An Angry Ala Mhigan

Theodric let the mug settle back on the table, grunting as he swallowed the vile liquid the tavernkeep passed off as ale. He’d lost track of how long he’d been sitting there watching people come and go. He didn’t recognize this place anymore. This place he once called home. Five years. Five godsdamned years. Why did he survive when so many did not? When his wife did not... She was the better person. She was the one who saved him from himself. And now… Now he was back on that downward spiral of self destruction. Searching for a way to die.

He grabbed his mug and drained the rest of its contents, signaling for the wench to bring him another. The tavern had grown louder as evening settled into place. He was glad. He hoped the noise and alcohol would dull his thoughts. Another mug was set in front of him, the empty taken away. He nodded at the woman as she gave him a smile and walked off. He took another drink and leaned back in his chair. What was he supposed to do now? He was supposed to go home with his wife after the battle. Instead, he held her dead body in his arms before he was teleported five years into the future.

He winced in pain, a wrong movement tugging at the healing wound on his side. The wound that should have killed him had those meddling conjurers not interfered. He took another gulp of his ale, pushing the thought from his mind. Nothing to be done about it now. It seemed fate wasn’t finished with him yet. Absentmindedly, he ran a finger along one of the scars on his chest. The scar that his wife had given him when he tried to kill her.

Blood dripped down the side of his face, threatening to blind him. Theodric planted the head of his axe in the ground to smear the sanguine fluid away from his eye with one hand. He gave a hearty laugh as the gigantic brown bear circled, “You’re a tough old bugger ain't ya?”

The creature bared its teeth. Theodric gripped his axe with both hands again and did the same. He shouted as they charged each other, “Come on then!”

A grunt issued from both combatants. Claws and steel clashed. The bear reared up, towering over the highlander. The brown boulder of muscle raised its arms and roared. Theodric knew what was about to happen and lowered his axe. He swung the biting steel upwards at the last second, slicing the soft underbelly as he sidestepped the deadly onslaught of claws. The giant howled as its feet touched the ground, precious lifeblood flowing freely. He knew that the bear wasn’t finished yet and spun to face his adversary. A paw as big as his torso was headed directly for his face. Theodric brought his axe up and braced himself. The force of the blow sent him reeling. He dropped into a crouch, digging the head of his axe into the ground to stop from sliding further. The bear was on the move again, the bloody trail he was leaving did little to slow him down.

Theo laughed once more, “I hope you’re enjoyin’ this! I know I am!”

He stood, gripping his axe tightly. He watched the bear approach, trying to see an opening. He spun to avoid a set of deadly claws, raising his axe above his head to bring it down with all his might. The blade lodged itself in the thick neck of the monstrous bear. He heard a cry of pain echo from below him. He smiled, but something was wrong. He looked down to see deep gashes running across his gut. He gingerly touched his stomach only to see his hand immediately stained crimson. His axe fell to the ground with a dull clang. He fell to his knees, both hands holding his wound.

His smile returned as he watched the bear breathing his last, “You put up quite the fight friend. What did they call you? Phecda? It looks like I’ll be following you to the other side. Mayhaps you can meet my wife.”

He shifted so that he could lay against the bear. He put an arm around the giant neck, further covering himself in the warm fluid. As his vision grew dark, he whispered, “Thank you, Phecda.”

He opened his eyes to see the interior of an unfamiliar room. He shot upright despite the shooting pain from his abdomen. Grimacing from the pain he called out, “Where am I?”

A young elezen girl came over with a smile on her face, “You are in Gridania. Some hunters found you lying against a giant bear that they had been tracking. The conjurers here managed to save your life.”

He tried not to be angry with her, but he was furious, “I never should have come anywhere near this Godsdamned city. Your conjurers meddle where they have no business! I was supposed to die out there!”

He sighed when he saw the fear in her eyes, “Apologies girl. I did not mean to frighten you. I just… They had no right. Just… Go.”

I’m going to try posting more here again. I really want to continue Theo’s story and I think I’m finally in the right place to start doing so.

Theodric reaches into a pocket, withdrawing the only possession kept from his long slumber. It was a small, fading portrait of his wife, Elise.

He let out a sigh, regret flooding his senses, “I failed you... I promised that I would do everything in my power to see us both back home. But I... I couldn’t save you. I felt you slip from my grasp and then... Then you were gone.”

He fell to his knees, letting loose a shout mixed with fury and anguish, “It isn’t right! Why did I survive? You should have been the one... The one to live...”

He looked in shock, “Look at all these new faces. And such unfamiliar garb... Maybe I can find out what happened at the guild.”

He entered The Drowning Wench, passing another throng of strange looks aimed in his direction. This time, to his surprise, he sees a face he might actually recognize behind the counter. “Baderon!? Is that you? What... How long have I been gone?”

Baderon returned the surprised look and responded as best he could.

“Five years? FVE GODSDAMNED YEARS!” Theodric shouted, pounding his fists on the counter. Nearby patrons jumped at the sudden thud, “This is the work of that damned Archon isn’t it? That old fool really fucked us this time didn’t he...”

He took a room for the night that Baderon had offered. He walked away still muttering to himself.

One day in and already a handful of followers! Thanks guys, I appreciate it! Theo does too!

“I wonder... Is this the same place as when I was last here?” An odd awareness struck him, “No, ‘tis not the same. How long have I been gone? How long was I in that dream?”

This was it. What they were waiting for. Theodric glanced around at his brothers and sisters in arms before his eyes came to rest on his wife standing next to him. Weapons were drawn, teeth were bared, rallying cries turned to a thunderous roar as the members of the Eorzean Alliance charged into battle. Theodric didn’t have to look. He knew that Elise was only a step behind him, sword at the ready. His mind drifted as they closed the distance. Normally, he could barely keep up with her, but this time he had convinced her to stay behind him. He would do everything in his power to see them both through this. He had made a promise. That once the battle was done, he would lay down his axe and she, her sword. They both wanted to start a family and he would do anything for that to happen. He wanted to give her the world. A safer world. And for that to happen, something had to be done to stop the Garleans.

He shook the thoughts from his head as they got closer to the charging Garleans. His axe flew. He saw the flash of his wife’s blade from the corner of his eye. Imperials crumpled in a spray of blood as their armor was cleaved open. Shell bursts exploded around them. The magitek armor closest to them erupted in a torrent of flame. The thaumaturges had arrived it seemed. He caught sight of Dalamud looming above them. In his pause, he could see steel coming for him. Then a shield was before him, the dull clang of the weapon being deflected.

Elise make a clicking sound with her tongue as she chided him, “Keep your eyes on the task at hand, eh lover.”

His response was a grunt of disapproval at himself. He swung his axe in a wide arc, spinning himself. The few soldiers closest to the pair were sent hurtling backwards. He grinned at his wife, “How’s that for focus?”

A hearty laugh burst from him as he charged into another group of imperials. Elise echoed the sentiment, still a step behind him. More magitek shells shook the ground beneath the opposing armies. Side by side, axe and sword carved a path through the imperials. Then it happened. The crimson moon above them shuddered, then broke apart. Debris rained onto the field of battle. He brought his arms up to try and shield himself and called to Elise, but he couldn’t see her. He stumbled through the confusion, searching for his wife. A terrible roar filled the sky, but he didn’t care where it was coming from. He needed to find her.

“There you are.” He called when he spotted her.

She was standing on a slight rise next to some others from all the factions present. They were all staring at the sky. He looked up and saw the great wyrm Bahamut. The wyrm roared and let loose an attack that defied belief. Bolts of flame streaked across the sky, headed straight at them. Just as they were about to hit, a bright blue shield rose up around them, deflecting the blast. All their small group could do was watch as the shield shattered from a second attack. The subsequent explosions scattered the few that had stood their ground. Theodric tried with all his might to hold on to Elise as they went flying through the air, but he could feel her slipping from his grasp. The breath left his lungs from the impact with the ground. He could feel his flesh giving way as he slid further still. He struggled to stand only to be knocked off his feet again from yet another explosion. He rose to one knee, every muscle in his body on fire. His left arm dangled lifelessly at his side. He swiped at the blood that was dripping down his face with his good arm. He winced at the ragged flesh he touched at his left shoulder. This was no time to worry about himself. He had to find Elise. He scanned the area around him. Everything was on fire. There, in the midst of imperial and Eorzean colors, he saw her shield shining in the firelight.

“Please, tell me that she held on to it. She has never let it fall from her grasp. Please don’t let this be the first time… Please.” He pleaded over and over as he scrambled across the burning rubble.

A blinding white light filled the air around him. He didn’t care, he needed to get to Elise. Upon arriving at the group, he reached for the shield with a trembling hand. He slid it aside to see the crimson locks of his wife. In a panic, he threw the bodies of fellow soldiers and enemies away to reveal the rest of her body.

“No, no, no, no…” He wailed uncontrollably, “Elise, you can’t leave me like this! We were supposed to be happy. We were supposed to…”

The white light in the sky intensified, but another roar from the great wyrm sent a shockwave through the air. He threw himself over his wife, instinctively shielding her from the blast. Suddenly, he saw a circle of light surround him. He looked back to the motionless body of his wife just before she vanished from his sight.

He dreamed of a place with a bright white light. A voice spoke to him, but he couldn’t quite understand what was said. There was a man cloaked in black. Rage overtook him as he struck out at the mysterious figure, but his vision was engulfed in white forcing his eyes closed. When he opened them again, he was standing on the shores near Limsa Lominsa. He reached for his shoulder, trying to assess the damage he had suffered, but he was whole again. He couldn’t believe it. What happened? Was the Archon responsible for this? A thought struck him. Was Elise brought back as well?

He called out, hopeful yet apprehensive at the same time, “Elise! Elise, please answer me!”

Welcome to the gun show!

Meet the beefcake that has been rampaging his way through my thoughts. Theodric Storme. I’ve decided to give him his own blog and will be posting his story as I put it to paper.