Lycan's fable

Chapter 1
The Donation

Chapter Description: The first chapter of lycan's fable! graciously edited by ferver.

Once upon a time, in a faraway land known as Albion, there lived a dark and feared warrior known as Lycan. Lycan was not a nice person; his vile deeds had stained his heart and his soul. He wore a suit of blackened plate armor which even now carried on it the blood of the many innocents that he had murdered. He strode toward his destination, a temple, methodically with intent to reap what Lycan believed he was entitled to.

The temple, dedicated to the Deity known as Avo, was located in a region known as the Witchwood. The Witchwood was calm today and as always teaming with life. Small animals dashed across the roads as the dark warrior made his passing. The lush trees lined the road and seemed to almost slink back away from the shadowy presence of Lycan. The temple was shortly ahead.

Lycan walked forward as he eyed the temple that resided in front of him. The sight of it made him want to puke. It was white and pure, radiating feelings of peace and tranquility. The holy men, priests of Avo, performed menial tasks and froze as they felt the approach to something that in this calm must have felt like an abomination.

Lycan smiled, he had heard rumor that Avo would grant a special gift to anyone who would donate a large sum of money to one if the temples and that had made Lycan curious. Prior to coming here Lycan had passed through a fringe village and slaughtered the citizens that resided there. He took great pleasure as he slashed the throats of the guards and couldn’t help but chuckle at the sight of a mother who had become pinned to a wall when one of his quarrels had pinned her to it through the head. Her body would rot there for some number of days before any travelers found it. Lycan did not truly care however, he had garnered the money that the rumors said would be needed and he planned on seeing if the rumors were true.

The tale he heard had told him that if one donated more than fifty thousand gold pieces to the temple of Avo in the Witchwood that the warrior would be granted the gift of youth. Lycan relished that thought. He was getting older and slower, soon he would have to consider stopping his adventures. He shuddered at the thought of that, the idea that he would have to stop his path terrified him, an honest day’s work was not his brand of existence. He enjoyed his life and lived by the code that said if he could take what he wanted from someone else then it was his right to own it. He had even killed his own beloved sister so that he would have more power. The idea of staving off the coming weakness of age appealed to him more than any other thought in the world.

The priests of the temple fell back as Lycan climbed the stairs to an altar in the center of the temple. The Overseer, or the head priest, of the temple looked at the visage of death that stood before him and knew that he dare not speak. Everyone knew of Lycan, the man who killed on whim and who had not only murdered his sister but there was talk that he had taken the life of his own wife as well. The priest knew that he would not hesitate to end his own time on this mortal coil as well if he were to become displeased.

Lycan threw to the Overseer the bag of gold that he carried, nearly knocking the priest to the ground. “That money,” he said, “Is my donation to this church. I wish my prize now.” He stated straight and to the point taking a kind of pleasure at watching the small priest tremble as he backed away.

“Your youth...” The man said with his voice quivering, “Will indeed be restored, however the amount that you have given, it is said that Avo will reward over time.” He closed his eyes, if the knowledge that he would have to wait upset him then the Overseer knew that he would be seeing Avo face to face in very short order.

Lycan grunted, he did not care either way but knew better than to let the conversation end at that. “I had better get my reward old man... If I don’t, I assure you that I will be back and I will be in not so giving of a mood.” His lips stretched into a cruel grin beneath his helmet as he turned and descended the temple steps. He didn’t care, not really, however an entire village had died for that donation, it would be a shame if the money were wasted.

Lycan removed a magical seal from his pocket. It was a guild seal, designed to allow him to teleport to locations that he had already visited. The small golden shield glowed brightly for a moment before it carried Lycan away on the wings of magic. Almost instantly he found himself standing in the cruel cursed land of the Darkwood. Here in the shadows crept beasts known as Balverines, large hulking humanoid beasts similar in form to transformed werewolves. Lycan had a different name for them however... Prey... He decided to wait for his reward here, as he spent time slaying the poor weak creatures that thought they ruled the night.

End of chapter 1