will still be waiting, remember to strap up extra you know they don't like you using the stony fist advantage too much," Synthia says cockily as she takes her leave crawling the cliffside with her vines.
Isaac smiles and turns to enter his home again pulling across a drape that hid his back wall, behind are his fist marks and chipped rock, Isaac has punched this wall thousands of times, he looks to the other 2 walls with drapes hiding rough edges of fist left behind before beginning to lay hard punch after punch into the same spot, chips fly past and dust envelops the small home, 20mins past and he stops, begins to catch his breath, puts his finger to the centre "3 inches, the cliff gets harder as I go, haha or I'm just getting soft". He grabs his hand wraps and elbow wraps before heading out to the arena.
Isaac walks and above people of all shapes and sizes fly overhead, he attempts to move his wings but they seize up and he continues walking.
Before long he stands at the entrance to the Graygard arenas, this large building doesn't house a single ring as some others do, instead, 5 rings lay next to each other, purely by king Vellemys design as he enjoys watching multiple fights at once.
Isaac enters and what catches his eye is the right-hand man of Vellemy, Dalen a tall skeleton wearing royalty attire, a frilly collar and a clean white tunic with long black stockings and a black robe to cover the rest. , this usually indicates the king himself will not be making an appearance, Isaac doesn't care for gloating or fame so this could be a blessing Isaac thinks 'wouldn't wanna stand out too much.'
"Oi sadsack we're over here". Isaac smiles and heads towards Z and Synthia who stand at the first set of seats for the rings. "Isaac, you ready, looks the king didn't come but everyone is still hyping up this Yvil bloke." Z says worryingly.
Synthia speaks as well "he's been talking crap about your old man, saying things about his loss 20 years ago proved some bullshit I can't remember."
Isaac looks to both Z and Synthia, begins to wrap his fists up and elbows as to follow regulation, "it's just talk, all fighters do it, I'll do mine in the ring, show him a Girst fist is nothing to talk shit about.
'DING DING!!' Fighters set a and b to your rings and await orders.' A voice booms
Isaac walks to the ground that's been cleared and painted, his bare feet making a too familiar grinding noise on the stone. He stands to one side and waits 2 minutes before a tall feathered man, looks to be a kenku that grew out of the nest Isaac thinks, black feathers cover larger portions of the body, wearing only small shorts and fist wrappings to hide their talons at the end of their fingers to keep the fight clean. Beady blue eyes stare into Isaac as this man walks to the ring edge.
"Isaac isn't it" Yvil talks with a soft posh tone "your father fought mine at one stage, even fighting my grandfather before him, although my family are terrific fighters they are weaker than I. as to this is why I will not succumb to you not even close haha" the Aaracrockra man continues to wrap his hands before taking a stance and shadow box awaiting the signal, All with a sense of determination in his eyes.
"Yea call me Isaac, why not, but I won't be letting my father into your mouth any longer than you are still able to talk. Which for your consideration won't be too long I suspect." Isaac laughs to himself, Z and synth stand aside Isaac hears them giggling at each other too.
Seems it's a big day, everyone thought to see vellemy, but a larger crowd doesn't change anything Isaac supposes. Another man stands to the ringside, the referee he pulls his fingers to his lips before busting out a whistle the fight begins.
Isaac approaches with caution, as does Yvil, Isaac takes a left step with a right feint into jab but yvil deftly dodges and returns with a right swing clocking Isaac but he remains unfazed and attempts the same. The fight quickly grows intense as these two jealously trade blows before finally Yvil backs off and begins to circle Isaac who is crumbling in softer parts, Yvil now bloody at the beak and fists,
"your skin is nothing like the wood from bandit cove, those tall reds have a bark of steel. Do you think my hollowed bird bones would be too frail to take it? Jokes on you I guess, strength runs in my family's blood." Isaac keeps his guard but reply's with slight wheezing in his tone "I couldn't care how you trained any more than I care for your family, you say you'll beat me but did your family ever beat my father." Yvil grins to this and shouts to Isaac, well if your father is so fuckin great why was he returned in a casket and not on the shoulders of his brethren, a hero like my father huh!?." Isaac's teeth grit tightly to this he manages to hold his anger for time being, but something happens as Yvil comes in for a jab, Isaac's skin loosens yet toughens simultaneously and as Yvil lands the hit he recoils in pain, "Your skin?.. there is no magic allowed! You bloody orphan." But Isaac doesn't listen and returns a blow, blasting Yvil to the edge of the ring luckily yvil manages to raise his arms to block. He looks to Isaac from behind this block and his eyes go red with rage before Isaac could react Yvil is behind him and swings with a blow to Isaac's neck knocking him down but not out. Now both fighters begin taking it too far, as they feel themselves get ever so stronger as the fight continues, slowly the pain dulls and returns like a pulsing machine, finally Yvil is near invisible with his speed until he lands a blow on Isaac's skin that is pure iron ore. The two stop for seconds before retiring to the fight. The referee has called the signal several times but doesn't have the strength to intervene.
"Hey Z" synth yells, "what's going on iv never seen Isaac like this, how is that even possible, he's been a good fighter but this exists out of the realm of possibilities." Z looks flabbergasted of this display worried for his friend he looks to the one man he believes capable of stopping this, Dalen who sits atop the stops simply admiring the display not reacting to it with any true worry, merely an inquisitive nature rests on them. The entire arena has stopped, all watch on this spectacle that remains seemingly endless.
Finally, Yvil steps back and spins powerfully, his wing slingshots, cutting the air, a shockwave glides to Isaac and shatters a piece of his arm off blowing Isaac back. Isaac looks up furious but in a sense of agony unlike ever before, he feels his self get angrier but rather stronger he gets hotter, hotter, the air around Isaac loses its moisture to his heat, Yvil attempts to punch Isaac but the heat singes his feathers far Before he could reach him.
The crowd too feels this extreme heat cooking them even from roughly 30 metres away slowly people begin to step back now further the arena occupants either leave or line the walls, some cooking away just for the opportunity to see the outcome.
Yvil lets out a flurry of air slices on Isaac but these fall short as they rise with the hot air surrounding the two, he to Isaac falling to Isaac's heat, rogue shockwaves change course and manage to injure some commoners who remained watching on star thing at their clothes and skin.
Z looks to Dalen once more who now shows a smug but furious smile as he wipes skeletal sweat from his brow, before long Dalen shouts
"Stop!!" And red light gusts from his fingers. Both Competitors stop in their tracks unable to move, although trying their best, The strain is seen on their faces. "Sleep" and more light now green erupts from Dalen, the two including all who remained pass, out effectively ending the event.
Isaac awakens in a cell, it's cold and damp
Hours pass before finally an armoured man with his body completely sealed approaches Isaac. "Isaac Girst!" The man angrily shouts. "Desolate are forbidden in commoner events, this is illegal of a high degree, especially considering you are unregistered desolate at that". Isaac winces at the man and replies calmly. "Desolate? What do you mean iv fought in that area for years and now it's illegal for me to go, they said my stony skin was fine when wrapped". Isaac suddenly recalls the fight. He thinks to himself, 'well it normally didn't turn out like that as he looks to his hands now returned to their original state of grey stone. The knight in front replies with confusion, "so your newly evolved aye, a late bloomer I'd say, have you ever heard of desolate? Or witnessed powers of such, surely you have been witness to Dalen right hand of the king?." Isaac recalls on the public displays Dalen had procured for the king when he was a kid. He remembers 'magic of the highest degree' they called it, fire and ice shot from his body, Dalen called from the heavens for rain and sun and it provided. But surely this is not similar to him as Dalen was royalty. Isaac begins talking with urgency "fine whatever I am, but I had no intention of getting arrested for it, why am I he-" the knight interrupts "for the injuring of civilians, unregistered desolate, destruction of property, attempting to participate in the civilian contest as desolate. The same charges your friend Yvil is facing, seems you both awoke the power simultaneously, or at least that's what you say, you are to spend the night here, come to the morning king Vellemy will see you and decide your fate.
End of chapter 1
Author note:
I hope you all who read can leave some criticism, I'm very open and I strive to tell a tale that's well crafted