Hello everyone. I have recently got back into the game and felt inspired to write a story detailing the end of the war. This is my personal take on everything. I hope you enjoy.
Ch1: Riken the Kyrie Warrior
Spoiler Alert!
The marshlands were tainted. Riken hacked his way through the brush as he followed the putrid scent through the swamps. There was a Marro Hive somewhere around here, and Riken swore by his wings he would destroy it. “This war is destroying the world, and no kyrie can see past their own ass to do anything about it.” The boy grumbled as he pushed into a clearing. He looked out into the trees to find thick webbing. “Damned spiders.” he turned and headed off to the west, resuming hacking his way through the trees. Eventually he came to the top of a cliff overlooking a wet marshland. There, in the ravine, sprouted a Marro Hive. Riken smiled, but that smiled turned into a groan as he heard rustling in the brush behind him. A pack of goat spiders emerged from the brush, ignoring Riken and gathering on the side of the cliff. They stared at the hive, unmoving.
“Have you ladies come to help me destroy this thing?” Riken asked as he drew his sword. The spiders clicked excitedly him, and he opened his wings. “then let’s head down there and get a closer look.” He flew over the cliff as the spiders climbed down the wall behind him. Riken landed at the edge of the water where the hive rested. The putrid stench of hatching marro hit Riken like a mace strike. He gagged as he folded his wings and drew his sword. The spiders were behind him as he waded into the water to attack the hive. Riken hacked and slashed at the side of the hive, leaving gaping wounds that seemed to close as soon as he inflicted them.
The hive gurgled and spit out three small creatures, they walked on four legs and sniffed the ground. The creatures’ heads all shifted into Riken’s direction. “Damn.” Riken shifted his attention to the creatures as they charged. Riken blocked the first attack with his blade, but the second made clean contact with his offhand. The spiders lunged forward and sunk their fangs into the remaining nagrubs while Riken wrenched the other from his arm. An explosion rocked the hive, knocking Riken backwards. The spiders immediately withdrew. they stood behind Riken who turned to face this new target. “Nice shot, Major.” said a female voice. A kyrie flew forward, her wings were metallic and she carried a large spear. A group advanced behind her. A man with a metallic arm marched forward, followed closely by a warrior in purple, and a machine. They descended on the hive, but stopped when they saw the bodies of the fallen marro. “Someone’s been here, recently.” The kyrie relayed. “Some of these look like they were killed by the spiders, but this one has blade wounds.” The metal-armed man muttered. “Could it be Aquilla?” Riken took this chance and stepped out from behind his cliff. The spiders followed behind. “Ladies and gentlemen. I have the answers to your questions.” They all turned and Riken found himself on the wrong end of several weapons. He spoke quickly. “My name is Riken. The spiders and I came to destroy the marro hive. I highly suggest you let me go. They’re a bit antsy about your arrival.” The spiders hissed, and the squad lowered its weapons. “My blade isn’t strong enough to destroy this hive, but with the weapons you're carrying, we may have a chance.” The female kyrie nodded her head. “I’m Raelin, this is Sergeant Drake, Major Q10 and Shiori.” she gestured to the man, the machine, and the warrior in turn. “One more big attack on this hive should destroy it. Everyone get in formation. Riken, lead the spiders away so they aren't hurt.” Raelin’s orders came with the authority of a kyrie commander, so Riken took flight and led the spiders back up the cliff. These new allies seemed quite capable, and Riken watched as they coordinated their attacks to destroy the hive. First came Q10’s missile, then Drake and Raelin began cutting near the blast site while Shiori popped the bubbling marro eggs. Soon the hive started to crumble. Riken turned and saw the spiders walk away. He nodded his thanks before flying back down to the allies. “You all make a good team.” Riken admitted as he landed next them.
“We’ve been doing this for years, kid.” Sergeant Drake responded. “Now, what are you doing the middle of an uncharted swamp?” The group began to walk. Riken tagged along with them cautiously. “I came after the war moved here. I sensed an unnatural presence growing throughout the swamp, and then I found the marro hives.” Riken relayed as he moved to walk beside the group. “This war is destroying the planet, and I want to do my part to restore the place to the way it was.” Raelin spoke up then, “Jandar does too. Utgar’s army is polluting this place and growing stronger. We need to eliminate these hives to have any hope of winning this war.” Riken thought on this for a moment. “If Jandar wants to salvage what is left of Valhalla, then I will fight by his side.” Riken opened his wings. “Though I suppose I should meet him first.
Sorry for the delay. My new job has me really busy. Anyway, here's chapter 2: Riken Meets Jandar
Spoiler Alert!
The rest of the trip back to Jandar’s camp was quiet. Riken walked alongside the other heroes as they forged their way across the swamp. The group found and defeated a few roaming squads of marro stingers and drudge before they found themselves at the edge of the swamp. “Nearly there now, Jandar’s set up just a little ways into the wastes.” relayed sergeant Drake as the group made their way forward. Riken was hesitant. He had been living in the swamp since he could remember. He didn’t want to leave. He thought on it some more. “The wastes?” he asked sheepishly, causing Raelin to stop.
“How long have you been in that swamp?” She asked, concerned. Riken looked back to her as if she’d asked a stupid question. “Since long before the war started, before this place was a marro cesspool. I don’t know exactly how long i’ve been out here, but I’d rather stay in my swamp than visit somewhere called the wastes.” Riken sighed. and Shiori stepped forward. “Riken, no one wants to visit the wastes, that’s why we set up camp there.” Riken nodded as the woman spoke, and he continued forward.
As the group walked, the terrain began to change, the forests gave way to sand and rock, and Riken found himself craving water. Raelin passed the kyrie her canteen. “We’ll get you one when we get back.” Riken gratefully took a drink and handed it back to her. As the group continued to walk, Riken told the story of his lonely life in the swamps and how he had decided he wanted to rid the place of the marro’s pollution. “You would get along well with General Aquilla.” Raelin said as they kept walking. Eventually the group came to a narrow passage between the rocks. Shiori slipped through first, followed by the others. Through the gap, Riken discovered, was an open clearing where several different creatures were milling around. Riken noticed more metal creatures like Major Q10, and more of the wingless ones. “Jandar has quite the following, it seems.” He noted as they walked through the crowds over to a large tent sitting by itself. Raelin knocked on the canvas.
“General. We found something in the swamps.” The door opened, and Raelin escorted Riken inside. There stood a kyrie with a grand splendor that Riken had never seen before. His wings were massive and he stood about a foot taller than the average kyrie. “Raelin, who is this?” The kyrie asked quizzically. Riken looked up at him and responded “My name is Riken. I live in the swamps. I was told that joining your army would help rid the place of the marro plague.”
Jandar nodded. “I have never met an individual kyrie from the swamps before. You aren’t a part of the moon tribe?” He took a step backward and sized up the kyrie.
“I’m not. I live by myself in the swamplands.” Riken was slightly uncomfortable explaining himself to this kyrie, but he tried his best not to show it. He shuffled a bit under Jandar’s gaze and hoped the kyrie didn't notice.
“Very well. Welcome aboard. I’m Jandar, Valkyrie general of this band of misfits.” Jandar smiled.
“You willingly call yourself a band of misfits?” Riken asked, puzzled. He knew the expression, but had never heard it used in this way before.
“An old friend originally gave us that label. It kind of fits since there are so many of us from so many places.” Jandar nodded “Don’t worry about that now though, we need to get you some gear, and maybe fix your arm.”
Riken’s arm was wrapped up in a primitive bandage after his encounter with the nagrub during his assault on the hive. He nodded and followed Raelin out. The next few hours were a blur. Riken met several different kyrie that fitted him with new armor and some new tools. Riken had been assigned to a tent that he was supposed to share with some other kyrie, and was given a tour of the camp. He was utterly exhausted when Raelin approached him.
“We’re going into the swamps to root out more marro. Are you coming?” Riken nodded to her and the two headed off to join the growing jungle crew.