Hi Scribes! We have something a bit different for you today. Gavin wanted to play a dragon based on the Archdemon from Dragon Age. Although I didn't know anything about that story, I did some research and twisted the story a bit to fit into a backstory. I think it turned out better than I expected. Let me know how you guys like it!
Arci grew up in a normal town with a normal life. Well, as normal as it could be. The town of Woodfall was seemingly plagued by an evil curse as some cruel joke. Every so often, a child is born Tainted, a sign of the curse from the moment their life begins. Every time a Tainted child hits 16, they begin searching for archdemon. It's almost as if they're being controlled by a third party. But who or why? No one knows. This has happened every 5 years and the townspeople have taken up destroying the child before they destroy them.
Except for Arci. She was born Tainted, a deep purple birthmark across the hand in the shape of what looks similar to fire. As soon as she was born, her mother knew what she had to do. She had to do what was best for the town. A week after she was born, her parents took her into the woods and were planning to leave her for nature to reclaim. But, something in them changed their mind. "I bet we can raise her right. We can break the curse and save the town!" Her mom yelled at her dad. They argued for hours in the dark of the woods. They came to an agreement. They'd hide Arci away from the world, determined that she was going to be the one to break the curse and save the town.
Arci did just that. She was homeschooled away from the other kids. The family convinced the town that they had in fact left her deep in the woods for the wolves to take her. Life continued like this for years. The older that Arci got, the more she wanted to be outside with the other kids. She didn't understand why she couldn't play with them playing tag.
Although she wasn't allowed outside and her parents did their best to subdue the curse, her sleep was plagued with nightmares. Usually, they were cryptic messages from a voice in the deep. But sometimes, there were violent images of her parents burning in a fire, a world encased in darkness all caused by her. While she was younger, it shaped her behavior. The older she got, the more she acted out of fear of the void in her dreams. She would do anything it said to do. She would hit her parents, break glass, and more. She didn't want the void to take her parents away from her.
The time had come where her 16th birthday was weeks away. The nightmares became more and darker as she grew, leaving her with hardly any sleep for days. She was terrified of what would happen. Her parents were convinced she would be fine. But she was so scared. The fated night came. That day, everything was normal as normal could be. Everyone was on edge, but it seemed like maybe she had broken the curse. She had a cake and went to bed. But all hell broke loose that night.
Her dreams were the most twisted and violent of them all. Her parents were murdered in front of her own eyes by her own doing. They begged for their lives as she took it with ease. The voice was screaming from the void now, trying to take full control. Arci screamed back until her voice was gone.
She woke up with a jolt and was confused. Wait, where am I? She thought, looking around. She was standing in their kitchen in the dark. I must have sleepwalked. She went to turn around and stopped dead in her tracks. Everything in the kitchen was covered in crimson red blood. It reeked of iron and filled her senses. She looked down and saw her parents lying in a large pool of blood. Not only that, but there was a large knife in her hand with blood everywhere. She stood frozen for a second before she screamed in terror and sadness into the darkness of the house.
"Good child," a voice boomed from nowhere, "Now, come to me." With no control of her own body, Arci stumbled out of the house and into the woods behind her. She had no idea where she was headed, but it's like she was just a puppet being pulled on a string. She tried to fight against it but nothing worked. After walking for a bit, she came across a cave she had never seen before. Her body pulled her into it.
Although it was dark, there was a sickly green light coming from deep in the cave. The cave opened up to a large cavern. Green flames flickered on the walls showing a broken and old figure in the middle. What was once a large and mighty dragon was crumbled and dilapidated. Its skin was torn and blackened, falling off the bones. It was missing large chunks of flesh and even teeth. Although it was dead, it felt as if it's empty eyes were watching Arci closely.
"Welcome child. I've been waiting for you."
A voice echoed into the cave, filling the room even though there was no one but Arci and the decaying body. "I will admit, you've been a tough nut to crack. But the time has finally come. Your destiny begins here."
As soon as the voice spoke those words, the green flames grew in size. It began to spread on the walls and floor. Arci's body lurched forward towards the body of the dragon, controlled by an unknown force. She couldn't even scream for help! The body of the dragon lifted its head with a creak and its eyeless head turned towards her. A green light lit from the sockets and the mouth opened as Arci drew near. No! Please no! Someone help! She screamed in her mind as she reached forward. Her hand rose, shaking like a leaf in the wind, and came in contact with the rough skin of the dragon.
The flames roared around them as if they were making a mighty noise of a dragon. Arci's mind felt like it was ignited with the same green flames. The dragon laughed, cruel and evil, as her body began to be literally absorbed by the flesh of the dragon. Arci couldn't do anything but watch as her skin bonded with the scales of the dragon, engulfing every part of her body. Eventually, Arci passed out from the heat and pain.
Arci seemed to be floating in dark water, weightless and airy. The darkness swirled around her as if it was alive. A different voice than before started as a whisper trying to reach her mind. It grew in volume until it was screaming.
"Awaken, child! Though your destiny starts today, I will rewrite fate! Fight for me! Fight for this voice!" For the first time, Arci had control of her body. Though there was nothing around but darkness, she swam towards a small light above her. The light here in size the closer she got which in turn made the water heavier. It's as if the water was holding onto her! Just when she was about to give up, a hand reached down and pulled her into the light.
A faceless person stood before her. The person smiled, the kindness seemingly warming her cold body. "I knew you were strong enough to do it. Now, return and rewrite fate itself." In an instant, it felt as if she was free falling. With a jolt, she woke.
She was in the same cave as before, but the green flames were back to normal. The body of the dragon was reduced to ash in front of her. She looked around for the other person but instead found someone different. It was a large orc name in a golden cloak, smiling sadly at Arci.
"I am a follower of Vearus, God of Forgiveness. I was sent to help you start your new journey," he spoke softly. He explained to Arci what happened, including the fact that she was now trapped in a dragon's body. Vearus has spared her of the Taint that plagued her body, blessing her with another chance of redemption. She was now tasked with the daunting mission of rewriting fate itself, righting that what was wronged by the Taint. And although she was literally up against destiny, she would do everything in her power to fix the Taint and rid the world of its darkness for good.
*Name of character and god were filled in to fit the story.
The original idea was given to us by Gavin Dresen. The reference for the Archdemon can be found here. This was written and edited by us, Bards of Lore!
Love your writing!!