Hello community, since writing albeit a very little amount in To Prove Superiority I've had the taste for writing / trying to write a big epic adventure but clearly Pov isn't my favourite perspective and found it very difficult. I want to make a story that encourages people to contribute and I'm hoping a big open world is where that may start? If not I'm sure I can try and find time in writing many different characters. I want to encourage cross chapter possibilities, have decisions made by other writers indirectly effect the world around other characters and story treads, build a religion and world rules but let me know what you think of the below. Thanks in advance. Below is how I see the first chapter going In the year 957, a group of self taught, highly skilled marksmen and women founded a group of assassins known only as The Illumination, the group and it’s members were influential in many affairs across the world, initiating wars, dethroning Kings and Queens to keep peace in the land and preventing atrocities from spreading far and wide. In 1115 the illumination faced a new enemy from within, high ranking assassins sought to use their power and influence for their own greed, purposefully destabilising regions to gain favour and to be used for higher prices to return order. Such was their notoriety that they were the only people capable of returning order but they were also the only people with the ability to destroy it. In the year 1202, the illumination’s purpose and ethos had changed, they were mercenaries, hired killers and trained in the very best techniques, travelling across the world to learn new abilities and trained to use them in some of the most devastating ways. Over the years and through rapidly changing technologies the Illumination went through various changes, disbandment’s and now in the year 1506 they have again begun to gain credibility, helping the weak, financed by the few nobility and leaders intent on making a positive difference to the world but due to their chequered past have made many enemies. Second chapter to post below but will be a character selection.
Astrid As the world turned and a new day breathed life into the trees and vegetation, the soft wind graced the blades of grass in an almost hypnotic swirl and for a moment Astrid was at peace. Astrid and had travelled many days and nights, she had set voyage with over a hundred of her closest and most fearsome warriors ready to lay waste to any unknown and unprepared victims as she watched the horizon, waiting for the first gleam of sunlight to light their path. Over the mound and down surrounded by makeshift wooden walls and situated near a large flowing river a relatively small town surrounding a monastery sat. The people were old and weather worn, most of the men looked like fishermen and the women looked frail but upbeat and the joyful chatter that seemed to engulf the entire town was like a big song as over a dozen men and women with battle paint peered through the tall grass. “Egnar” Astrid spoke without turning her head, “Go”. At her command, a huge broad shouldered bear of man shuffled up to his feet and began descending down the hill, crouched and concealed by the tall grass until he reached the towns defensive walls before standing and quickly slithering over it like a snake without being detected. Yards away from Egnar a young couple lay on the grass speaking of how perfect their life was until the young girl heard a creak above her head and an apple falling from the tree rolling into the undergrowth. Beaming with excitement she hurriedly moved towards where the apple had rolled but found her excitement diminish as a looming shadow blotted out the sun. “Arhhhhhh!” she shrieked before her voice was nullified with a single swing of Egnar’s blade. The town erupted into a frenzy as the horizon suddenly became alive with gleaming steel, round shields and blades as a swarm of leather and fur cut through the grass like a river and poured through the village almost as quick as the first sight of the invaders were seen as a rising tide of destruction and mayhem was destroyed in the warriors path. The once happy and joyful chatter reduced to screams of fear and blood churning howls of pain as Astrid’s warriors beat and battered everyone in sight, killing many men, women and children with quick decisive thundering blows of their blades. The horde seemed to revel in the pain they were causing as they upturned houses and laid total devastation to anything they touched. Standing amongst limbs and bodies Astrid watched as heavy smoke shrouded the entire village somehow nullifying the sounds of the screaming and dying people around when she noticed a small shack unaffected by her horde The fields were laid stricken with fallen fisherman, blood and guts poured over the crops and into the river like a flood as Astrid strode towards the small shack. Making the short distance she studied it for movement, her bright blue eyes seemingly taking in every detail as she crouched down and stalked it as if it were a live beast. Reaching behind her back to retrieve her axe Astrid carefully approached the building, crouched practically on her knees as she took long sideway strides, her axe or her shoulder and ready to strike at a moments notice as she closed in. Sudden and deliberate movement inside set Astrid’s eyes ablaze as she began whacking at the door with her axe, the tin wood gave easily as she started slamming her foot then her shoulder and finally lodging her axe into the door she kicked it down reducing it to shrapnel. The moment door was down and her lithe frame stood in the way, Astrid was dragged inside, her training didn’t kick in as she was hauled inside the shack, thrown against the wall, chucked over a fire pit and then slammed against another wall, feeling a thud burst into her abdomen knocking the air from her lungs and sending her to the floor. Laid gasping and anxiously looking around her the unmistakable sound of metal sliding off a hard surface and slicing through the air Astrid summoned all her strength and found her footing, dodging to the left then right of a swinging sword, unhooking her shield and spinning around she deflected the next hard strike, knocking her attacker off balance and sending his weapon to the ground. Getting her breath, Astrid watched the old man get to his feet, his long dark hair as long as his beard down to his chest, his shoulders big and powerful and his face dark with scars as he watched the young woman intently. “Clank” sounded in the corner caused both of them to look over and investigate but the terror in the man’s eyes told Astrid all she needed to know. “Leave her alone” he mumbled as he reached down grasping his sword and pointing it across the room. Weaving her head like snake in the grass, her eyes wild with excitement and her fingers twitching to grasp her blade as she stood crouched slightly and swaying menacingly in front the man Astrid waited for the his first move as she stuck her tongue out to her chin before hissing. “Aug! You fucking wench” the old man cried as he rushed Astrid. The two swords clanged and spat shrapnel’s of steel against each other. The fisherman trying desperately to spare his daughters life shouted as he spun around and swung his sword sideways but Astrid deflected the blow with her shield causing the man to lose his footing. Seeing the opening Astrid roared and smashed her shield into the man slamming him against the wall before driving her sword through his chest and into the wall behind him keeping him upright and spitting blood. “Nooooo” a girl shouted suddenly appearing from her hiding spot and rushing towards her dying father. “You beast you... you monster” she roared getting to her feet and charging Astrid.
