Overlord Jebus Posted July 31, 2018 Report Share Posted July 31, 2018 The Tragedy of Thaylen Field By Overlord Jebus Authors Note: I'm sorry. This fic will spoil the climax of Oathbringer. Warning, this fic will cover multiple major character deaths. This is not for the faint of heart. I love myself a bit of suffering and even I struggled to write it. I am writing this a chapter at a time. When I have finished a chapter, I go back and read the previous chapter and do a second draft. I will then post the second draft. Feedback welcome. Table of contents: Spoiler Chapter One: Oathbreaker Chapter Two: Love Chapter Three: Thank You Chapter Four: Herald of War Chapter Five: Smoke and Ash Chapter Six: I'm Sorry & Epilogue 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Overlord Jebus Posted July 31, 2018 Author Popular Post Report Share Posted July 31, 2018 Chapter One: Oathbreaker Spoiler Odium rested his hand on the shoulder of the huddled Dalinar Kholin. “It’s done, Dalinar. The pain has passed. Stand up and claim the station you were born to obtain.” Alone. Dalinar held a fist to his chest. So alone. It hurt to breathe, to think. He opened bleeding fingers and looked at his hand. A hand that had taken so much from so many. From himself. Help me. Dalinar couldn’t do this anymore. It wasn’t my fault. The cries started to fade. The pain that had almost overwhelmed him lifted. Dalinar’s body cooled and his muscles relaxed, his hand falling limply to the dry stone beneath him. In that moment, he felt peace for the first time since he could remember. Evi’s death wasn’t his fault, Odium had done that. His cravings for wine, his neglect of his sons, the death of his brother. That wasn’t him. That was the monster Odium had turned him into. Odium had taken his life and left it a trail of tragedies. Dalinar climbed to his feet, looking up at Odium and felt hate. Odium smiled back. A fire deep inside Dalinar exploded. Rage and frustration and lust and passion. From deep within, Dalinar felt a terrible heat flow through him, his chest, his arms, his legs, his hands, his feet, his fingers, his toes. He felt it rise up his neck and burn across his skull. Dalinar lost control of what he felt, what he thought, all was a swirling mass of emotion. D A L I N A R ! A voice cried in his mind, like a spear thrust into a hurricane. It was battered away and forgotten before Dalinar could even comprehend it. Dalinar felt a tugging inside before an awful slicing sensation. Dalinar had a momentary awareness of losing something vitally important before that too was swept away in the torrent burning through him. --- Kaladin held Adolin. The prince's breathing and heart rate had slowed far too much. He felt heavy, limp. Adolin had lost consciousness. Kaladin went cold. This wouldn’t end here. This couldn’t end here. Numb, Kaladin gently placed Adolin on the ground, indicating to Shallan to hold his head. Kaladin stood. He took his knife and faced the closest Fused. The armored face grinned at him as it kicked lightly off the ground, gliding slowly towards him, spear raised. Kaladin lunged at the Fused, grabbing the haft of the spear and pulling it close to him, driving the knife forward. The Fused dodged the strike with ease, using the momentum of Kaladin's pull to twist out of the way and throw Kaladin to the ground. Dazed, Kaladin watched as the two Fused took Pattern by the arms and another two wrestled to restrain Syl. Shallan still knelt by the Adolin, the final Fused raising it’s spear for an executioner's strike. A great thundercrack, like the sky breaking, sounded and a powerful gust of wind struck them. It threw the Fused that still hung in the air back whilst knocking those that weren’t already on the ground down. Beads clattered and roared. It felt like all the air was being sucked from one side of them to the other... Towards.... Towards Thaylen City. Kaladin rolled onto his front and looked over to see a great pillar of black smoke and red lightning swirled near the far side of the Oathgate bridge. A great spinning mass that spread across the whole sky, coming down and reducing to a single point. A single golden light in the midst of thousands. The Fused around Kaladin recovered quickly and, upon seeing what was happening, took off whooping and cheering. Syl had landed near Kaladin and had crawled towards him. She held his hand and looked out over Thaylenah. Kaladin watched, not quite understanding, as the golden light at the nexus of the maelstrom wavered and faded until it was replaced with a fierce red light. “No...” Kaladin heard Syl whisper. He looked over to find tears streaming down her face. For a moment, Kaladin hoped the Fused had forgotten about them until one turned around and quickly flew towards Kaladin and Syl. It lay the flat of its spear on Kaladin's back before kneeling down beside him and pointing at the red and black mass. “You see that, Radiant?” the Fused said, spitting the word like a curse. “That’s us winning.” The Fused angled it’s spear and drove it down into Kaladin's back. --- Dalinar stood before Odium. He felt his enemy's presence inside him as clearly as he saw the old man in front of him. His mind was at war with his body. Hate and fury compelled his body to move, to strike out, but Odium, the presence he had let in held him back. Odium reached out and touched Dalinar's face. “My champion, how do you feel?” Odium said as he tilted his head up, as if he was really looking at Dalinar for the first time “Ah, passionate, that’s good. Now...” Odium stepped back and held out a hand in front of himself. A line of red flame swirled into being around his hand, materialising into a great, golden Shardblade that fell into Odium's grip. The Blade's colour was so light it was almost white. Dalinar felt his head compelled to move, to look down the length of the Blade. It ended with a great curved hook. Odium held the Blade out, presenting it to Dalinar. --- “Mistress!” Wyndle said. “Oh, mistress!” For once, Lift didn’t have the will to tell him to shut up. She focused everything on those tendrils creeping up her arms, like deep, dark vines. The assassin lay on the ground, staring upward, practically covered in those vines. Lift held them at bay, teeth gritted. Her will against the darkness until . . . “Behind you!” An arm looped under Lift's arms and threw her backwards. Lift flew through the air for a moment before hitting the ground. This wasn’t the first time Lift had been thrown through the air, though. She rolled with her landing and was able to spring back onto her feet. “Did that sword just try to eat me?!” said Lift, looking down at the arms. Her hands were completely black and she struggled to move her fingers. The tendrils running down her arms didn’t fade. “Mistress, I’ve only seen swords eat things in the Cognitive Realm so it wouldn’t be completely out of question for one to start eating you here in the Physical Realm,” Wyndle replied, his vines rising out of the ground next to Lift. Lift pointed toward Szeth and the lithe Fused standing over him. “What’s it doing?” She asked, as the Fused reached for a pouch on its waist and poured the contents over Szeth. Spheres, infused spheres. With the bag empty, the Fused dropped the bag on Szeth and pointed back towards the city. Lift heard it bark something at Szeth before it took off and flew into the air. “Remind me I need to learn how to fly,” Lift said, running over to Szeth. She watched as the light of the spheres faded, the blackness retreating from Szeth's skin. Lift reached him just as he rose, the black sword still dripping smoke. “What'd the voidbringer say?” Lift said. Szeth looked back towards where Dalinar and Odium stood. Lift turned and could see something was happening between them. “Our master has asked for me,” Szeth said. “Oh, I was asking the sword,” said Lift, pointing towards the blade in Szeth's hands. Lift could still see traces of black on Szeth's fingers. Szeth didn’t reply and launched up into the air and towards Dalinar, leaving Lift alone in the middle of the Voidbringer army. “Mistress, don’t forget, you need to learn how to fly.” --- “Fitting, don’t you think?” Odium said, inspecting the golden white Shardblade “I call it Oathbreaker.” Dalinar screamed, but no noise left his mouth. He raged and fought and struggled and wanted nothing more than to grab the Shardblade and shove it down Odium’s- Dalinar's arms responded to that. He reached out and grabbed the Shardblade. He lifted it from Odium's hands and went to strike him down, but the moment he tried, he lost control again. Instead, Dalinar's arms held the Shardblade up, the flat of the blade facing him. Dalinar looked back upon himself. His eyes glowed red. Starting with the hand that held Oathbreaker, red fire began to consume him. As it coalesced around Dalinar, it begin to form the shape of midnight black Shardplate. It traveled across Dalinar's body until he was entirely encased. Dalinar lowered the great Blade, holding it out to the side, the tip cutting a small groove in the ground. “Now, I have things I need to concentrate on elsewhere. Go, my champion, and kill everyone in the city,” Odium said. Dalinar looked to Amaram, to the armies around him. His head turned to watch as the Assassin in White scooped something up off the ground as he flew back to Dalinar. He turned to Thaylen City and Dalinar's mouth smiled. “Oh and Dalinar... there’s two Heralds just...” Odium pointed towards some buildings near the break in the wall behind them, “over there. I’d like you to start with them.” And with that, Odium vanished into a white mist. Inside the prison of his mind, Dalinar screamed. 29 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mestiv Posted July 31, 2018 Report Share Posted July 31, 2018 What a cheerful story, can't wait to see how Jasnah, being the logical one decides that she's gonna join Dalinar, as there are no chances to win now. 10 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MistboreD Posted August 1, 2018 Report Share Posted August 1, 2018 Wow. This is...something. Not gonna lie, during my Oathbringer read, I was curious how things could turn out if Dalinar gives his pain. And hey, you wrote it! When can we expect a new chapter? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MistboreD Posted August 1, 2018 Report Share Posted August 1, 2018 Ah and...whose voice is it? 19 hours ago, Overlord Jebus said: D A L I N A R ! A voice cried in his mind, like a spear thrust into a hurricane. It was battered away and forgotten before Dalinar could even comprehend it. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Overlord Jebus Posted August 1, 2018 Author Report Share Posted August 1, 2018 7 hours ago, MistboreD said: Wow. This is...something. Not gonna lie, during my Oathbringer read, I was curious how things could turn out if Dalinar gives his pain. And hey, you wrote it! When can we expect a new chapter? Glad you enjoyed it! Hopefully within the next few days. I've written about half of Chapter Three and once that's done, I'll go back and edit Chapter Two and post that! 4 hours ago, MistboreD said: Ah and...whose voice is it? I was going for the Stormfather but I could have made it a bit more obvious! 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wyndlerunner Posted August 1, 2018 Report Share Posted August 1, 2018 Well, that was cheery... I mean, I love emotional devastation as much as the next guy, but wow. It's good though.. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Ark1002 Posted August 8, 2018 Report Share Posted August 8, 2018 (edited) That was the best fan story I've ever read. Also something I've always wanted. A cosmere story where the villain just wins. Or at least causes a lot of chaos. The most of this I've seen is when the Koloss kill Dox and, uh, forgot the name of the coppercloud. Can't wait to see the rest! Edited August 8, 2018 by Ark1002 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dnavenom Posted August 12, 2018 Report Share Posted August 12, 2018 You have a real talent for this! Amazing. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Invocation Posted August 13, 2018 Report Share Posted August 13, 2018 On 8/8/2018 at 3:32 PM, Ark1002 said: forgot the name of the coppercloud Cladent/Clubs 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Ark1002 Posted August 13, 2018 Report Share Posted August 13, 2018 (edited) Yeah, I was thinking that was the dead one, but that was Trap. @Overlord Jebus, when do we get chapter two? And three? And any others? Edited August 13, 2018 by Ark1002 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Overlord Jebus Posted August 14, 2018 Author Popular Post Report Share Posted August 14, 2018 @Ark1002 How about right now? Chapter Two: Love Spoiler Renarin ran after Jasnah through the Loft Wards of the city. People clogged the streets, but she didn’t use those. She leaped off buildings, dropping onto rooftops of the tiers below. She ran across each of these, then leaped down to the next street. Renarin struggled to follow, afraid of his weakness, confused by the things he’d seen. He dropped to a rooftop, feeling sudden pain at the fall—though Stormlight healed that. He limped after her until the pain left. “Jasnah!” he called. “Jasnah, I can’t keep up!” She stopped at the edge of a rooftop. He reached her, and she took his arm. “You can keep up, Renarin. You’re a Knight Radiant.” “I don’t think I’m a Radiant, Jasnah. I don’t know what I am.” Something had gone wrong. Glys had gone very quiet a few moments ago. Renarin could still feel him, but it was as if he was hiding, cowering. From their vantage in the Loft Ward, a great red haze seemed to be creeping from the northern shore towards the walls of the city. Renarin worried that it had something to do with Glys. “I know what you are,” Jasnah said. “You’re my cousin. Family, Renarin. Hold my hand. Run with me.” “But Jasnah, what if that’s not enough?” Renarin said. “It will be” Jasnah said, smiling down at him. He nodded, and she went to pull him from the rooftop. Before they could move, a crashing sound nearby interrupted them. The top of the building next to them exploded in their direction as a monstrous stone creature swept its arm through the building, throwing rubble in their direction. Jasnah’s hands flew up, bright with Stormlight. Large chunks of wood and stone burst into smoke but it wasn’t enough. Renarin grabbed Jasnah round the waist and threw the two of them from the rooftop as debris crashed around them. --- Fen and her consort backed away from the side of the wall. Navani’s stomach tightened. She wasn’t sure what they had just witnessed. Navani's knuckles turned white as she gripped the parapet. To the north, the great mass of swirling red visions started to creep over and across the wall towards them. “Fen, we need to protect the Oathgate. We can’t let what is happening here reach it. We need to get as many people out and-” “Do not think to command me in my own city,” Fen snapped, her eyes wide “What is happening here, what is Dalinar doing?” Navani struggled through gritted teeth to reply. “I’m not sure. I think... I do not think it worked... Whatever Dalinar was doing, I don’t think he succeeded.” Navani said, unable to voice what she truly thought had happened. Fen stood for a moment, before looking from the top of the wall into the city. Navani joined her and watched as Amaram’s troops worked their way through the gap in the wall and into the city. They spread like a green tide through the streets and would soon box them in. “We need to leave now. We’ll head for the Loft Wards, pull the troops back to the defenses there. We should be able to keep them busy down here long enough to allow for the evacuation to complete that far at least,” Fen said. Navani looked at Fen, knowing how hard it must be for her to accept that she’d lost her capital, her city, her home. Navani’s thoughts drifted to Kholinar... To Elhokar... To... No. Navani stopped herself. This was not the time. “Come,” Fen said, walking towards the stairs down to the city streets, Kmakl following closely. “I’m sorry Fen, I can’t come with you,” Navani said. Fen turned to Navani. “And why is that?” Fen said, her mouth tightened into a line. “I need to talk to my husband,” Navani replied. --- Renarin woke to darkness. He felt cold stone against one cheek and a very uncomfortable pressure on his head. He was lying on his front and tried to move his arms to stand. They wouldn’t respond. Renarin took a few deep breaths and tried to kick his legs and whilst he could move them, he found he couldn’t very far before kicking what must be rock. He could feel his Stormlight within, a great reserve that was fading, being used up, keeping him alive. Renarin kicked and tried to scream, panic setting in. Tears filled his eyes. Tears that appeared infinitely deep, each one containing images of his friends, his family, his father, before they streamed down his face. Each containing images of death. Where is Glys? Renarin could still feel him. Why isn’t he saying anything? What is happening? Why can’t I move? Where’s Glys? Why can’t I move? Why can’t I move? The environment around Renarin started to shift. Light reached his eyes as stone and beams of wood fell away as a being in gleaming purple Shardplate stood up next to him. The Shardplate was like nothing he’d ever seen before. It was far more angular than what he was used to, made up of many different sized and shaped geometric pieces. Light swam across its surfaces, beautiful white etching covering every inch of it. The figure crouched down next to Renarin, turning the surrounding rubble to smoke. Renarin felt his body reknitting immediately. The helm of the Shardplate vanished. Not in the same way as dismissing a Blade, each segment of the helm seemed to go clear, detach from the whole and disappear as the rim flashed with light. Jasnah looked down at him. “Renarin, I’m sorry but we have to move now,” she said. Jasnah grabbed Renarin and threw him over her shoulder. His still healing body screamed in pain and Renarin shut his eyes and ground his teeth to stop himself from crying out. Jasnah’s helm reappeared and she ran down the street. Renarin opened his eyes to see the huge creature, the one that had just thrown a house at them, running towards them. --- Anger Hate Weakness Rage Emotions pulsed through Dalinars mind, changing with every beat. Dalinar fought for control of his body with everything he had for every moment he was able. He found his body only responded it felt it was doing something Odium wanted to do. Most of the time though, Odium had complete control. “Amaram, lead your troops. Hunt down the Thaylen troops, I don’t want any captives.” Odium said through Dalinar’s clenched teeth. “The Fused and Kai-Garnis will focus on the Oathgate. Once the troops are dead, burn the city.” Odium turned Dalinar towards the Assassin in White, who was kneeling by his side, awaiting orders. His sheathed sword lay on the ground in front of him. The assassin’s skin had a strange pale snaking pattern to it. Hate Loathing Loyalty Love Betrayal Shame Dalinar could no longer tell if his emotions were his own or if they were being forced upon him by Odium. Each one blossomed over him, unable to latch on to any before he could stop to think. “Assassin, there are Radiants in this city. Kill them.” Dalinar said. Unable to stop the words leaving his own lips, Dalinar shrieked in his mind. Memories of Gavilar came to him. You weren’t there! Where were you?! Dalinar never wanted to be king. Dalinar wanted to help his brother. He wanted to protect him. Why didn’t he protect him? Dalinar wanted him to die. Dalinar hated his brother, why couldn’t Dalinar have been king? Gavilar had everything, Dalinar got to fight, but only when Gavilar said. He should have killed Gavilar himself. Fought Gavilar. Killed Gavilar. Taken Alethkar. Taken Navani. Killed Jasnah and Elhokar before they ever became issues. Hate Jealousy Betrayal Guilt Dalinar wanted to reach out and grab the assassin by the throat. He wanted to strangle the man and watch the life drain from his eyes. He wanted to kill Gavilar and this man had taken that from him. This man had taken his brother from him. The assassin nodded. The Shin man looked back towards the army of Parshmen. He paused for a moment before lifting into the air and flying towards the city, joining the Fused he had been fighting only moments before. --- Jasnah dropped Renarin down in an alleyway between two sturdy looking buildings, the huge creature quickly catching up to them. This must be a thunderclast, thought Jasnah. She'd read about these. “Jasnah, where did you get that plate from?” Renarin asked. His voice sounded stronger than Jasnah was expecting for someone so injured. “I said the Words, cousin. Now, I need you to stay here until your Stormlight has healed you enough to... join... me...” She said, trailing off. Renarin quickly stood, the only trace of the broken body she had pulled from the rubble was the blood and dust marking his hair and uniform. Even the head wound had already healed. So, the tales of Truthwatcher’s healing are true. Ivory said, stepping up next to Jasnah in his full sized form. Jasnah crossed her plated arms and dismissed her helm. “It seems I have underestimated you, again, cousin. Do you still have Stormlight left?” Her own reserves were running steady. “Yes” Renarin replied, looking at the ground. “Then come, we need to deal with that thunderclast. I can’t Soulcast it, the interference is too strong. I’ll keep its attention, you go for its legs.” Renarin stuck his hand out to the side. Jasnah waited a moment but nothing happened. “Renarin?” she said. His head down, face tight with concentration. Finally, he let out a sharp cry. “He’s not coming, Jasnah! I can’t do it, I don’t know where Glys is! I can feel him but it’s like...” Renarin said “It’s like he’s hiding from me!” Renarin’s breathing was coming sharp and heavy. Not from him. Ivory said The enemy’s presence has grown much stronger in this city. The spren is hiding from Odium. Jasnah thought for a moment. She didn’t know what to do. This wasn’t what she was good at. She’d read books on what she thought Renarin’s illness was but their treatments were at best archaic, at worst depraved. She may not understand that, but she knew her cousin. Jasnah knelt down till she was eye to eye with Renarin “Renarin, you don’t need to summon your Blade right now. Do you have Stormlight left?” Jasnah said. Renarin didn’t meet her eyes but nodded. “Okay, a Radiant is more than just their Blade. Your healing is remarkable. I want you to not worry about getting hit and distract that thunderclast,” Jasnah said. Renarin looked up at Jasnah, his features relaxing. “Remember your oaths, Renarin. Let’s go.” Renarin brow furrowed and a solid determination filled his eyes. Renarin nodded again. Jasnah smiled and willed her helmet to be. The two Radiants burst from the alley, right into the path of the thunderclast. --- Odium turned Dalinar towards Thaylen City. His legs carried him towards the gap in the wall where Amaram’s troops still filed into the city. Betrayal Fury Anger Dalinar raged at the confines of his mind. He wanted to run. Odium let him. He ran towards the city. To Fen’s city. Fen, who had doubted him, insulted him. She was worried he’d conquer them. Spite Well, then he would. Dalinar screamed and this time, his mouth opened and he bellowed. He was running at full sprint now, the power in the Plate he was wearing was coursing through him, This was something new, something better. He watched as a great red wave of horror and death washed over the wall from the north, covering the gap in the wall, the troops and finally Dalinar. He laughed as he felt the Thrill surge through him. He laughed as he barrelled through Amaram’s troops. He laughed as he swiped Oathbreaker through them. Dalinar had complete control. He smashed men aside with swipes of his plated arms. Others fell to Oathbreaker. Each step took him closer to Thaylen City and he killed his way to the breach. Each death he inflicted upon his own troops filled him with glee, Dalinar’s head was a euphoric cloud that loved to destroy everything he hated. Loved to destroy everything. Dalinar neared the wall. As he did, he saw a sole figure standing at the top of the wall, making its way towards the breach. Navani. Dalinar stopped laughing. Love Hate Pleasure Pain Jealousy Lust Betrayal Guilt. Dalinar felt a strength grow inside him. Like stormlight but different. Smoother. Intoxicating. His plated arms began to emit wisps of dark violet light that seemed to draw in the light around Dalinar. As he approached, Dalinar leapt the full distance from the ground to the top of the wall. He landed in front of Navani. -- Dalinar towered above Navani. He was always taller than her but in that Plate, that terrible Shardplate, he seemed like a figure from myth. She struggled for words. Her mind had felt clouded since the red mist had flowed over their position. She had to say something. She had seen Odium talking to Dalinar, seen him on the ground. She’d never seen him so weak, not even during his visions. Then he’d stood and accepted Odium’s Blade and Plate. She’d just seen him murder his way through Amarams troops to get to her. She had no idea what was happening to him. Dalinar stood before her, his breathing heavy, his shoulders heaving. Fear struck Navani like a stormwall. She wanted to run but a thumping in her head held her feet. Tears filled her eyes. “Dalinar?” Navani said. -- Passion Love Pain Jealousy Lust Betrayal Navani stood before Dalinar, in all her perfect beauty. Her presence sent a shock through his mind, all the memories of her forced themself to the forefront of his mind. Their first meeting, the first time he heard her laugh, when Gavilar first declared his intentions with her, their wedding, her introducing him to Evi, the hiding, the guilt, the shame. Evi’s voiced rang through his mind. You never loved me You killed me to be with her didn’t you? Dalinar’s breathing became short and heavy. Gavilars voice rose, accusing and violent: You were glad I died, so you could have her You wanted me dead No! Dalinar replied. His own thoughts mixed in with his demons accusations. Dalinar wanted them to stop. He needed Navani. Dalinar wanted to fall to his knees before her and confess to all his crimes. He wanted to take her in his arms and they’d fix this together. Odium held him in place. The Thrill thrummed in Dalinars mind. His breaths came as ragged snarls. Dalinar needed to do something. The Thrill compelled him to act. Navani was here. He loved her. She’d always been part of his life. She’d been the source of his greatest pains and comforts. Love Betrayal Hate How could she have done this to him? All those years. She knew. Gavilar knew. They all knew. And yet you did nothing. “Dalinar?” Navani said. Dalinar screamed as he swept Oathbreaker up, passing it through Navani from thigh to shoulder. Navani’s eyes burnt out and her corpse fell to the ground. 21 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MistboreD Posted August 14, 2018 Report Share Posted August 14, 2018 Man...you're evil! Please, continue. How many chapters are you planning? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Overlord Jebus Posted August 14, 2018 Author Report Share Posted August 14, 2018 1 hour ago, MistboreD said: Man...you're evil! Please, continue. How many chapters are you planning? I don't have a set number in mind but I'm just going to keep going until everyone's dead. There's a thing I wanted to do that basically made me write this in the first place. The way things have been playing out, it looks like it will be near the end and also in about 3 or 4 chapters time so I guess somewhere between 7 or 8 chapters total but we'll see how things play out. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wyndlerunner Posted August 14, 2018 Report Share Posted August 14, 2018 Wow, @Overlord Jebus, that chapter was impressive, and emotionally traumatizing... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Ark1002 Posted August 14, 2018 Report Share Posted August 14, 2018 This is what I've been waiting for ever since I first saw this. It' just gets better and better! And seven or eight chapters? YES!!! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Invocation Posted August 16, 2018 Report Share Posted August 16, 2018 @Overlord Jebus God bless you for your wonderful writing but at the same time this story makes me cry. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unlicensed Hemalurgist Posted August 16, 2018 Report Share Posted August 16, 2018 @Overlord Jebus holy crap, this fic is darker than Re-Shephir's morning coffee. I enjoy this a lot. Keep up the horrible, heartbreaking good work! 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kidpen Posted August 22, 2018 Report Share Posted August 22, 2018 On 8/14/2018 at 6:27 AM, Overlord Jebus said: I don't have a set number in mind but I'm just going to keep going until everyone's dead. *sobs* 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Ark1002 Posted August 23, 2018 Report Share Posted August 23, 2018 On 8/14/2018 at 6:27 AM, Overlord Jebus said: I don't have a set number in mind but I'm just going to keep going until everyone's dead. I'm going to put this all in a google document once you are done, then give it to my mom to read, under heavy recommendation. She introduced me to Sanderson. Lets see how she likes this. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ashspren Posted August 28, 2018 Report Share Posted August 28, 2018 @Overlord Jebus I haven’t cried this much in a long time. *SOBS* I love this so much, though. The writing is amazing. Can’t wait for the next chapter! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dev Posted August 28, 2018 Report Share Posted August 28, 2018 (edited) In chapter one: before that too was swept aware in the torrent burning through him should be 'away'. Also, in chapter two: Navanis knuckles turned white should be Navani's. Edited August 28, 2018 by Dev noticed another typo 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Overlord Jebus Posted August 29, 2018 Author Report Share Posted August 29, 2018 16 hours ago, Dev said: In chapter one: before that too was swept aware in the torrent burning through him should be 'away'. Also, in chapter two: Navanis knuckles turned white should be Navani's. Fix'd, thanks! 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Ark1002 Posted August 29, 2018 Report Share Posted August 29, 2018 Need... more... 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Overlord Jebus Posted September 24, 2018 Author Report Share Posted September 24, 2018 Chapter Three: Thank You Spoiler “No!” Syl cried, launching herself at the Fused. Shallan had watched in horror as the Fused had driven its spear down into Kaladin. He had no Stormlight. She had no Stormlight. There was nothing she could do. She wanted to let go of Adolin and rush to Kaladin’s side, but there was nothing she could do. She could already see the pool of blood growing on the obsidian ground. Shallan watched as Syl clawed and struck out against the Fused that had killed her Radiant. It barely seemed to care. It grabbed Syl by the wrist, lifting her up as it took to the air. A second Fused joined the first, taking Syl by the other wrist. Syl kicked and fought against them but neither seemed to take heed. They took off towards the Oathgate platform. “Mmmm,” Pattern buzzed next to Shallan. “Shallan, I do not like this.” Shallan didn’t reply. She pushed thoughts of Kaladin out of her mind and looked down at Adolin. She had held him when the wind had struck them, clutching onto him. She looked up at Patten who looked ready to sprint for the tree line. The deadeye stood nearby too. It looked to be staring at Adolin but she couldn’t quite tell. The rest of the Fused were hovering about. They started moving towards her. There must be something she could do. Something Veil or Radiant could do. But she had no Stormlight left. She couldn’t become them. No, Shallan thought, I can become them without Stormlight. Shallan gently lay Adolin’s head down on the cold obsidian. His breaths were becoming weaker and weaker. She stood to look at the group of approaching Fused. One flew ahead of the others, readying its weapon underarm, preparing to run her through. Shallan looked right into its red eyes and threw her arms wide. “Sja-anat!” Veil yelled at the Fused. The leading Fused slowed and raised its spear high. “I have information on Sja-anat,” Veil said to it as it got closer. “And what makes you think we want information on the Taker?” Said the Fused. It hung a little in the air above her, head tilted, spear resting against its shoulder. Veil smiled and cocked her head. It wouldn’t be asking if it didn’t. “Because of the nature of the information. She’s up to something and your master doesn’t know what. I do.” Veil said. She went to adjust her hat only to fumble as she remembered it wasn’t there. The Fused looked at her flatly. As the rest of the Fused approached, it turned to the group and repeated what Veil had said. One spoke up, a Fused with a particularly elaborate red, white and black swirl covering its body. “Lightweaver,” it spat, “Always with the secrets. Bring her with the spren. She is as harmless as a Cryptic without her Stormlight.” it said. The rest of the Fused laughed as if this were very funny. Veil breathed a sigh of relief. Two Fused each lifted Veil and Pattern into the air. Another unceremoniously grabbed the deadeye too. As they left, Veil looked down. From this height, she couldn’t tell if Adolin was still breathing. ---- Dalinar raged. He was no longer aware of the emotions flowing through him. No words or thoughts crossed his mind. His body moved. Every step he took simply followed the last. Every swing of his Blade was just another movement. The Thrill was his constant companion, driving him forward, keeping him company. Dalinar let it drive him onwards. He found he had new abilities too. If people tried to run, he found he could move the ground beneath them to swallow up their feet. At one point, a group of soldiers had started slinging rocks at him from a nearby rooftop. Dalinar threw Voidlight out at them and the building simply exploded in a cloud of dust and and splinters beneath them. If someone managed to dodge the Blade, he could bat them away and found that whichever direction he struck them in, they just kept going. Dalinar cared not for what or who he killed, only that he killed. Sometimes his body didn’t respond to certain movements. Dalinar didn’t care anymore, he simply kept trying to move until he could again. Taking a certain street, going left or right at a junction, Dalinar didn’t care where Odium was leading him, only that he got there. --- Jasnah’s leap carried her just past the thunderclast’s right knee. She slashed out with Ivory, narrowly dodging a swipe of the huge creature’s arm. Ivory bit deep, but didn’t quite sever it. Jasnah landed into a roll. Her Plate and Stormlight giving her greater agility than she’d had in years. She looked back to see Renarin waving his hands and yelling at the monster. The thunderclast turned and looked back at Jasnah who was already running around to its left, trying to get to its ankle. The thunderclast turned to follow Jasnah, bringing its left leg around and kicking Renarin out of the way. Renarin disappeared into a nearby building, shattering its stone walls. Jasnah stopped for a moment, the force of that kick was immense. She had to trust that Renarin’s healing could handle that. Taking steps back, the thunderclast raised its arms defensively. It is afraid of you, Ivory said into Jasnahs mind. “Good,” she replied. The thunderclast opened its mouth and let out a piercing cry, like two rocks smashing together in a highstorm. It spread its arms wide, reaching into the buildings on either side of the street and began flinging great handfuls of stone and wood at her. Jasnah peered into Shadesmar and instinctively reached out to the spren of each individual chunk of rubble. Jasnah felt their horror as each part of the house cried out in terror as it was separated from the rest. Focusing on just the chunks that were going to hit her, she willed them to air, offering them a chance to be part of a greater whole again. She ran to the left of the street and begin soulcast steps up the side of the building there. Individual axi of air lined up and packed next to each other, then Soulcast into stone. This took a bit more convincing than the rubble. Air was amorphous, even in concept. People thought of it as the sky, or a breath, or a gust of wind, or a storm, or just “the air.” It liked to be free, difficult to define. Jasnah leapt from the top step, clearing the rubble still flying through the air and burst from the dust cloud, Ivory held out to strike the thunderclast in in its squat head. The creatures palm hit her mid-air. Swatting her out of the air, it pushed her into the upper floors of the building she had just climbed, bringing the roof down on her. Jasnah’s plate stopped her from getting crushed but the force of the blow still shook her to the core. Jasnah went to Soulcast the rubble away but her reserves were running low. At least, low if she did not count the amount she always kept in her for emergency junctions. Part of her lamented for not spending more time practicing with her Blade and Plate, another part was glad that now her Radianthood was exposed, she’d be able to devote more time to it than she had been before. A huge fist crashed down onto her. It smashed her through the to the floor below and covered her with yet more rubble. Then another strike shook the building. And another. -- Renarin stepped into the light of the street, coughing the dust from his lungs. He remembered running at the thunderclast with Jasnah moments ago, the next moment everything went dark. He had awoken in the study of this building. His Stormlight was running low but luckily, whoever had been using the study last had left some gems behind. Renarin sucked in the light and breathed a sigh of relief. It wasn’t much, but he’d found his light tended to last a lot longer than Kaladin and Bridge Four had described. Glys, where are you? Renarin thought. He could feel him there, but weakened. Glys had done this before, in times where the visions had come at their worst. When he’d seen his family burn, his friends slaughtered, everything precious to him lost, he’d awaken to find Glys just as shaken. He’d feel small, precious but he’d be there, helping Renarin put himself back together. This time felt like that but worse. He didn’t respond at all when Renarin had tried to summon him. There was no muttering, just a fleeting sense of presence. Renarin’s eyes adjusted just in time to watch the thunderclast swat Jasnah from the sky. It smashed her into the building opposite. Renarin gasped and stood, frozen. The thunderclast turned it’s back to him and brought it’s arms down on the wrecked building where Jasnah had fallen. No! Renarin thought. He thrust his arm to side and tried to summon Glys again. He felt a shift in his spren but still no Shardblade. The thunderclast smashed a fist through the building. Renarin yelled out in frustration. He’d failed Jasnah, she’d asked him to keep the monster distracted but he hadn’t been able. Now he was going to fail again. Again and again. Why couldn’t he ever get anything right? Renarin pounded a fist against the edge of the hole he stood in. The thunderclast smashed another fist down. Dark smoke puffed out from where the thundercast was focusing it’s attention but the monster's attack was unrelenting. Jasnah is still in there, she’s still fighting! Renarin watched as the smoke billowed into the sky. The air around the smoke fractured and split, as if the sky were glass under too much stress. He could see his reflection. Dozens of Renarins looked down on him. The smoke deepened, darkened, expanded. One by one, the reflections of Renarin burst into black smoke as the images shattered. Renarin fell to his knees as the glistening shards of his vision fell around him. For a moment, everything went quiet. The thunderclast brought another fist down on the building opposite. That’s when Renarin heard a small voice, as if from far away. Renarin... We need to help her “Glys...” Renarin said. He found himself crying again. Only this time, a smile had forced itself across his face. “Where were you?” He is coming Renarin. I had to hide. I had to hide from him. “But not anymore?” There was a pause. We need to hurry, Renarin, hurry! We need to help her! Glys said, his voice louder now. Feeling the Stormlight pulse inside him, Renarin picked himself up off the ground and ran at the thunderclast. Its back turned, its attention diverted, Renarin summoned Glys into his hand. Holding the long thin Blade out to the side, Renarin ran at the creature. Yes! Yes! Make it fall! Glys elated within Renarin. Hitting it’s right leg first, Renarin swept Glys through the stone. Not breaking stride, he turned, running past the left leg and cutting it clean through. Renarin kept running, getting clear of the falling beast. Down! Down! Yes! The thunderclast’s landing shook the ground, causing Renarin to stumble. The crash of stone on stone was deafening. Recovering quickly, Renarin turned to watch the thunderclast grind it’s head around and lock its burning eyes on him. The thunderclast opened its mouth and bellowed at him. The air shook with the sound. Smashing its arms into the ground, the thunderclast dug it’s fingers into the ground and... pushed itself away from Renarin. “What’s it doing?” Renarin said, slowly walking towards the creature, trying to stop the distance between them from getting too great. It fears you! Glys said from within Renarin Make it go! Make it go with Light! As Renarin approached the fleeing monster, it tried to strike out towards him with one of it’s massive hand’s. Renarin was easily able to dodge the blow and sever the hand from it’s wrist. Make! It! Go! Glys urged Renarin onward, back to his excitable self. Renarin raised his fist and summoned Stormlight. It glowed like a beacon. The light behind the thunderclast’s eyes faded before the light. As they died, the stone bulk became still. Renarin let out a sigh of relief, Light puffing from his lips. He lifted Glys in front of his face. “Thank you, Glys.” Renarin said. Thank you, Renarin, thank you - Jasnah lifted a section of rubble from atop her. There wasn’t a section of her Plate that wasn’t cracked and leaking. The strength it granted was almost entirely gone. Jasnah had feared for the worst in that moment but her Plate had held. She still had her emergency reserve if things had become too dangerous. She found the three story building she had been thrust into had been reduced to a pile of rubble not much taller than a single story house. Ivory appeared next to her. Twisting his whole upper body about, he surveyed the wreckage. “We will avoid doing this again in future.” Ivory said. “Yes, we will,” replied Jasnah, dismissing her Plate. She watched as its spren lethargically drifted away into Shadesmar. That’s going to take some fixing, Jasnah thought. Jasnah began making her way across the rubble. She could still hear the pounding and scraping of the thunderclast’s movements. She could no longer see it as it had made its way down the street far enough to be blocked by the neighbouring buildings. She did spot Renarin making his way toward the sound though. He held a long, thin Shardblade in his hand. “That must be Glys,” Said Jasnah, “Other than the lack of ornamentation, it doesn’t look unusual.” “The spren is corrupted, Jasnah. The Blade is not but the spren is.” Ivory said. Watching the hem of his stiff robe simply glide over the rubble had a disconcerting effect. Reaching the street, Jasnah finally saw the legless thunderclast retreating down the street. Renarin had severed it’s hand and was lifting a glowing fist before it. “What is he doing?” She asked Ivory as a group of Fused flew over. She watched them cautiously as they passed before making her way over to Renarin. The spren is here where it is dangerous. He is making it there where it is not dangerous. Until it is back here again. Ivory said from within Jasnah, having demanifested as they left the rubble. Jasnah took a quick survey of their surroundings, surmising they were somewhere near the middle of the Ancient Ward. Jasnah made her way towards Renarin and the now immobile thunderclast. “Well done cousin,” Jasnah called out, “Now, we need to head to the Lower Ward wall and find your father, I believe he is the key to all of this, keep an eye out for stormlight, I’m running low.” Renarin, still a few metres away, was holding Glys in front of his face, whispering, his eyes closed. Something black and white dropped from the sky behind Renarin. A man. He wore swirling white robes and glowed with Stormlight. He held a smoking black Blade that looked nothing like any Blade Jasnah had seen before. But the man, that was someone Jasnah recognized. The Assassin in White. Jasnah cried out as she summoned Ivory. She went to summon her Plate but it responded slowly. The Assassin held his Blade high and brought it down, sweeping it through Renarin. Renarin stood for a moment, a smile across his lips. The glow of Stormlight drained from him and a moment later, he disappeared in a plume of black smoke. Jasnah stopped in place. Jasnah, Ivory spoke into her mind, We must leave, I do not know this foe. Memories of her father jumped into the forefront of her mind. She hadn’t been there to help him and had spent the years since trying to stop it from happening again. In a moment, all that effort was made meaningless. The night of the assassination, the helplessness, the anger. Panic began to creep into Jasnah’s mind. Jasnah stood. Focus. The Blade. The Blade. It sucked in the light around it. Had it soulcast Renarin? It had passed through him like a normal Blade but it didn’t appear to be a wound even a Radiant could heal from. The Assassin fell towards her. Lashed himself. From the accounts of soldiers during her father’s assassination, she had surmised he was either a Windrunner or a Skybreaker, or held the Honorblade of those Orders Heralds. Both were combat oriented Orders, unlike her own. The Assassin was close. He’d killed her father. He had been a much better warrior than her. She couldn’t win this fight. Using the rest of the Stormlight in her reserves, Jasnah opened a junction and fell into Shadesmar. 13 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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