[ST] - Venturing out into a different world

This Friday's story will lead us out into the world, a very special one I may add - though sadly no creation of my own thoughts. The realm I'm talking about goes by the name of 'Sanctuary' and might ring a bell for many many people out there. It' is fairly known for being the favorite world to invade by the Prime Evil Diablo and his two brothers from the similar named series of Diablo created by Blizzard Entertainment.

Yes another Blizzard game and yes another fanfict. I know I know, but I did not however in this special case write it just for the fun of it, but with a  goal in mind. You see, there was this little private kind of giveaway for a Beta-key for Diablo III on a German forum and I just had to try my luck.

The text I ended up writing isn't too long all in all, picturing a barbarian and his followers venturing down into the catacombs below the cathedral of (New) Tristram.
Overall I put roughly an hour's worth of work into it and for that I'm rather pleased with the outcome. It's a one-shot so you need not worry that I'll come up with more of these, though you never know until it happens ... or doesn't happen... which is kinda, yeah you get the idea.

Enjoy!


*~*


My fingers tremble under the weight of the jagged crown I’m holding onto far too tightly. It’s such a frail little thing and still it wouldn’t even let my hands that are accustomed to carrying only the heaviest of axes come to a rest. But soon enough they shall take back up the things they are more proficient with.

Standing in front of his throne, the old husk of bones binding the Black King to the mortal world rests only a few steps away from me and I hesitate. A feature the hot-headed barbarians of the North are not commonly known for, it is often forgotten that there are the few amongst even us that can guide their fury to their own ends.

How long has it taken to find this room amidst all the darkness inhabiting this shattered place? How long has it taken to carve a way through all the hallways filled by his servants? I don’t know... Speaking truthfully: I don’t quite remember the time I spend killing. Countless skeletons had been shattered over the course of the night. Countless more mindless zombies followed being ripped apart by cold steal and the flurry of blows I unleash once the rage was set free.

But it isn’t solely about slaying the mindless ones just for the fun of it, for the thrill of battle. No. There is but a cause to this madness that drives me deeper and deeper into the catacombs of this here monastery. Otherwise I would not be standing here right now.

The Skeleton King has emerged from his dreamless slumber yet again, raising his minions by the hundreds as he lingers within these halls. Dead and immortal his spirit governs over the graves of many, resurrecting them as he pleases. Threatening to swallow this part of our world as a whole in the name of the Prime Evil, he continues to build his army of loyal servants. Spreading the decease of undeath along the way that has taken so many before, he scorches the land like a plague, leaving nothing behind in his wake.

The people of New Tristram, residing so close to the source, begged me for my aid. They offered whatever they could muster as a reward, but of what use is gold for me? And still I quickly decided to face this immortal foe and put the rumors to the test. There are so many other things that drive me, though none of it is greed.

Yet even I, a simple brute searching for the perfect fight and the life-long opponent, knows as much that my axe would not be able to damage a ghost.

But there is a way as I was to find out. There is a way to bind him again to a mortal coil. To bind his spirit to his body and then end his presence in our realm once and for all. It was the crown I needed. With this token of his former life the apparition should be forced back into his mangled corpse, a vessel I will be able to destroy.

So here I stand, inches away of what could be either a pitiful ruse or a chance for me to die. Not that it mattered as the bittersweet anticipation for the fight to come already washed over me.

Would he offer what I seek?

Who knows? Though I highly doubt it due to the current circumstances...

Am I alone? Yes, and no. The darkness residing in this place makes sure for us to see as little as possible of each other, but they are here with me. Sadly for me, but fortunately for the inhabitants of New Tristram I am not the only one who followed their call.

The moment I finally step up to King Leoric’s corpse a swift gust of wind sweeps through our little group, bringing along a relentless chill to mind and body. Our warmth not yet fully taken from us I carefully set the crown onto his head.

Wary of what might be upon us, I step back, my hands already taking up my trusted axes.

His laughter is carried into the room as the wind picks up again, this time though not ceasing anymore. The voice grows louder and louder as the whole room shakes under tremors. A moment later it’s over already, everything still the same. Filled with disbelief I stare at my companions, had this been a trick after all?

The moment my lust for battle almost faded the corpse of Leoric seemed to move, renewing the fire inside me. His fingers clutched the side of his throne, the right hand reaching for his weapon hiding out in the shadows close by not far next to his resting place, the Black King emerges with a vile laughter. The mace smashes onto the ground, the place of impact clearly visible I hear something that immediately lets the hearts of my companions drop.

The bridge far behind us crumbled and fell into the abyss as the moans of his servants buried together with him in this room picked up to a choir of death.

Well met, King Leoric.

I charge at him, my weapons ready to lash out at his frail vessel as his maniacal laughter meets my own.

Well met indeed.


*~*


And there you go. Unfortunately it did not end up to be enough to actually win the key, but well - it was a rather subjective little contest and it doesn't matter too much. In the end I at least had a bit of fun coming up with this short scrap of text.

Either way I hope you enjoyed reading it as well.
As always thanks for reading, have a great weekend and prepare for the 15th of May, as hell is once again unleashed in Sanctuary! (yay)
Marc, barbarian in training

Just to be on the safe side of things: I do not own any rights for anything related to the Diablo series. It's all Blizzard Entertainment's stuff! Sue them, not me..! Which in this case would most likely mean sue err.. yourself?

[Announcement] Bloodstained Shadows 2.0 up and running.

Aaaaand it's up!

It's almost 3:00 am in Germany and I'm sacrificing part of my sleep to bring you this announcement!
The new and fully reworked version of Bloodstained Shadows - Chronicles of a Lost Soul is finally up on the Internet, to be found on FanFiction.net as of now.

Should you want to get directly into the reading part just head over to the Bloodstained Shadows page on my site and take the link posted over there ooooor why not take this one right here?

Now what is 'fully reworked' supposed to mean? A somewhat redundant question if you have by any chance been following my more or less recent posts as most of the answer for it has been explained several times. If for any reason you missed all of it - here's the short version for you:

The actual story and plot has remained completely unchanged. There have been some minor adjustments to the way a character behaves in certain situations, but all in all also not too much happened in that regards. The revision was mainly aimed at getting rid of all ('as many as possible') the rough edges the story still had as well as enhancing and hopefully improving the reading experience as a whole.

And just to give you an idea of how much has happened: As the story was first finished December 2009 it was about 160.000 words long. Over the course of these ongoing edits, usually of the smaller kind up to this large game-changing "final" one; roughly 50.000 words were added up to this point, averaging at close to 950 per single chapter. But that's just mere trivia for you - I'm fully aware that 'more' doesn't automatically mean 'better' but I sincerely hope to have successfully achieved my goal and improved the tale of Marc Fipps, better known as Ceberus or Malevolence.

Anyways, as the time I can use for sleep is somewhat running out I'll be better heading off to bed for now.
As always thanks for reading! And for a final time today: feel free to check out the updated version of Bloodstained Shadows over here, leave me a review (no sign-up necessary) over there or comment right here.
Marc, suddenly working

[SUM] Bloodstained Shadows Update Inc

No no no... not an incorporation. It's nothing like that - it stands for 'incoming'. Yes incoming and you should exactly know what that's all about:
Aye - I'm finally done with the editing of Bloodstained Shadows - Chronicles of a Lost Souls! Yay!

Now what exactly does that mean for you, for me, for all of the interwebz?
I shall tell you.
First off - for myself it means more work up ahead. I'll be busy separating the text into bits according to the chapters and with that get it ready for uploading to e.g. FanFiction.net, hopefully by tomorrow.
Keeping the delay of the site in mind - which is something between 8 and 24 hours (sometimes not even a single one but I'm not sure how the site will react to the mass edit/upload spree I'm preparing) the updated version of BS - CoaLS should theoretically be available for reading by Thursday. I'll be posting a separate 'announcement' on that once it's all up though.
The only thing else really of note would probably be that it's going to be available over the same link, so I'm just editing the whole thing, which also should keep all reviews etc. Which, come to think of it, would be nice if the story managed to get a few more ... hrhr... so please, feel free - once it's been re-uploaded to give me a review (no need to register or anything for that) and yeah, enjoy the ride as you read it.

But that is already all I have on that subject and well, in general for today's post.

As always thanks for reading and have yourself a great day.
Marc, the fluffy brained
 

[ST] - A blast from the past

Ah yes, it's been a great day so far. A lot of editing stuff and silly things in between to loosen up the braincells. Although I went snow blind once or twice today, which was kind of worrying but yeah... all back to normal now.

As for today's story time I decided on a re-post of something that's been out a while now on this blog. Yes, you read that right - a re-post. As I had announced on Tuesday, the prologue of 'Heavy Silence' went through a lot of change and therefore I can justify posting it again.

'Heavy Silence' is supposed to find its home amongst the horror/angst genre one day once its finished. The re-done prologue is now tending a bit more towards the horror aspect with less of the personal whining and drama the first version incorporated.

So without further ado - enjoy.


*~*


Welcome to my funeral.

Ich sitze hier bei meiner Wacht,
Kalt grüßte mich die dunkle Nacht.
Ich sitze hier in Einsamkeit,
Keine Seele weit und breit.

Everybody is only waiting for my next confession.

Ich vergieße keine Träne,
Keine Heiße, keine Kalte.
So verkünd ich doch kein Geräusch.
So bin ich doch einer mit von euch.

And even though the point where I would eventually break and spill it all had already passed ever so often...

Jeder schlaue Mann schon schläft,
Jede fromme Frau schon ruht.
Und doch gibt es der Streuner viele,
Als es manchem Herz gefiehle.

They just wouldn’t believe me.

Die Einsamkeit lässt Trauer schlagen,
Viele Stimmen klagen, klagen.
Und will ich doch so weg von euch,
So bin ich doch ein Teil von euch.

They couldn’t.

Die Schatten wallen weiterhin
Bewegen sich von Haus zu Haus.
Löschen alle Lichter aus.
Die Dunkelheit zieht ein.

Countless times already and yet countless times more to come – the questions continued.

Mein Herz ist warm und doch so kalt,
Meine Seele schwitzt und friert.
Sollen sie doch Ruhe geben,
So bin ich doch ein Teil von euch.

Would the voices ever quiet down?

Der Morgen naht, der Schatten schwindet
Die Sonne gar sehr gräßlich findet
Bringt doch Licht mit in das Haus
Und treibt die Schatten alle aus.

Or could they even?

Nein die Sonne war es nicht
Die Licht in diesen Schatten bricht,
Nur meine einsam Laterne funkelt wie ein Sterne,
So bin ich doch ein Teil von euch.

Whatever this darkness surrounding me might have been, whatever might have brought it into existence...

Groß und Klein, Dick und Dürr,
Auch gar manch wohlgeformt Gestalt
Streifen durch die Dunkelheit,
Im Kampf mit einem Sinn.

It is stalking me, the trail of blood left clearly visible in its wake.

Wirke gar verloren sein
Blick ich in mein Herz hinein
Und erblicke dort dein Bild,
So bin ich doch ein Teil von euch.

Alternating this frail reality I was so desperately clinging to, it kept lurking close by no matter where I would run to.

Der Sehnsucht langer Atemzug
Vergeblich neue Opfer sucht
Der Hunger dieser Einsamkeit
Wurd jüngst erst erneut befreit.

Looming from overhead, relentless and dangerous it never faded, never ceased.

Und kämpf ich doch dagegen an
So bin ich doch sein Untertan
Das Gefühl ist doch zu stark für mich,
So bin ich doch ein Teil von euch.

How could this be?

Die Sehnsucht frisst die Seele auf,
Saugt dir deine Wärme aus
Macht dich zum Schatten gar
Glück im Kampfe rar.

Or... did it even matter anymore?

Seh ich doch die Hoffnung schwinden
Wie sich alle Schatten winden.
Kämpfe nochmal dagegen an.
So bin ich doch ein Teil von euch.

I quickly succumbed to my depression; sank into it – it was only natural.
 Die Willen brechen.
Die Herzen sprechen.
Die Schatten schaudern.
Die Geister plaudern.

Addiction following up swiftly, it took everything away from me – one by one.

Nun vergieße ich die Tränen doch
Ohne Reue immerfort.
Möge doch das Licht zergehn!
So bin ich doch ein Teil von euch.

And still they were wrong to judge me so hastily.

Die Nacht ist düster weiterhin,
Die Winde ihre Lieder sing’n.
Der Verzweiflung letzte Stuf,'
Wie sie diese Schatten schuf.

The police did not understand anything at all as they insisted to keep on feeding me stories of my own innocence.

Der Hoffnung gibt es keine.
Der Lösung jedoch eine.
So hab ich doch dein Bild erseh'n.
So bin ich doch Kein Teil von euch.

Yet what still nobody knows...
       I did kill her...


*~*


There you have it. It still has the alternating languages, with the poem in between the lines of the actual prologue. I can tell as much that the German will be incorporated into each starting page of chapter and that it will have a certain relevance for the story itself, which may or may not be referenced throughout the text.
None of these things are set in stone yet, of course and therefore may be subject to change at some point - if at all.
Also, as I had mentioned with the first post of this prologue. I will be offering an English transcription for the poem as footnotes with the actual text, but I will hold off that for right now, hoping you'll be able to live without that for just a while longer.


As always, thanks for reading and I hope you'll have a great weekend.
Marc, _______________________

[SUM] - And this is where we are at right now:

It's Tuesday and that means it's short-update-madness day for me, for you ... for all of us so to speak.

First on the list of many things: 'Loner's Peak' and it's ongoing series.
   During my holiday last month I decided on a couple of things. First of which being the name of the series will be 'Omnivore' for the time being, hopefully only subject to change if a publisher subjects to the name. That being said - I'm still waiting for that one reply to my queries telling me 'Yes this agency is in fact offering you representation for your work.'
Though not all queries have been replied to yet, but the thing to do will be mostlikely sending out another heap of those in the near future.

Second on the list: 'Bloodstained Shadows' - my fan-fiction
   I've been going on about this project for a while now and the editing has been going surprisingly slowly until now, but just as expected it took up a lot of speed with part three of the four. And as of right now there is roughly a fifth of the whole text still to be done. Expect that to get finished up soon/-ish.

Third: 'Sleeptalking' - the Victorian horror
   Editing run number four, which was originally announced to happen parallel to the editing of 'Bloodstained Shadows' will pick up as soon as I'm done with BS - CoaLS. That should put it on par with Loner's Peak.

Forth: 'The Bamboo Labyrinth' - the short-short short
    We be finished as my schedule allows me to... there are a couple of things I need to address myself to that are just simply more important. Take it as unfinished for the time being, although there isn't that much that still has to be added to complete the picture.

Fifth: Project 'Nightingale' and 'Kaleidoscope'
    Both of which have been subject to a lot of thinking over the one short week that was my holiday in the U.A.E. Most important thing to note is that there will be a name-swap for the two.
The story formerly know as "Nightingale" will be renamed to 'Heavy Silence' for now (although I'm not completely happy with it yet) and "Kaleidoscope" will be - much to anybody's confusion renamed to 'Nightingale'. Also... the prologue I had posted on this site for 'Nightingale' - now referred to as 'Heavy Silence' is heavily outdated and might as well be re-posted in the future.

And last but not least - a short scribble from my notebook taken from the notes to 'Heavy Silence' so you see I haven't solely been sitting at the beach or pool the whole time (which in fact I did :s) :


*~*


'My name? You'll find it to be utterly pointless but if you so desire to know...
Michael - it's the mashed potatoes of name seeking: no matter how you turn it or try to spice it up, it never changes. Helplessly bland, boring and not even the shot of milk, or in my case whisky, added anything to the mix.'


*~*


No offense to the Michael's of this world btw... it's not my opinion but that of the main character.

Aaaaand there you go... Short-update-madness successfully uploaded. Enjoy the overload of information.
As always thanks for reading and have a great week.
Marc, now quickly back to editing again - maybe I'll get that part done today. (Editz: Yays... only one part left to go!)

[RBS] - So it's been a month already

That awkward moment when you realize you wanted to post something last Friday and notice you kinda forgot it atogether with the whole week in between till now too.
Well, yeah... sucks, doesn't it? This calls for the facepalm-lion!

But to be fair - I was somewhat held up by the most recent IEM event during the last week and it proved I was maybe a bit too successful on my endeavor to pretend the world outside my apartment doesn't exist any more. And now, the moment has arisen in which I will change that yet again! Oh you silly writer you...

So, might as well view this as some sort of return to at least parts of my schedule. And no - I haven't been doing nothing for the whole time, even during my holiday in the U.A.E. I was in fact rather productive... which sadly fell off a bit again after re-entering Europe *cough*
Anyways, I'm here to finally get done with my editing spree for Bloodstained Shadows - which takes far longer than I would have ever anticipated, but I'd rather take it slow and do it right than rushing it and jacking it up big time. Also in the grand scheme of things there is the start of my next actual story, whilst Loner's Peak is still hanging about out there playing the waiting game with and for me.

But I am feeling rather tired right now and I can't really tell when I'll be falling asleep again so I'd leave it at that for right.
As always, thanks for reading, have a great weekend. Posting will pick up again as of now - don't give procrastination a chance!
Marc, fierce, eager and sleepy

P.S.: kittehs incoming
P.P.S.: several kittehs up - prepare for bad humor

[RBSUM] So... uhm what to type?

First post of the month about nine days in? Yeah... beast mode engaged.
I'm trying really hard not to repeat myself from my last post but it's still kinda the same. I've been wrapping my brain around the whole editing business ever since and I'm coming along fairly consistently. For what it's worth I already knew the second part of Bloodstained Shadows would be rather harrowing so I'll just have to put up with it I guess.
But no worries! Everything will be done sooner or later. Just have a little bit more patience with me. (And I'm well aware of the fact that pleading for 'patience' in the Internet equals to something like 'Please throw a rock at my face.') Anyhow with all the unfortunate distractions about and around, like for instance - studying or looking into the whole teacher thing again or flying to Dubai, it'll take just a little bit longer.
On the plus side of things I'm really happy with how the story turned out so far and I can't wait to upload the proper finished version. (God I feel stupid for uploading the first one.)

Scheduled updates or at least something on the likes of that will commence again in March, as I'm more or less out of reach of my laptop for a good while from next week onwards. All that leaving the country stuff.

And I'll upload a bunch of kitties once I'll get to my ma's place or well... at least at some point over the weekend. Sounds like a deal? Hm... why am I asking? Sure it does... You'll just have to take it anyways...

But that's all from me for the moment. As always thanks for reading (and your patience with me).
Marc, slowly advancing forward.