Introducing a new Chain Story

An explanation of what a Chain Story is can be found here: Introducing Chain Stories! Interactive Fiction Writing

This post kicks off a Chain Story between @zakludick and @tanglebranch, each of which will be taking turns to write a part of the story. There is minimal planning as to regards to the handing off of the story which will make it interesting and a challenge.

As each of the writers makes their contributions their names will light up when it is their turn. Each of the parts in this series will be called a "Part".

Part 1

It is said that the surface of Astrati, where men and other beings roam, is but the skin of the world. It is the outside part that is bare to the stars, the sun, and the moons.

Beneath our world lies another, Elder races and ancient beings reside there. These are powerful and mysterious to those on the surface, able to conquer or bless the younger races with ease.

Beneath this world lies others still, for none on the Surface World know the number. It is here where the Immortals originate, where Gods and Demons wage war, where the essence of the world lies.

The breath, the heart, the roots...

* * *

Katsugu ducked under the broken bits of wood that still remained of the Temple gate.

Angry screams sounded behind him. Inhuman, guttural and full of fury.

He knew that they were getting closer and when they got there then he would be ready. As fast as he could sprint, there was just no way that he would be able to outrun a horde of angry Trogh braves. They were chasing him down the path that was framed with Trogh mud houses with dry reed roofing.

There was a large canvas bag bouncing wildly on a string at his waist. Katsugu dipped his hand into the bag and withdrew it, his hand now glowed a dull blue colour. The evening's fading light made the glow easier to perceive.

Tracing a quick pattern in the air before him, Katsugu mumbled a few words. There was not much of a chance that a Trogh nearby would be able to overhear him nor understand the words that he was saying, it was more his shortness of breath that caused the mumble than a need for secrecy.

He hated running.

The glow on his right hand intensified and a blue flame burned from his fingers. Just then a dozen or so Trogh warriors burst out between the huts ahead of him in the road. Armed with iron spears clasped in clawed hands, their razor teeth visible even from this distance.

Damn, Troghs were ugly. They were not as tall as most Humans, none of them ever seem to get the better of 5 feet. Their skin tones vary from cream through to tan brown and always looked like they had a bad skin rash. Their wide maws were almost lipless and hungry pitch black eyes were set in shallow sockets in their low browed faces.

They were carnivores and they had no scruples about eating other intelligent races. Hell, they were said to be cannibals even. Katsugu believed those stories. They could not quite identify the contents of the cauldrons they had seen when the party had infiltrated the village.

"Flame Tooth Wave!" His cry was not done in his best voice. Several factors would lessen the power of the spell, but it should be enough. He threw his hand before him in an arch.

Pale blue flames shot out in an arch and separated into pointed wedges. Screeches and hisses greeted the projectiles and the row of beasts was cut down. Every single one of them hit the ground as they were struck. They Flame Tooth spell cut easily through their flesh and bones, the meat burning as it passed through and dissipated.

Before he had reached the pile of corpses one of the Troghs got up, it's shoulder had been toasted but the creature still seemed able to use the limb. It hissed and grabbed a spear from the dirt road.

Katsugu skidded to a halt, wary of the spear wielding creature. His glowing hand flicked in another symbol. "Guard the steadfast watcher." He said calmly and clearly. The spell strength would increase at this.

The Trogh lunged forward, its spear clasped in both hands.

"Lightshield Pane!" Holding his fist before him and he saw the creature flinch at his command. It expected death from the mage, yet all Katsugu could think of was keeping himself alive at that moment. He was acutely aware of the horde of warriors speeding to their position right now.

A glowing orange buckler shield appeared just before his knuckles. It floated there, it's opaque surface lined in a dizzy of geometric patterns. The spear came rushing on and Katsugu moved his hand to deflect the weapon.

The metal screeched as it met the arcane shield. The creature's arms jerked with the impact and Katsugu grinned. He was so glad that he did not feel any pressure back from a clash when using a Lightshield Pane. It made it one of his favorite spells to employ against fighters.

The spear came, again and again, stabbing for an opening. Katsugu began to back away from the oncoming horde while deflecting the blows. The injured Trogh was not very fast, its injured shoulder preventing it from getting the better of the mage.

Where in the hell was Monroe?

The tip of the spear suddenly broke off and the creature stopped to stare at the tip of his weapon. Katsugu grinned and stepped in to slam the edge of the arcane shield into the Trogh's face with a hammer blow. A Lightshield Pane wrecked havoc on crude iron weapons. His shield cut into the creature's forehead deep enough to brain it and he quickly retreated from the open wound.

He hated getting blood on his robe, even though it was maroon and usually a bloodstain would be easy to hide. He just detested getting dirty or feeling the warm wetness.

He began to run again. "Oh Gods."

They were nearly on top of him, a horde of stabbing, screeching fiends. They would tear him limb from limb and consume his flesh. It made his legs felt weak as they pumped to keep him alive. Thank the Lord Shavir that Troghs were so damn short in the leg.

There was a bridge up ahead. It was made of crude rope and mouldy wooden boards. Even as crudely constructed as they were, Katsugu had decided that the Trogh did not put it up themselves. It ran over a gorge, hundreds of feet deep.

This was his chance to escape.

A blood-curdling screech went up as more Trogh came from the buildings ahead of him. There were more of them than the first group. Katsugu cursed and flicked his hand out.

"Flame Tooth Wave!" Arching ahead of him the firey teeth wobbled through the air and dissolved before reaching their targets. Katsugu stopped in his tracks and looked at his right hand. The glow had faded.

Frantically he tried to stick his hand in his mana pouch again but it had moved back on his belt. The Trogh surged forward, sensing an opportunity.

This was it, he would be dead before he managed to cast another spell.

A shadow fell over him as something lept from a rooftop above him. A long leather jacket decorated with leather thongs trailed through the air.

"Yaaaahooooo!"

Landing with easy grace, large brimmed hat improbably still on the man's head.

Bullseye Monroe rose with both pistols raised.

Part 1 completed!

Now the keyboard is passed on to @tanglebranch to add in Part 2 of the story!