Post by Griffin on Jul 15, 2008 1:42:06 GMT -5
Yeah, forgot I posted the prolouge (edited) up a long time ago. Here's chapter one.
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The sun is shining bright over Caradon this day. The wind playfully twirls the leaves throughout the village trees. Children play in the dirt streets, women move in and out of the house with daily housework, and the army trains for any danger that may befall their land. It was a beautiful day.
Sadly, the people of Caradon don’t appreciate this beauty anymore. The common folk are so used to peace that they take it all for granted. Cassius Beran is one man who truly did appreciate it. He’s seen what war can do to a country. It ruins the earth. It burns the structures. It destroys people’s faith.
Faith. What a powerful thing. This is what Beran trained his men on: faith in their nation, their comrades, and the almighty Volcra above. The armies were out in the fields today, training vigorously to defend their borders. Caradon, though the strongest nation, is surrounded by all the others. It has the most borderline to defend.
Of course, Beran wasn’t all about war. He had an odd knack for painting. His paintings don’t even reflect war time, but of the gentle hillsides and meadows. Even now he stands atop the battlements of King Mazus’s castle to catch some inspiration. The village to the castle’s east was quieter today. With less movement about, it would be easier to catch the town from afar.
He dipped his brush and began to brighten the canvas. Swift strokes and powerful marks quickly spawn a beauty in progress. He heard some footsteps behind him and turned to see who needed him. He relaxed, it was only his servant.
Well, not just any servant: a new recruit in the army, Corporal Vibius Kurtz. Beran drops by to view the new recruits during their final military exams every year and handpicks one young man to be his own person student. When he had appeared that day, the top choices flexed their muscles and showed off their skills to the General. After all of this frankly, he was tired of seeing these men. He stepped outside for some air and saw this young man alone, painting the landscape.
Young Kurtz was awestruck when the supreme commander of Caradon began to give him painting advice. As Beran spoke with Kurtz, he noticed something: he was different. He was thin and not very muscular, but he had a very curious nature and a true will to learn. The other students practically wet themselves when Beran announced that he chose Vibius Kurtz as his student.
Kurtz had some small jars in his hands. They are paints. Beran had asked him to mix up some lighter colors to capture the sunset. Kurtz’s own painting skills have significantly improved. He can also mix colors like you wouldn’t believe. It’s these mixing skills that give Beran the colors to perfectly replicate the sunset on canvas.
“I’ve brought the paints General,” said Kurtz as he extended his arms.
Beran smiled lightly and placed the jars on a small table next to his canvas, “Thank you Vibius.” Kurtz nodded and turned to make his way back before Beran stopped him. “Vibius, have you observed the other paintings in the galleries?”
“Yes, General. They are magnificent.”
Beran started on the canvas again, “Can you tell me one significant feature in every great Caradonian painting?”
Kurtz racked his brain. He’d viewed the galleries many times in search for inspiration. He couldn’t remember a feature that was in every painting though. “No, General. I can’t say I can.”
He smiled again. “The sunset.”
Kurtz tilted his head. It was true though. In every famous painting, even just a small portion of the sunset is visible. “Why is this General?”
“Well, for one, Volcra is the god of fire. Each of the gods has a natural symbol that let us know each and every day that they are still with us. The sunset is the natural symbol of Volcra.” He cast his eyes on the horizon and sighed at the beauty before them. “Remember that Vibius.”
Vibius nodded, “Thank you General.” He turned to leave.
“Vibius,” Beran shouted, “remember we have swordsmanship training tomorrow morning!”
“I’ll be there General!” yelled the Corporal.
Beran turned back to his painting. With the paints his curious student brought, the sunset beautifully joined the meadows on canvas. “Volcra be praised the boy can mix paints so well.” And with one smooth motion, Beran signed his name in the bottom corner, packed his supplies, and retreated into the castle just as the sun dipped behind the horizon.
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Chapter One: Sunset
The sun is shining bright over Caradon this day. The wind playfully twirls the leaves throughout the village trees. Children play in the dirt streets, women move in and out of the house with daily housework, and the army trains for any danger that may befall their land. It was a beautiful day.
Sadly, the people of Caradon don’t appreciate this beauty anymore. The common folk are so used to peace that they take it all for granted. Cassius Beran is one man who truly did appreciate it. He’s seen what war can do to a country. It ruins the earth. It burns the structures. It destroys people’s faith.
Faith. What a powerful thing. This is what Beran trained his men on: faith in their nation, their comrades, and the almighty Volcra above. The armies were out in the fields today, training vigorously to defend their borders. Caradon, though the strongest nation, is surrounded by all the others. It has the most borderline to defend.
Of course, Beran wasn’t all about war. He had an odd knack for painting. His paintings don’t even reflect war time, but of the gentle hillsides and meadows. Even now he stands atop the battlements of King Mazus’s castle to catch some inspiration. The village to the castle’s east was quieter today. With less movement about, it would be easier to catch the town from afar.
He dipped his brush and began to brighten the canvas. Swift strokes and powerful marks quickly spawn a beauty in progress. He heard some footsteps behind him and turned to see who needed him. He relaxed, it was only his servant.
Well, not just any servant: a new recruit in the army, Corporal Vibius Kurtz. Beran drops by to view the new recruits during their final military exams every year and handpicks one young man to be his own person student. When he had appeared that day, the top choices flexed their muscles and showed off their skills to the General. After all of this frankly, he was tired of seeing these men. He stepped outside for some air and saw this young man alone, painting the landscape.
Young Kurtz was awestruck when the supreme commander of Caradon began to give him painting advice. As Beran spoke with Kurtz, he noticed something: he was different. He was thin and not very muscular, but he had a very curious nature and a true will to learn. The other students practically wet themselves when Beran announced that he chose Vibius Kurtz as his student.
Kurtz had some small jars in his hands. They are paints. Beran had asked him to mix up some lighter colors to capture the sunset. Kurtz’s own painting skills have significantly improved. He can also mix colors like you wouldn’t believe. It’s these mixing skills that give Beran the colors to perfectly replicate the sunset on canvas.
“I’ve brought the paints General,” said Kurtz as he extended his arms.
Beran smiled lightly and placed the jars on a small table next to his canvas, “Thank you Vibius.” Kurtz nodded and turned to make his way back before Beran stopped him. “Vibius, have you observed the other paintings in the galleries?”
“Yes, General. They are magnificent.”
Beran started on the canvas again, “Can you tell me one significant feature in every great Caradonian painting?”
Kurtz racked his brain. He’d viewed the galleries many times in search for inspiration. He couldn’t remember a feature that was in every painting though. “No, General. I can’t say I can.”
He smiled again. “The sunset.”
Kurtz tilted his head. It was true though. In every famous painting, even just a small portion of the sunset is visible. “Why is this General?”
“Well, for one, Volcra is the god of fire. Each of the gods has a natural symbol that let us know each and every day that they are still with us. The sunset is the natural symbol of Volcra.” He cast his eyes on the horizon and sighed at the beauty before them. “Remember that Vibius.”
Vibius nodded, “Thank you General.” He turned to leave.
“Vibius,” Beran shouted, “remember we have swordsmanship training tomorrow morning!”
“I’ll be there General!” yelled the Corporal.
Beran turned back to his painting. With the paints his curious student brought, the sunset beautifully joined the meadows on canvas. “Volcra be praised the boy can mix paints so well.” And with one smooth motion, Beran signed his name in the bottom corner, packed his supplies, and retreated into the castle just as the sun dipped behind the horizon.
