Paleblood

Paleblood Chapter 1: Welcome to Ihyll

5 months later...


Ihyll. The capital city of the once prosperous continent,a continent,whose name was long since forgotten,a name that only the Ancients,the very first settlers,knew.  Ever since the incident with the College of Izs in the far West,cities began to fall rapidly under a mysterious,and seemingly uncurable illness. What appeared to be a strain of rabies,affecting humans much more severely,turned out to be something different...something,way worse. At first...people were driven mad,either killing others or killing themselves. However...those who died,didnt stay dead.

"That is such a bogus story...just say that monsters came from the West! Why invent such nonsense?" 

A young man scoffed as his feet shuffled his well built frame,the slow,empty breeze  causing his free locks to dangle and dance across his forehead,his emerald eyes narrowing to thin,serpentine slits,the stray dust and wind obscuring vision of most people.  A tattered,old coat dangled in the breeze as it sat comfortly atop his chest,its color long since indescernible. A brief gasp gave way to a mild cough. He wanted to sigh,take a deep breath,but no. He wouldn't let more of this rancid,dry air into his lung more than he'd have to. Brushing off stray saliva off his square,chiseled chin,he wiped his gloved,fingerless hand off with the dangling coat tails. Bearing a dark,faded green color,alongside tattered patterns,showing off signs of wear and tear,a pattern resembling thorned vines snaked its way up the coats midriff,the sleeve of the left arm reinforced with a piece of metal,shaped in the form of a gauntlet,the shiny,pale yellow color betraying its origins as either brass or bronze. Though,the lad himself most likely would not remember it. Thick,baggy trousers clad his long legs,a pair of sturdy,heavy leather boots on his feet,a small satchel containing medical herbs tied to his right thigh,bearing the faded insignia of his hometown...Kisha,the town of Eternal Rain...he,alongside other  Church Hunters,was dispatched to different cities,to either look for survivors,or reinforcements. Many were sent to different places by the old Pontifex,however,the young man was sent all on his lonesome  to the capital city of Ihyll. To what purpose,he was not told. However,it was bold to assume that he was truly alone.

Upon tredging to the city's outskirts with heavy,cautious footsteps,the young man heaved the poled item off his shoulder,inspecting its bladed side. Outwardly,it resembled what could be a large-scale dane axe,bearing a hidden mechanism within its wooden frame. Adorning the axe edge,sat a series of inward curving daggers,vaguely resembling teeth. The "teeth" were different in color from the otherwise stainless steel of the axe itself,alongside dark red streaks on its surface,a reminder of leftover "meals" that the axe feasted upon up until now. He considered it the world's best compatriot,as steel can never betray you. Though he had to admit...once Ihyll was through and cleaning supplies were found,there would be a cleaning in  order. This was the Hacksaw. Not a particularly fancy name,but it served its purpose. Taking air in through his nose,the young man spat out a mouthful of sand,vaguely mixed with whatever saliva he had left as he entered the city's premises.

"Pfu-! Damn...awfully sandy in here...or is it dust....lets see..."

One gloved hand reached into the inner pockets of his coat,before swiftly,but careful yanking out a map of the City Of Ihyll...or whatever was left of it. According to the map,he is around the  southwest outskirts of the city. More of an industrial sector,but mostly mixed and combited with small residential areas. Must've housed the city's workers and maintenance. Atleast,before the Beasthood came. His emerald eyes rolled in their sockets as the stories involuntarily entered his thoughts once more. According to the  rumors,as well as several briefings from the Pontifex herself,monsters and beasts approached and laid siege to any town and city in their way,not only spreading death and chaos,but the disease as well,which had been called "Beasthood" by the by now defunct College of Izs. Whoever was killed by the beasts,became a beast themselves,with the monstrosities gaining numbers steadily. Giving it some thought,he folded the map before nestling it comfortably in his inner pockets. A sigh escaped his dry lips as he trotted on,the Hacksaw resting on his shoulder,his hand tightly around its shaft. Why now? Why at a time like this. He scoffed at the thought and rumors,and he still did. Atleast,for comfort. Once he saw the monsters flood the streets of Kisha,there was no more denying it.

"At such a dire time like this,why would Pontifex send Church Hunters out of the city? Shouldn't we stay in the city and protect the civilians? Isn't that what Hunters are supposed to do?"

He was no zealot. He had his own thoughts,he was his own person. He followed orders dilligently. But this? This was one order he failed to fully grasp,or understand,for that matter. he was snapped out of his thoughts by a shrill shriek piercing the air. The Church Hunter had company.

"Sounds like a pupper is coming out to play..." With a devious grin,the young man swung the Hacksaw in a wide arc before connecting his free hand with its shaft,weapon fully drawn and battle ready. As his eyes scanned the surrounding area,the derelict buildings,the piles of crates...the uncanny amount of dust and sand...his gaze met another one...a pair of sickly,yellow eyes,coated in mucus and radiating nothing but endless hunger. What was most likely a human once,was now an incredibly emaciated,lanky framed figure,one that vaguely resembled a bizarre mix of a canine and a deer,a wolven,decayed head resting atop its shoulders,its lips rotten to expose yellow,sharp daggers in its mouth,the hide,or what was left of it,clung to its frame so tightly,its more developed ribcage piercing straight through the skin.  He shook his head. Despite what might seem like putting down a lame horse,could turn around very quick. He,as well as any hunter knew this.

"Aw...what's wrong,puppy? You look like someone took your last box of chicky nuggies!"

His smile briefly dropped,followed by a childish,annoyed sigh.

"Fuuuck man,I wish I had some right now,Im hungry as a wo-"

Unbeknowst whether the beast understood him,a shrill pierce of the air caused him to cease his mosey.

"Oh man-!"

Despite looking like it could be able of bipedal movement,the creature charged at him on all fours,meanwhile,the young man stood ready. He knew not to become overconfident,however,he fought many such a thing on his way to Ihyll. Be patient,and respond accordingly. The beast took a tall leap,and the Church Hunter took his chance. Like a dance. A diagonal step to the right,the left foot leading,and the clawed lunge missed,the pommel of the Hacksaw smacking the cranium of the beast,sending small bits of viscera and leftover skin off its head,or whatever was left on its head. Despite its build,the wolven was sent reeling. Second step of the dance,right step forwards,sweep step with the left foot,and the Hacksaw's inanimate teeth sank into its abdomen. Normally,such a blow would cleave such things in two,but this specimen proved to be sturdier. As the weapon's teeth sank into its flesh and sprayed dark,foul blood all over the dusty pavement,the blow itself sent the beast flying by a good 4 feet. However,just like with anything else in life,he was not about to give this think an inch. With long,swift strides,the young man zeroed in for the kill and with a tall,vertical swing,sank the serrated blade of the Hacksaw in the skull of the bizarre deer/canine mix,cleaving it open like a water melon,but instead of spraying the immediate vicinity with delicious fruit bits and juice,the immediate area was caked with rotted flesh and foul smelling blood. With an exhausted groan,the young lad pulled the axe out of its obliterated cranium,after a couple of good tugs. Upon glancing at his trusty armament,he noticed the old,red skidmarks and stains caked and replaced with a fresh coating of beast blood. Despite looking vicious and,rather impressive,in his opinion,the young man couldn't help but sigh.

"I know,its cool and all,but once Im done here,I might consider getting a paintjob for the edge. That and some food. Im starving!"

As the young man mused about filling his belly,and rightly so,as he could not remember the last time he had a proper meal,a small crack on the dusty concrete cause a knee-jerk reaction,upon which he swung his axe in a wild,wide arc,expecting the sound of sharp steel biting into flesh.

However...instead he was met with a foreign,rare sound...of iron clashing against iron.

With the blur of adrenaline diminishing,his focus and vision cleared,only for his emerald eyes to be met with a striking,azure pair. From what he could see,the person was male,his skin a light brown,with his short trimmed beard and swept-back hair a deeper shade of brown. A head shorter,standing at approximately 5 feet and 6 inches. A hooded,crimson shirt was decked and covered by an ornate,silver plate,covering most of his chest and ribcage,with torn remnants of what resembled either a chainmail or fishnet mesh dangling loose. A dark brown belt hung loose around his waist,holding a small pouch,alongside an ornate,vivid red bandage with golden trimming,its edges tattered with time and use. Dark,teal colored pants clad his legs,a kneecap on the left knee,a dirty bandage on the thigh just above the right knee,his feet protected by a pair of what was once seemingly fancy,elite hunter's boots,now stained with a thick coat of dirt and blood. His arms clad in silvery gauntlets,of the same material as his chestplate,,holding his weapon firmly as their edges locked. The weapon he bore was long and slender,presumably from an eastern design,as Hunters from the East favored slim,sharp blades,used with swift slashes and sheathing. The blade was a pitch black,with the edge bearing an odd,crimson trim. After a second of the two armaments grinding,the stranger yanked his blade away,the sheer weight of the Hacksaw causing the young man to tumble and trip. Expecting an attack,he looked up to see the stranger sheathe his weapon back in its rightful place,loose ends of his red ribbon and chestplate mesh dangling in the dusty breeze,as his lips parted to speak,his voice in a thick accent,one he recognized as somewhere between Eastern and Central*.

"Odd...I came searching for survivors,but did not expect a Hunter,of all people." Spoke the stranger as he approached,his hand offered to the young man,aiding him in getting up before dusting himself off.

"Definitely could say the same thing,man! You gave me quite a start back there!"

As he rested his Hacksaw upon his shoulder,the stranger shook his head as his silver clad arms crossed,almost authoritatevely.

"My apologies. I did not mean to scare you."

"The scare is not bad. Was just worried I might've turned you into chopped wood by accident."

With an awkward smile,the young man extended his hand,offering a handshake to the stranger,introducing himself to what was effectively a fellow Hunter.

"Look,sorry about that once again. By the way,the name's Joshua Steele."

With a thin smile,the stranger took hold of his hand,shaking it as a sign of peace.

"Trust me,a simple,wild swing will not do much against a thihnking opponent. As for myself...it's Neul. Neul Arkwright."

*Note: The aforementioned accent is the equivalent to the accent most commonly used in Scottish Highlands.