#shadeslayers

Where am I?

Who am I?

To hell if I know.

I awoke, there were corpses all around me.

There was an ornate revolver next to me, the inscription read “imperator sanguinis” there were a handful of bullets around it; six? maybe seven? My vision was too blurry, I couldn’t tell. a knife! I remember I had a knife! I tried to get up but there was an immobilizing pain; a laceration ran across my leg but it wasn’t bleeding any. The body next to me was missing an arm and had its stomach slashed open. He looked oddly familiar- a friend maybe? Maybe a rival? It doesn’t matter now, he’s long gone. My head felt sticky, blood. I was covered in blood.

I found it!

My knife was stuck in a corpse a few feet away, It would seem I had a part in whatever happened here. I ripped some clothing off of the familiar corpse and used it to cover my leg wound and crawled over to recover my knife. It slid out of the corpse like a hot knife through butter. I found the sheath on my side and put it away, I grabbed the revolver while I was at it, the holster on my side suggested it was mine anyways. 

Footsteps!

I dragged myself to a tree and waited for whatever my fate was, a minute or so later I heard some distant conversation.

“-Damn them-”

“-Shades-”

“-Five slayers dead-”

“-Wasn’t worth it-”

“-Alliance broken-”

“-millitia’s been missing-”

“Captain will be pissed.”

All I can hope is that they will have mercy on me, then I finally saw them through the trees and waved.

“Lieutenant! One’s alive!” a hardly matured voice said.

“You sure this time?”

I was starting to lose consciousness.

“We gotta get this guy back to Captain-”

"I'm just saying, lugging all this ooze from that cave is disgusting-" the wildclaw complained, as they pulled their hand out of the satchel. "Brambles and thorns, another bottle broke! My notes are all soaked now!"

"Oh quit your yapping," the burly ridgeback barked, slapping the smaller wildclaw on their back, almost knocking their glasses off. "It's good money!"

The duo marched over to the deeper lake, eyes scanning at the dragons - both the humanoid and fourlegged kind - milling about by the beach. It was then the wildclaw cleared his throat, giving curious look to their companion. "You sure she will buy these things?"

"Oh she will! Miss Pepper said she'll buy anything off of us."

"Well, where is she then?" the smaller of the duo adjusted their glasses again, swallowing thickly. The ridgeback merely shrugged, sitting down by a rock.

"They said she'd be by the lake, so... Guess we'll just wait?" she commented, opening her bag to go through the items one by one again. "Would be rather irresponsible for the treasurer of the guild not to be around all the time without a warning."

"Oh I am around," a feminine voice echoed, before a large body emerged from the water - towering over both of the new adventurers, slowly soaking them as waterdroplets fell from the scales and fins on to them.

The ridgeback had the decency to jump back, startled, while the Wildclaw hiccuped, taking their sleeve and yanking desperately. "We should've just asked directions-"

The gargantuan dragon stared down at them, before lowering her face to their level. "Now," she rumbled, a smile spreading on her features, revealing rows of sharp teeth. "Let's talk business."

welcome to the official blog for "Shadeslayers"- the story i'm working on!

i'll be posting each "part" (basically a chapter/scene) here as i write them.

Everything is subject to future adjustment!

The google doc will have the most recent version of the story: here

(if that doesn't work put this url in your browser: https://docs.google.com/document/d/15IVgYfAXAXuCykUABkJY_HBgyGRBqgDnZB91JE03ReQ/edit?usp=drivesdk )

also, feel free to interact however you want! I'll also post anything else related to the story here!

The dragons were buzzing - a silent nervous energy swept over everyone in the camp, as the newbies hid into the shadows and corners, curious eyes trying to catch a glimpse of the rumored Warden. The veterans understood better - they still moved to the side, still gave way, still bowed their heads as the hulking mass that seemed to breathe frozen wind itself walked past.

Firlaong had come to the Shade Slayers once more, a silent and old Gaoler with grizzled look. Weathered by the years of service, of unpleasant work had left him intolerant for foolishness, and many were aware of it, avoiding being on his way, avoiding making sounds near him as to avoid getting the silencing glare of the old warrior.

Only one who seemed to approach him without a fear was the Wildclaw leader, Vanitas, who had a grim look on his face as Firlaong finally entered his tent.

"Good evening old friend," the leader greeted, lowering his head briefly before tossing a bag on the table.

Firlaong merely nodded in return, picking the bag and counting the contents. He stopped half-way however, eyes furrowing, as one of his long claws hovered over the shards inside the dark leather bag. "... There is at least twice as many as the last time. Have you kept your hunters running double shift?"

Vanitas barked a laugh - bitter and brief, sound that signaled bad news.

"Oh how I wish! No, these are from standard missions," the commander explained, waving his hand a little before starting to dig into his pockets for a flask. "These Shade Shards are more troublesome than the weeds back at Seedscar, with how fast they're popping around."

Firlaong stood quiet, before continuing his counting - tossing then another bag on the table, this one making a happy jingle, though it did nothing to cheer up the atmosphere.

"I will spread the word then. You need more dragons."

"Thanks old man," Vanitas let out a quiet snort, taking a swig of his flask. "I am going to need all the help I can, we just lost Ember to this."

Firlaong nodded, before reaching an arm, and patting Vanitas on the shoulder. "Then be well, my old friend. Do not let the Shade consume you."

Nothing more needed to be said, aside from a solemn nod from the tired Wildclaw, who returned back to his mapping...

(minor spoiler warning.)

(MAJOR spoiler warning for shadeslayers past here!)