MRPolo13's (MRPolo's) Story

[MRPolo13]

Name: Polo Hawklight
Nickname/Alias: MRPolo13
Age: 21
Race: Human
Height: 2 meters (6 feet)
Weight: around 70 kg
Hair: Dark brown
Eyes: Brown
Skin: Pale
Identifying Marks: Polo Hawklight is a proud man, who shows his nobility in every way possible. He used to be a peasant, hence he tries to get everyone to respect him. However, though he is a proud noble, who can be ready to kill whoever he needs to, he is also a very happy man.
Strengths: Polo Hawklight was a miner for a long time, therefore is a strong man who's strength can be matched to that of some Dwarves. He also knows how to use his language to persuade other people to his liking.
Weaknesses and fears:Polo fears Black Moon, and is very committed to finding out what really is that moon cycle and its cause. His fear comes from a horrible episode from childhood.
Religion and cults: Polo believes in Korigon and Harateth, who are both the Gods of what he feels is the most just.
Profession: Polo is a good miner, who can survive in Nether as easily as in Northern Kingdoms. He mainly sells glowstone for living but he takes every opportunity he can to increase his power.
Backstory:
Once upon a time, in a village of Morothan, there lived a child. His father was a Blacksmith and his mother helped on the farm. That was until the raiders came...

The village was destroyed by overwhelming forces of evil lead by demons and the peasants stood no chance. The only survivor, Polo has ran off into the forest where he was found by local bandits.

The bandit leader raised him as his own son and taught him everything about survival from fighting to farming. But, as young Polo grew, he became aware of political side of the world. He wanted to see. To see what is out there and to meet Kings and Queens. The Bandit leader gave him some tools and said "farewell" proud of his adopted son.

After months of travelling across the world, Polo finally arrived at the greatest city in his world, by far greater then the cities Altera knows. However, this story is to be told elsewhere...

 

[MRPolo13]

This was the overall story... Now I will move on to making the whole thing.
Chapter I: They attack.
There once was a world of Matheria. And in that beautiful world, there was a village, growing on "the outer shell." That village was nothing more then another defensive village that would stop the Nether from advancing further into the outer shell and, eventually, into the inner shell.
Our main character was born in this village and grew up there until the age of 12... He led a happy life, being blacksmith's, the most respected person in the village, son, he was very respected and smart. Even the monks knew him well and actually even taught him how to read and write! Life was happy for Polo, as that was his name. At least it was happy until THEY came.
One night Polo was waken up by screams outside and heat bursting out through the gap between the door and the floor. Suddenly, a giant shadow burst into the room but Polo knew who it was. His father jumped straight up and said: "Polo! Take my axe! The Shadows are attacking!" He caught his breath and said, a bit calmer, "I need you to go down to the vault and make sure the women and children escape..." He picked up his magically enchanted sword and said as he was leaving "I probably won't survive... Nor will many... But you make sure you do survive son..."
Polo got up and took an axe. He rushed outside to see fire and death everywhere. He quickly ran to the Silo, which peasants called the "vault" and went inside.
The room was dim, being only lit up by a single torch, and so Polo had to get used to the light. He said to everyone inside: "I am in charge here... We're going to have to run away through the tunnels... I want Makes to go first... I shall go last covering the escape."
Everyone started leaving, women and children. Old and the young. All the same in the escape.
Polo closed the vault hatch behind him as he heard the doors being hit. He turned around at the very last moment to see a shadow jumping towards him. He couldn't do much with the axe he had as it wasn't a close combat weapon but he used the handle to push the shadow away. He took a swing at the monster. As soon as the metal touched the dark skin, the monster disappeared leaving purple sparks behind.
Young boy opened the hatch again. His heart filled with terror as he saw what was in front of him. Corpses... Women, children. Old and Young. Ill and Healthy. All dead.
Anger filled him from top to bottom. He wanted revenge. He kicked the doors open to see some of the shadows standing outside. He killed one before it disappeared. The other two managed to explode into hundreds of sparks and run off.
Polo started running. He ran as fast as he possibly could. Whispers were following him, from every direction. They didn't catch him...

 

[MRPolo13]

Chapter II: The bandit
He ran... Every single step filled his body with pain. From heart all the way down to legs.
Another step. Pain, this time ranging from spine, throughout chest into his feet.
Another step. Pain filled his body. Everything seemed slow but he had to continue...
Another step. A twig sticking out of the ground caught his leg. He fell over.
Darkness...
He woke up in front of a fire. Polo's legs felt as if they were slowly getting crushed. Someone handed him some drink. He drank not bothering about the flavor until he became aware of what it was.
A man who gave him the drink laughed. "Ye must have some stron' guts if ye can handle such amounts of dwarven finest!" He laughed again.
"Where is the boy?!" Suddenly the voice broke out. That was a voice of a leader. Powerful, even when not shouting. "Don't tell me you gave him the spirit?!"
"Aye! It works well on the pain!" about 20 men, dwarves and elves burst out laughing at once.
The leader laughed along and said "Allright ladies! Take him inside! I want to know who on Nether this is!"
They took Polo inside a tent made of leather and cloth. The tent was pretty big with chests, crates and barrels surrounding the center which was a small fire place.
"So... Where you from son?" Asked the leader before he took a sip of beer.
"I... I come from... a village... It was destroyed by the Nether..." Replied Polo with fear in his eyes.
"Well... If you survived you must be very powerful. We are a large group of bandits known as the 'Inner world'" He gave the pause as Polo became aware that he was looking at the leader of the most powerful bandit group for many many miles. "I shall be generous... I offer you home and that I will teach you all that I know about survival while you become part of my group. Not for the whole life, of course, but for let's say... 6 years. How does that sound?"
Polo thought for a moment. Then he nodded. It was a good deal. He could learn how to survive and he might be able to earn some money while on it because living with the Inner world could mean money...
The very next day the lessons started. Never in his life did Polo receive such a beating, just to find out it was the warm-up. The next were the lessons of how to use the sword. He quickly mastered the use of swords, axes, bows and even barbarian weapons such as oscards and pickaxes.
He started to become aware of how to survive on his own and in a group. He lived the fullest of life, fighting alongside the fiercest bandits in whole of Matheria. He raided caravans and quickly got a group of bandits that he was the leader of.
Five and a half years have passed. Polo was respected bandit thought to be the son of the leader himself. But Polo became ambitious. He wanted to see what's inside the inner shell. He wanted more from life.

 

[MRPolo13]

Chapter III: The pass
Polo's leave was a happy one. His new father respected Polo's ambitions and tried to help as much as he possibly could. And so, Polo left the bandit camp which he learnt to call home with tools and weapons, rations for a month and money that he earned during his escapades with the rest of the bandits. He got new clothes and shoes that were made for him by bandit craftsmen.
Polo was smart and so knew where to head and what to do in order to earn the money he wanted. First and foremost, he took path to the West. He wanted to get to the barrier which was on the North but instead of longer Western path he'd have to go through dangerous mountains that were famous for their death toll. Along the road, Polo did jobs in villages that he stopped by such as helping the peasants counting the crops up to even slaying monsters that were threatening locals. He knew that those villages can't afford to give him money and so instead took food and clothes that he needed far more.
After about two weeks of walking, Polo finally got to The First Barrier. It was a magical wall that was powered by twenty thousand wizards every day. Their task was difficult but important and so Polo respected them for what they were doing. He stopped in front of a stone watchtower in medium town called Mez-Ak-Alion or Akali for short (to polo, it was gigantic as he never really saw a big town.)
Polo headed inside the watch tower and into the underground request office. The queue was pretty big and it took a couple of punches and minutes until he could finally sit down in front of the officer.
"I would like pass papers to get across the barrier... I have 250 Miles that I may pay," said Polo and put the money on the oak counter in front of him. The officer looked at him. Polo's nose filled with the smell of wine that the officer was fuming with.
"A... A pazz? Aye... You may have a ppazz paberz... two huns and fifty... milez... You need more..." The officer clearly wasn't the best of states but, looking around the room, also not in the worst.
"How much more if I may ask?"
"Ye need... five hoondred..." he said and took a sip from his trustworthy canteen. "Ye... Ye look handee... I may gget ye a job. Ye need to get to the minez in Ghetto.... And then kill ye mons... Monsters that are there... The mine owner sh... should pay ye around 300..." After that the officer fell asleep. Well, Polo thought, I have to go to the Ghetto and fight for the money...

 

[MRPolo13]

Chapter IV: The Ghetto.
Polo finally arrived at the ghetto. It was large area of town that was protected by palisades with small gates. Polo approached the gates and asked the guard if he may come in. The guard looked at Polo, sneezed and told him to go in so long as he didn't take any non-humans out.
You see, there was once a war in Matheria. Dwarves and Elves were fighting against each other for a very long time. But that had to quickly changed with the arrival of Humans, who quickly won the great war and sent dwarves and elves to live together in Ghettos with far worse standards of living then even the homeless of the human world.
Polo put aside his dark thoughts and decided to follow the signs. On the way to the mine owner's house he saw two men chasing after a dwarf who ran into a small alleyway. That alleyway was a dead end and Polo didn't want to see death of someone who seemed innocent. He ran into the alley after the thugs. He shouted "Hey, you there! What has that dwarf done to you?"
"The shorty? Heh! He's a dwarf! And dwarves are no less then scum that on my shoes!" Said one of the thugs and burst out laughing. The other followed, as if it was an order.
Polo took his dagger out and threw it. Throwing daggers was one of the things Polo quickly learnt living with the bandits. The dagger went right in between ribs of the first thug and plunged into his heart. The other stopped laughing and took a club out. Too slow, Polo was already next to him with the dagger he just pulled out of the dead scum. Polo stabbed the second thug with full strength. He was afraid he might have hit the ribs which would make the dagger's point blunt but luckily it was a clean hit into the lung.
The second racist started spitting blood mixed with water. It took him about three minutes before he finally suffocated. Polo didn't finish him off to let him see how his victims suffered. Then, he looked at the dwarf who was staring at the young man with mix of respect and surprise.
"Are you alright... Dwarf? I am Polo, and as you can see I don't really appreciate racist behavior..." Polo said after which he sat down on the ground to catch his breath.
"I'm... I'm fine but... but what about ye? I mean, ye just killed two men each twice the size of ye without any trouble! That was amazing!" The dwarf smiled and said "My name is Tharon Hardhead. People call me Thar. Pleasure to meet ye."
Polo shook Tharon's hand after which he said "could you please guide me to the Mining guild's master? I believe he has a job that I am able to do."
"Ye mean ye mine's problem with monsters?" He thought for a moment "yes, I believe you could actually make it... I'll take ye there. That's the very least I can do."
Polo sighed with relief. When he was going to the Guild master's house he could have a closer look at the Ghetto itself. There was very little space, and most of things were built of wood and hay, which allowed them to burn easy. This was the cheaper way out that the town's mayor decided upon. There were rows of five houses, after which a small alleyway or a turn in the main road. Only one tavern was standing and the only place that looked any pretty was the elf Asylum that was their place of worship.

 

[MRPolo13]

Chapter V: The Mine-Quest
The guild-master's house was pretty big for ghetto's standards. It was about 20 meters squared wooden shack with a little front garden. The entrance was guarded by two very bored-looking dwarves with chain mail armour, leather helmets strengthened by an iron ring. When they saw Thar, they braced and greeted him.
Polo followed the dwarf inside the one and the only room. He was amazed at the cleanness of this room as it was pretty rare for a house to have nothing lying on the floor.
After a short talk in West-Dwarvish language, The guild master looked at Polo. He was pretty tall for a dwarf, but from far away he'd look like the shortest one in the world because of how giant he was. It didn't seem to stop him in any way and Polo knew that he had to know how to fight very, very well to stay as guild master for longer that a year.
"So. Ye came to the ol' uncle Vario huh? Well... I might have a job that will suit ye well. It requires speed with strength, and we dwarves lack the first one," he burst out laughing but quickly stopped. Then he continued, "The mines are overrun with monsters of all sort. Nether must be gettin' closer..."
Polo nodded, and after getting all the information he set out to the mine. The mine entrance was small, also guarded by two dwarves in similar uniforms. They asked Polo for a pass into the mine and after he showed it the welcomed him in.
What he saw inside didn't surprise him. The work was still going on the higher levels because only the bottom two were overrun. Three guards came to him and told him they'll escort him down. He gladly accepted and the four descended down into the second from last level. When they arrived, the guards told the young Polo that they cannot escort him further. He agreed and went on, pulling his sword out.
The first three monsters he killed were skeletal minions. Usual things that Polo would hunt for while in the forests. He quickly killed them and went on. This is where it got harder. Another five minions burst out but managed to fire no arrows before they were destroyed. Polo walked on steadily, leaving a trace of dead monsters on the ground. He finally found what he was looking for. A medium-sized blue cage with fire around it, that would be a portal to another world that was yet to be discovered. He destroyed it and went back up to say the job was complete, received the money (600, not the promised 300 and so Polo was very happy) and bought the pass.
He could now get inside the inner shell....

 

[MRPolo13]

Chapter VI: The Academy
It grew in front of him. Giant that could survive all attacks. A titan, that feared no evil. It was the capital of Matheria. A giant city that was bigger then the Grasus Sea. Mathrium-Thrivus. This is the place where even the greatest meant nothing. This is the place where Polo wanted to find what he desired so much... Knowledge.
He couldn't afford to learn in the Academy for even a month, but decided to be a cleaner in the biggest learning center in whole of Matheria. Polo spent in Matheria a year. A year of learning on the side when nobody thought he was listening but was instead sweeping the floor. He lived in the ghetto, with his dwarven friend Tharon Hardhead, who managed to get across the barrier by paying the 1000 Crowns he had to in order to get a non-human pass.
One day, during a lesson about other worlds and ways they live or owwtl for short, the teacher asked a question about a world known as Altera. He asked about what historical events did not take place on that strange world.
Altera was a breakthrough discovery and it was believed that Matheria and Altera would soon be able to communicate for the first time, therefore it was a very "hot" topic, as some called it.
There was a silence as the question fell... When the silence grew longer the teacher decided to choose someone. "Polo! You... I can always see you soaking up every word like a sponge! Answer me boy, I believe you are far smarter then you look!"
"M-me sir?" after a nod he cleared his throat and started, "A major even that didn't take place in Altera is onslaught of non-humans that, in our continuum, happened in 24th year after humans came. It is believed that Altera's humans exist siding with dwarves in a conflict between them and the elves, just like what was going on before humans in Matheria."
"Great answer. As for the rest of you, you all should be learning from that young man. He didn't attend half of my lessons and yet he understood them perfectly. The lesson is over now, have your food or whatever it is and I shall see you tomorrow," after everyone left, Polo was still cleaning when the man looked up on him and said, "Do you want to learn here? You could become a genius..." after Polo nodded he continued, "The school will be happy to pay for your education. That is, of course if you agreed..."
That was one of the happiest moments in young Polo's life. He would receive education from the smartest people in the world. All for free!
Polo started learning. It wasn't easy but he was quickly smarter than any other students in the Academy. He learnt for three years, after which, he became a professor of astronomy and other-worlds education.

 

[MRPolo13]

Chapter VI: The war comes...
Professor P, as Polo was known, had lead a happy life in the city. But then, all changed once again. One day, sudden death of 15,000 wizards weakened the barrier. The forces of Nether quickly used that opportunity and breached the inner wall, charging through city.
Polo always loved chaos, though he was pretty peaceful himself. Many refugees ran across streets, as if they really believed that there is way out. Suddenly, his dwarven friend spotted Polo. He ran up to him and said, "Oi! We must get goin'! These here people won't live for any lon'er but I know a way out of this world!" After that, Tharon grabbed Polo's hand and dragged him inside their house. He then picked up an axe and plunged it into the floor.
"What ye are goin' to see now, hasn't been seen by humans... Ever..." Tharon said, after which he managed to break the floor open. He jumped down. Polo had nothing else to do but follow, so he did...
Darkness.... Everything was dark except about twenty purple dots in the distance. Polo heard Thar's voice to go to the dots... Suddenly everything became light.
Tharon looked at Polo, as they were both standing in front of portals and said, "These 'ere are thy dwarven portals to different dimensions... We will separate and both go to different lands. I shall go to dimension ruled by the dwarves. I want you to go to the only dimension that has some sort of balance... To Altera..."
Polo looked at Tharon in horror. Altera?! Dwarves knew all along how to get there?! He knew these questions won't find an answer any time soon and so there was nothing else to do but to bid his friend a farewell and step through, into an unknown world....
The world he left behind no longer existed... But Polo.... He didn't miss it......

This is the end of my story. Or at least, its beginning...

 

[MRPolo13]

Blood of the damned
Polo Hawklight. Lord. A noble man. At least, so they said...
He always had a fear of the Black Moon, or Lunar eclipse as the taught ones would call it. It was a psychological effect that has caused him to have panic attacks. He lived with it since the age of around ten, and could not remember much about the exact reason of such attacks. And so, Polo lived on with the fear of Black Moon.
However, one night, something changed. He started coughing very violently, spitting out small droplets of blood. He started crying with blood, unwillingly, obviously. Pain ran down his spine, such great he wanted to shout out in terror. He ran off and fell into a ditch. He was met with silence... He was unconscious.
The very next day he woke up in a pile of blood. Something was not right. The Black Moon has never sent such great pain into him. While terror of the thought of some sort of mutation was powerful, he decided not to take much notice. He might have been ill, he thought to himself.
A month later, yet another eclipse filled the night sky. This time everything was even worse. He was sitting by a fire, along with few other travellers, and was talking to them. Then he saw it, the Black Moon.
Red cloak filled his eyes. He stopped feeling anything, and his mind felt as if he was just spectating someone else go crazy. His arms flung across at speed that would usually mean he has broken them, and met their target. The man he has hit fell over to ground, but in slower motion... Everything seemed slower..... He watched as the man slowly made his way down, and then Polo roared.
It was not battle cry, that he has heard many times before coming from his mouth, it was a roar of a beast. All he could feel was anger... Everyone stared at him, but started slowly getting up grabbing for whatever weapons they had.
"RUN!" He heard his own voice inside his head, "You are hungry! You must eat."
And so he ran. He saw a flock of sheep.... And that is all he could remember.
He woke up with sunrise, suddenly pain crossing his body. Covered in blood of sheep... He knew something has changed, and the change was not good...
Polo Hawklight. Lord. A noble man... And a beast, ready to kill just for the sake of killing...