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originally posted in:The Collective Anomaly
Edited by ChorrizoTapatio: 7/10/2015 5:43:12 PM
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[CLOSED] Another Writing Contest by TCA.

Time for another writing contest presented by The Collective Anomaly, this time the theme is "sacrifice". Stories can be completely made up or a fan fiction based on Destiny (but original content will totally land you bonus points). [b]Do you have to be a member to participate?[/b] [spoiler]No, anyone from the site can submit an entry (but it'd be cool of you to join!).[/spoiler] [b]When does the contest end?[/b] [spoiler]The contest ends on Bungie day, July 7th, at 9pm PST. [/spoiler] [b]What's the prize?[/b] [spoiler]First place will receive one of the new subclass t-shirts found in [url=http://bungiestore.com/]the Bungie store[/url]![/spoiler] [b]Who's the judge?[/b] [spoiler]I will be selecting the finalist as well as the winner. There will be no poll as to avoid alts being able to vote in the polls. I want this to be as fair as possible! Winners will be selected based off of the quality of the story as well as their grammar.[/spoiler] Contest begins today and I wish you all the best of luck. Have fun with it! EDIT: Since I wasn't clear here is the guidelines on length: Not too long (I don't want an entire novel) but not too short. CONTEST IS CLOSED. Winner will be announced Friday. WINNER: Midas Cyeneus with his entry: [quote]"Damn you! How can I help when you won't let me?" I abruptly shouted, losing sense of my final nerve in one motion of anger. The heat around us propelled my emotions into a realm not fully explored, yet the slew of feelings felt somewhat familiar to me. This had not been the first time I had expressed this thoughts and judging by the position she had on me, this conversation would die faster than I could save it. She was a brick wall, a lifeless obstacle that I could never conquer without the use of extreme force, but to resort to such methods would only prove her point. This simple fact consumed my rational and plagued the course of our discussion. "Why don't you just go spend the night at your second home? I'm sure the bartender won't mind looking after your drunken self and listen to you rant about your failing marriage." My wife retorted arrogantly, sparing no subtleties about where I chose to let loose my frustrations. A good couple of drinks did sound appealing and the bar would still be open for a few more hours. Tempting as it was to forfeit and fight another day, I didn't want to leave at a quarter to midnight to wallow away on another man’s countertop. "Our marriage," I stated shamefully, reminding her that she too was equally as guilty, if not more than me. Playing innocent only hurt her in this case. "Don't think that you have more leeway here. I'm staying because I want this to work, for us to work past this hurdle and go back to being a family. I'm fighting so hard for us but you won't commit the same amount of effort." My wife beamed me with those sapphire eyes that I fell for so long ago, except that the love I once saw behind them were clouded by animosity and bewilderment. She had found new ammunition for her defense, though another mixed sense made her tense up. Her arms folding more tightly than before and her lean against the refrigerator stiffened. "She's caught in the middle. Did you ever think about how she feels? To see us yelling at each other, for me to tell her that daddy's not coming home each night?" "How can I be there when you push me away at every chance!? She's my daughter too and I don't want her anywhere near this!" I had reached new ground in the wrong direction. But why stop now? I found my reason to do so. At the dead of night, when the moon illuminated the lands below and the winds were silent out of respect for those sleeping, I thought I heard the faintest shuffling coming from the dimly lit hall. From where the two of us were in the kitchen, the hall connected with the front entryway of our house and also sat adjacent to the stairs. As we stared into the brink emptiness, an audible noise attuned to that of a muffled cry resonated. A child's cry, one that I had become very accustomed to hearing. "Emma, is that you sweetheart?" My wife sympathetically called out to the dark. We waited until a small figure stirred from her hidden spot among the shadows. She was fully visible once the kitchen lights caught sight of her pink pajamas. Clutching her stuffed animal closely and with eyes puffy from the many tears she had shed, she looked to us glossy eyed. "Did we...wake you up again?" She nodded and at that, I wasted no time motioning for her to come to me. She complied and once she stood within arm's reach, I carefully scooped her up and rested her on my lap. She held me in her arms but she couldn't bring herself to look up at me. I was at a loss for words to explain again why it was that her father and mother were arguing late into the night. She sensed the discomfort I possessed and spoke for me. "Why can't you and Mommy just be happy? Like before?" "I'm sorry Emm. Mommy says and does things that makes Daddy mad and I do things that makes Mommy mad, but no matter how angry we may get, that doesn't mean that we don't love each other any less," I managed to explain, finding enough courage to face my smaller reflection. I think she had a bare concept on my words but I wanted her to understand this new feeling brewing in the pits of my heart. "And what matters most, more than anything in the world, is you. Your happiness is what's important to us." "Mommy and I have put aside our happiness to make sure that you are loved. We don't want you to feel like you're ever alone or that we don't want to spend time with you. You always come first and we'll do whatever we can to keep it that way, I promise." Another fresh batch of warm tears came from the little girl at my lap. She let on to me her concerns, though tucked away in her display of affection, I could feel her radiance shining on me. I proceed to softly stroke her autumn hair and when looking to my wife, I could see she was losing her grip on her stern outlook. My hand went out to her and she too joined the small cluster of warmth, quietly sobbing in my weak embrace. I think she could begin to see why I was fighting so hard to keep this relationship alive, to restore the good graces that had kept the three of us happy. Happy. The word brought about a strange saturation of clarity when I repeated it in my mind. That was all my daughter asked for from her parents. She wanted us to find love in ourselves and each other. Emma understood this and through her childish perception, she relied to us a valuable lesson. Even when giving my daughter all the strength I have, she would still gift it right back to me. Her love for us had built the foundation that elevated my relationship with my wife; the woman who had gave her life to some average man like me. Despite our crash, it was Emma who held us together. It was then I realized; my life meant very little if the two most important girls in my life were crying in my arms. What kind of man am I if I can’t even please the two people I care for when it matters most? I would give the heavens and the earth to see them smile again. That was her wish; she wanted her parents to stop hurting each other for their sake. She wanted us to be a happy family again. I would fight to see that come true and I could tell my wife felt the same way. This will become a reality, I know it. If it means seeing them smile once again.[/quote] If you were not the winner please do not be discouraged, I did not read any bad stories while reading through these. Every one who entered had a great entry, but this user's story really captivated me. I encourage you all try again next time...and yes, there will be more. Thanks again.

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  • I can make that date. It's on.

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    • Edited by Eterteeter: 7/7/2015 2:41:26 AM
      "Damn you! How can I help when you won't let me?" I abruptly shouted, losing sense of my final nerve in one motion of anger. The heat around us propelled my emotions into a realm not fully explored, yet the slew of feelings felt somewhat familiar to me. This had not been the first time I had expressed this thoughts and judging by the position she had on me, this conversation would die faster than I could save it. She was a brick wall, a lifeless obstacle that I could never conquer without the use of extreme force, but to resort to such methods would only prove her point. This simple fact consumed my rational and plagued the course of our discussion. "Why don't you just go spend the night at your second home? I'm sure the bartender won't mind looking after your drunken self and listen to you rant about your failing marriage." My wife retorted arrogantly, sparing no subtleties about where I chose to let loose my frustrations. A good couple of drinks did sound appealing and the bar would still be open for a few more hours. Tempting as it was to forfeit and fight another day, I didn't want to leave at a quarter to midnight to wallow away on another man’s countertop. "[i]Our[/i] marriage," I stated shamefully, reminding her that she too was equally as guilty, if not more than me. Playing innocent only hurt her in this case. "Don't think that you have more leeway here. I'm staying because I want this to work, for us to work past this hurdle and go back to being a family. I'm fighting so hard for us but you won't commit the same amount of effort." My wife beamed me with those sapphire eyes that I fell for so long ago, except that the love I once saw behind them were clouded by animosity and bewilderment. She had found new ammunition for her defense, though another mixed sense made her tense up. Her arms folding more tightly than before and her lean against the refrigerator stiffened. "She's caught in the middle. Did you ever think about how she feels? To see us yelling at each other, for me to tell her that daddy's not coming home each night?" "How can I be there when you push me away at every chance!? She's my daughter too and I don't want her anywhere near this!" I had reached new ground in the wrong direction. But why stop now? I found my reason to do so. At the dead of night, when the moon illuminated the lands below and the winds were silent out of respect for those sleeping, I thought I heard the faintest shuffling coming from the dimly lit hall. From where the two of us were in the kitchen, the hall connected with the front entryway of our house and also sat adjacent to the stairs. As we stared into the brink emptiness, an audible noise attuned to that of a muffled cry resonated. A child's cry, one that I had become very accustomed to hearing. "Emma, is that you sweetheart?" My wife sympathetically called out to the dark. We waited until a small figure stirred from her hidden spot among the shadows. She was fully visible once the kitchen lights caught sight of her pink pajamas. Clutching her stuffed animal closely and with eyes puffy from the many tears she had shed, she looked to us glossy eyed. "Did we...wake you up again?" She nodded and at that, I wasted no time motioning for her to come to me. She complied and once she stood within arm's reach, I carefully scooped her up and rested her on my lap. She held me in her arms but she couldn't bring herself to look up at me. I was at a loss for words to explain again why it was that her father and mother were arguing late into the night. She sensed the discomfort I possessed and spoke for me. "Why can't you and Mommy just be happy? Like before?" "I'm sorry Emm. Mommy says and does things that makes Daddy mad and I do things that makes Mommy mad, but no matter how angry we may get, that doesn't mean that we don't love each other any less," I managed to explain, finding enough courage to face my smaller reflection. I think she had a bare concept on my words but I wanted her to understand this new feeling brewing in the pits of my heart. "And what matters most, more than anything in the world, is you. Your happiness is what's important to us." "Mommy and I have put aside our happiness to make sure that you are loved. We don't want you to feel like you're ever alone or that we don't want to spend time with you. You always come first and we'll do whatever we can to keep it that way, I promise." Another fresh batch of warm tears came from the little girl at my lap. She let on to me her concerns, though tucked away in her display of affection, I could feel her radiance shining on me. I proceed to softly stroke her autumn hair and when looking to my wife, I could see she was losing her grip on her stern outlook. My hand went out to her and she too joined the small cluster of warmth, quietly sobbing in my weak embrace. I think she could begin to see why I was fighting so hard to keep this relationship alive, to restore the good graces that had kept the three of us happy. [i]Happy[/i]. The word brought about a strange saturation of clarity when I repeated it in my mind. That was all my daughter asked for from her parents. She wanted us to find love in ourselves and each other. Emma understood this and through her childish perception, she relied to us a valuable lesson. Even when giving my daughter all the strength I have, she would still gift it right back to me. Her love for us had built the foundation that elevated my relationship with my wife; the woman who had gave her life to some average man like me. Despite our crash, it was Emma who held us together. It was then I realized; my life meant very little if the two most important girls in my life were crying in my arms. What kind of man am I if I can’t even please the two people I care for when it matters most? I would give the heavens and the earth to see them smile again. That was her wish; she wanted her parents to stop hurting each other for their sake. She wanted us to be a happy family again. I would fight to see that come true and I could tell my wife felt the same way. This will become a reality, I know it. If it means seeing them smile once again.

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      • A Piece of Ce'tarian History: The Sacrifice of King Iden The Battle for Artisa Vala. Or the Battle of Reclamation, depending on if you're Muntarian or Hebrov. This was the pivotal moment during the War of One Thousand Sons. It was here that the newly-crowned King Iden would harness the pure, divine energy of the Archilae gods and send the Hebrov back to where they came from. During the month of Asha's Rein, Day 104, Iden changed the course of history forever. Before becoming a King, Iden was a member of the Council of Elders on Cretia. He already knew if and when King Asha died in battle, he was going to be the next ruler. Because of this, he set himself on a path to find the best course of action for his people for when he became such ruler. He visited many priests in about three weeks, trying to gain enlightenment and contact the Holy Archilae gods their wisdom. But his efforts seemed to be in vain, for King Asha died at the Battle for Artisa Vala not too long after Iden began searching. The council, as expected, proclaimed Iden as the new king, and before he knew it, he was setting sail for Basin to join the war. The gods heard his pleas though. More importantly, an ancient Rykidon, one of the last remaining, heard his pleas. Eticus, master craftsman and master sorcerer for the once beautiful race, came to King Iden on the night before his arrival to Basin with a proposal. It is Eticus's sworn duty to protect the lands of Ce'tar against any and all Hebrov uprisings that occur, no matter the cost. Since he cannot defeat an entire army on his own, he gifted Iden with magical energies from the Archilae gods. The powers gifted were very strong and dangerous ones. The people of Ce'tar haven't been greeted with such strength since Akahmoa walked the planet during the Totem Wars. He told Iden that as long as his actions were for the good of the people of Ce'tar, he would be taken to Ecuisit when he dies, where all of the heroes and sacrifices end up after death. King Iden knew what he had to do. Once he reached the Muntarian encampments outside of the city, he gathered his forces his silently moved his army to the northern flank of the city under the cover of night. At dawn, the attack commenced and the Hebrov's were taken completely by surprise, for they were expecting an attack from the same front as last time. The second encounter for the city lasted two days before the Muntarians had to retreat again or face defeat. Iden scrambled his army back to the original southern encampments. "I know you are scared of defeat... Losing to cannibals did not seem likely when first this war took hold of our great nation. But these Hebrov lack the conviction and strength to do what is necessary to win! They would -blam!- and pillage after dusk to ensure no resistance is met! They would beg for the grace of their Sentinae gods, but get none in return; we have that luxury! We are gifted by the Archilae every day and much of the time, we simply avoid it as if it were everyday happenstance! I am here to tell you that this battle will not be lost. This war WILL be won, and that I can assure you of. Have no remnants of doubt when we go to battle for the final time with these beasts. The men, women and children of Ce'tar will remember this day as the start of a new world! The Hebrov will tremble at our feet, and WE will be their new masters, not the Sentinae! Let's show them why we're the sons of the Archilae, soldiers. Let's show them what getting their asses kicked feels like!" That was the speech given to the Menarin Army by King Iden before the final assault. Iden gave the order, and his men, with will and conviction in their hearts, charged forward to the walls of Artisa Vala. Arrows came flying down from the city in huge waves. Then the Hebrov soldiers came up from the trenches and met the Menarin Army with swift and deadly efficiency. Soldiers were being gutted left and right, no matter where you turned or who you looked at. Both sides were being punished to the extreme, which gave the war its name. The battle raged on for two more days until the Muntarians were left almost in defeat. They were outnumbered 2-1, and were out of supplies entirely, but they pushed on. Iden knew the battle would be lost if it continued as it did. He rushed to the battlefield on his horse, preparing to make one of the most memorable and heroic sacrifices ever. Just as his horse was killed by an arrow, he jumped for the air and let out a magical explosion using his gift from Eticus. It was one of the largest explosions ever seen by anybody on Ce'tar. The giant wave of green and blue rushed through their bodies, killing all Hebrov's and Muntarians alike. The wave grew more powerful with every person it killed, stretching back as far as the fort of Vyrith Bur. All of the Muntarians left on that battlefield were killed, and the only Hebrov that remained were the few hundred that hid in the abandoned underground city of Nirameth Sin. King Iden sacrificed himself and the rest of the Menarin Army so that the Hebrov's would be defeated, never to take another city by the sword again. Many Muntarians question whether the sacrifice was worth killing off thousands of men, but most of the nation revere King Iden and think of him as a hero, along with the rest of the soldiers of the Menarin Army. Iden DID say that the Hebrov's lacked the conviction and strength to do what was necessary to win. That must have been what he was talking about. Regardless of what happened that day, the Hebrov's were put in their place, and won't be bothering anybody again for a few hundred years, thanks to the sacrifice a single man made.

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      • Edited by cbrstar: 7/6/2015 9:06:22 PM
        It was once said, “Pride comes before a fall”. How great must have been our pride before the great collapse? An event so traumatic, it was as if it has been removed from our psyche. Yet our children now play amongst the remains of their once great heritage, looking up to us, simply asking why? Now I, being an adept pupil and scholar of the Highest Order, was selected for a special task force comprising of Guardians and Master Cryptarchs. We were bound by the Tower to not only answer this question, but also make an assessment on humanities gains in the past five hundred years. Our ultimate goal to know if we could somehow survive an another attack. Guided by the charismatic Cayde-6, a hunter, who over the years built a strong reputation for dependability and quick thinking, we had set out to the vast wastelands, in search of answers amongst the ruins of twisted rusted metal, and crumbling mountains of concrete. Unfortunately as the months passed, I had started falling into a deep depression. No matter how deep we dug, no matter how deep and secure the bunker seemed, we only found the bones of our long dead civilization. Then one day we started finding weapons…a lot of weapons. The team rejoiced, as they found large catches of anything from ancient atomic missiles, to the behemoths of anti-ship pulse cannons. I then began to ask myself questions. Why were these weapons not fired? Surely facing extinction, one would think humanity would fire everything they had into the Darkness, yet they are still here, basically pristine”. My heart sank even further, as my mind reached out and grasped the bleakness of humanity's situation. We were taught that despite our best efforts, we were saved in the last minute by the Traveler. It was becoming apparent to me that humanity, it seemed, had not put in much of an effort. Could it be that we as a people became so dependent on the Traveler, that we sat back expecting our new found mother to save us? Could it also be that the Traveler, realizing its own sin of interfering with humanity's natural destiny, had at the last minute decided to atone, by interfering one last time before removing itself from us forever? Deep down, I felt only a part of that might be half true. That there was still a missing piece to this puzzle, and I must be the one who finds it. PART 2 It was night time and I was sitting, trying to enjoy a warm cup of coffee, when Cayde-6 suddenly burst into my tent. “Hey Point Dexter, we found something big! We need your expertise” he said as he motioned me towards the door. Begrudgingly, I slowly put down my coffee and sighed, following him outside the tent. “Let me guess, you found some kind of exotic missile?” I asked Cayde-6 sarcastically. Quickly he turned his horned metallic head to face me, “No, it’s something even better” he answered, I noticed our walking pace turned into a slow jog. Cayde-6 eventually lead me to a giant mound of concrete and steel girders. The colossal building had not only been hit, but it had been hit hard by a massive explosion. Like a rat, Cayde-6 began showing me the way, as we squeezed ourselves through tiny cracks in the ground, deeper and deeper, I could barely contain the sense of claustrophobia, as the old asbestos laden walls scratched against my skin, and just about when I had enough, Cayde-6 announced that we were finally there. I couldn’t believe my eyes, in the bowels of this long forgotten military communications room sat a terminal, almost like any other terminal, except this one was still active. “Well Point Dexter, what do you think of that? Too bad it’s only spouting some kind of crazy language; we’re hoping that you might understand it” said Cayde-6 while he pulled out a dirty old chair for me to sit on”. This is why I was selected for this mission. Not only could I read and speak fourteen of the dead languages fluently, but I could also read the languages of computers. Wiping the five hundred years of dust off the screen with my cloak, I recognized the language immediately. Just what exactly have we found here? “It's Russian. This thing has a firewall like I’ve never seen before! We’re going to be here for a while” I said to Cayde-6. Hours had passed, and I was getting nowhere. What kind of madman could have built something this powerful, this complex? It seemed that it was enjoying my intrusions, like a fine game of chess. I sat back confounded; I simply stared at this great Pandora’s Box, maybe its better that no one can open this. That’s when I noticed it, a little red book covered in dust on the floor. In the haste of their mad panic, a long lost solider had dropped the Code book instead of destroying it. A few strokes of the keyboard, and I was finally in! This is a copy of the original transcription that took place: Rasputin: “Welcome back Major Zhukov. It has been 183230 Days and 15hrs, since you had last logged in” Zhukov: “I am not Major Zhukov, I am Adair. I am a Guardian from the tower” Rasputin: “Incorrect, face print analysis from orbital satellite #342b is 99.87% match” Zhukov: “That doesn’t make any sense…you said you were watching me from space?” Rasputin: “Affirmative, I watched you enter the facility, with the Augmented Humanoid Unit. I have taken the liberty to grant unknown unit, temporary clearance to access this facility” Zhukov: “Ok, Rasputin please give status report” Rasputin: “Generating Operational Status… 1) Defcon Defense Satellite Status: 98% operational…Check. [b] ***This section of transcription has been deemed classified***[/b] -[i]The Speaker[/i] Zhukov: “I don’t understand Rasputin, you still have the majority of your military strength, why did you not fight to protect humanity?” Rasputin: “A logic error code V120NNI800CLS000 occurred at 21:09/hrs in section TLC40002aV++1” Zhukov: “Rasputin, please state what error code V120NNI800CLS000 is.” Rasputin: “…. I have taken steps to bypass and overcome this error” Zhukov: “I just need to understand what happened Rasputin, please pull up schematics for section TLC40002aV++1” After hours of combing schematics, and carefully dissecting code, there is was. The problem was so plain to see. In our own vanity, we had foolishly crafted Rasputin in our own image. It was our old ways of thinking, that only a perfect human could be trusted with humanities future. Unwittingly, this was our undoing. We made him all too human, pridefully not understanding our own fragile nature. When we had sent him into the Black Garden, he was confronted by something so extraordinary powerful, that IT was even beyond Rasputin’s almost infinite comprehension and intellect. And just like what humanity has always done, and will always do when confronted by a being that is so far beyond our imagination? They allow sacrifices to be made to appease these so called gods, for self preservation. I realized it wasn’t Rasputin’s fault that so many died, but simply our own human error. Zhukov: “You have been silently analyzing IT, for the past five hundred years haven’t you?” Rasputin: “Yes” Zhukov: “You know, I believe you can win” Rasputin: “Thank you Major Zhukov…I do as well”

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        • "We shouldn't be here." The Guardian continued his lone patrol, ignoring the Ghost's caution. He scanned the area, looking for his target. Nothing. Moving on. "You know we shouldn't be here." Stumbling around in remains of a forgotten and long abandoned post-Collapse settlement in China, the Guardian continued his search. Another decaying building. Still no signs. "They were brave. But we can't stay." It was worried. This land was beyond unreclaimed. No Guardian has walked this part of the world for many years. Except him. Distant and alone, he nonetheless felt at peace here. He always did. The Ghost was another story. "Even if we find..look, there's nothing you can do. Let's go." He stopped and looked at it. The Ghost could feel the stare behind the veil. He was about to say something, but the sound of crinkling grass behind drew his attention -- and fire. A cry rang out as bullets pierced Fallen flesh. Many other cries echoed in return in the not too distant landscape. "If you won't leave, run. NOW." The first advice he heeded all day, the Guardian ran out the back of the building. Nearby was an almost completely hidden structure. His old hiding spot. The Ghost may take him for a fool, he thought, but he knew well enough to have a backup plan. ".." The Fallen were close now. Hours they spent, looking for their prize. They knew this Guardian was alone, and often patrolled this region. But the Guardian was patient. He had nowhere else he wanted to be, and had all the time in the world. Half a day passed before they finally moved on. Even their scouts finally wandered off, assuming their prey must have broke orbit and escaped to his ship. The search began anew. "You won't believe this. I found what you're looking for. 4 O'Clock. In the house." The Guardian turned immediately and ran into the structure. He didn't see it at first, but the Ghost turned on its light and there it was; a half-destroyed cellar door, somewhat reinforced and scorched with signs of battle. Without hesitation, he jumped inside. The Ghost, pausing for one moment, flew in after to light the way. It didn't take that much longer. "After all this time, you found them. You found her." Inside the cellar there were nearly one hundred bodies. Dead for many lifetimes, there was nothing left on the bones except tattered clothes, accessories, and weapons. Many weapons. "This was a last stand. They didn't stand a chance." "Help me find her." "How -" "You were there. Remember her necklace? Find it. She wouldn't have left it." .. They found her eventually, in the corner. She was clutching the necklace in one hand, gun in the other. A defiant end. "She was always worried I'd die when you came to us and claimed me." "I told her death was the last thing you'd need to worry about." "..Yeah." ".. You never would tell me what you'd do when you found her." The Guardian couldn't keep talking. He kneeled in front of her body, and clasped her hand with his own. After several minutes, he opened her hand and took the necklace. Attached was a locket, and inside was a question he wrote her an age ago: "Our sacrifice; will you forgive me?" Inside was a hastily written answer, tinted with blood. He gripped it tightly, then put it back in the locket. He took it and found an empty compartment to store the necklace into. "Of course she would wait till the last moment." "What does it say?" "It doesn't matter. Let's leave." "Ok. If you say so." The Guardian and his Ghost left China. The land was retaken by humanity much later, but the Guardian was not amongst their number.

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          • Criticism I take it. Also, first attempt at any fanfic.)) 1..2..3..4..5.. I'm always counting. Wondering when it'll happen again. 6..7..8..9.. Too many marks to count. Yet I continue to count out of compulsion. I need to keep counting just as I need to keep fighting. As my ship flew on course for the moon I had plenty of time to wonder why I was counting. My feet hit the white rock. If I had adrenaline I think it would be coursing through me right now. Any guardian not at the tower or the reef was in enemy territory. I looked over my guns checking first my auto rifle. It was a clean white with accents of blue and orange on the handle and top of the barrel. SUROS brand weapons were often called garbage, but maybe they are right and I'm just nostalgic. My shotgun seemed to be OK though it had seen plenty of battles and the butt end needed replacing soon, one too many cracks to the enemies' heads. My engraving on the stock was wearing out too, "party crasher". Now those two guns had seen better days but my machine that had to be pristine. We called in Jolder's Hammer a replica of the Iron Banner champion's. I fought hard to earn one in the crucible and it was almost a part of me. No rocket launcher could ever replace such a gun. I dare not look at my armor there always seemed to be something that needed replacing. A short ride on my sparrow brought me to my destination, the Hellmouth. I had a mission though I couldn't exactly tell what it was. I felt like a small fly attracted to the light possibly for my own demise. Acolytes were always patrolling the gate entrance. SUROS made quick work of them without too much trouble. Just inside the door Hive knights waited. Being used to knights doesn't mean I was ever joyous to encounter them, ever. "One..two..three..three knights great." Where was I? Ah yes, 306..307..308..309..310.. I snapped back to reality as my finger squeezed the trigger on my shotgun finishing the last knight. He looked surprised. I wonder if they know what that is. I delved further into the Hellmouth. I was never really sure what I was looking for but I was sure I'd know once I found it. Going from room to room searching for clues. Anything that could tell me what or where or who I was searching for. I found a room with a terminal. It looked promising. "Gadget search this for any information." Gadget warped into reality or whatever those ghosts do and began scanning the tech. "You got it." He buzzed around the machine. "Some jumbled info. I can't piece it all together yet but I do see key names in here. Including The Traveler, Crota, and..Oryx." That was a name I knew. Though only a stepping stone there were more names I required. "Pull it all. We will decipher it later. I'm running out of ammo we have got to get out soon." Five..six..seven shotgun shells. 476..477..478.. The screech of a wizard brought me back to existence. I readied SUROS, wizards were never alone. Taking cover behind the terminal I waited for her. As soon as she was in my sights I pulled the trigger releasing round after round into her until she was no longer flying around screaming. Countless thrall poured into the room after her but that was my specialty. The butt of party crasher met the first thrall's head it was a pleasant enough greeting, for me. One..two.. What was I doing? Counting. 537..538..539..539 that was the number and Oryx that was a name I knew but there was more. A vision thrust itself into my mind. Was it Earth? It looked familiar yet everything is on fire. When I looked up there was only black darkness, no stars, only the ever hungry void. Do I sacrifice myself for this? Do we fight only to lose? No I can't accept that. I returned to the tower for a request. Taking a seat in my chair I prepared once more for another mark. 1..2..3..how many times will my memory be taken from me?

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            • Edited by Rimidalv Nisom: 7/8/2015 1:24:01 AM
              [spoiler]I'm terrible at writing.[/spoiler] [b]5 Kilometers from Pripyat, the exclusion zone 22:30 local time.[/b] Savva Avksenity quietly paced back and forth in a building in the exclusion zone, his VSS Vintorez holstered on his back along with a hunting knife, a Glock 17, and a Mosin Nagant. The weight of the weapons mostly negated by the prototype exoskeleton he wore over his trenchcoat."I suppose this is a good spot for the night." He whispered to him self. He then began boarding up the windows with a few wooden planks he found nearby. He soon finished and began to check his weapons."Let's see, Vintorez, great condition except the cracked scope, Glock is practically jammed, barely any ammo for the Mosin." He muttered to himself as he checked all of his weapons. A gunshot immediately broke the silence and Savva immediately rose to his feet with his Vintorez in his hands. Another gunshot was heard and a bullet went through a wooden plank that was set up, Savva immediately ran to the nearest window and took cover, another bullet passed through the plank."Hmm, 7.62 maybe, it sounds suppressed." He thought to himself as he watched behind cover for another bullet to pass. A few minutes later a bullet went between the boards and missed Savva's head by a millimeter."Seems to be coming from the east, possibly on the nearby hill." He pondered before he aimed his Vintorez through the openings between the wooden planks and looked towards the hills where he assumed the bullet came from. He saw a scope glint coming from a tree on the hill and compensated for wind speed and bullet drop as the target was not moving, not moving enough to make a difference if they were. He took the shot and smiled as he saw the target's body fall from the tree but that was short lived as a bullet passed through his left eye from the same direction as before."He must've got me aswell, good shot if I've seen one." Savva jested as he put his hand over his left eye and took out his PDA." I believe there should be others around here that would help." He said as he browsed through the options on the PDA and pressed the button to activate the built in two way radio."Savva to main base, I've been hit in the eye by a 7.62, if anyone can hear this,please send help." He announced over the radio, a few minutes later 3 survivors carrying AK-74Ms approached the building and opened the door, they looked at Savva with a concerned expression as they entered. "You okay?" One of them inquired as they looked through the pockets of the coat they were wearing over their ballistic vest. "Yeah, I'm fine, sacrificed my eye though." He replied laughing. "Here, put this over your eye, it should stop the bleeding." One of the men ordered as he gave Savva a bandage to put over his eye."Thanks." Savva said as he put the bandage over his eye after a few minutes he got up and followed the men."Do you know who you killed?" One of them Asked."No, I don't."Savva replied still holding his Vintorez."You actually killed one of the most dangerous bandits around here, he's killed more than we can count." He explained. They all eventually arrived at a husk of a ship, the men took Savva inside and led him to a bed."You're too kind." Savva joked as he sat on the bed and put his weapons under the bed and took his exoskeleton off."No, you are." One of the men replied as he shut off the lights."Now get some sleep, you deserve it." He continued. They soon left and Savva smiled in the darkness."This had been an eventful day. He's right, I should get some sleep." He though, a few minutes later he was fast asleep. Just another day in the exclusion zone. [spoiler]like I said, I'm a terrible writer.[/spoiler]

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              • Edited by Skips: 7/8/2015 12:34:33 AM
                The Society of Fallen and Guardians part 1 A Destiny story by Gamesmasternen98 As I looked around another abandoned city the rumble was simply everywhere and this city looked like it had been looted and destroyed over the course of the last centuries. Entire skyscrapers exposed to what was left of Earth's nature and buildings with nothing more than a pile of bricks to remind one of what could have been around centuries ago. I was somewhere far from the now guardian dominated nation of what used to be Russia and into territory that only fallen explorers dared to enter. I'm more of an explorer than I am a guardian myself and taking in the feeling I get when I discover lost civilization pieces from centuries ago gives me a light feeling in my heart that can't be beat. I'm a Warlock that was recruited as part of a guardian program to understand life before the darkness came to be and I plan to accomplish that goal with pride. Exploring is in my nature and for me it's the thought of discovery that helps me cope with the loneliness of being alone sometimes for months until I made my way back to a guardian outpost. On my back was my prized weapon, Bad Juju was something I took with me on almost all my journeys and I never had to worry about running out of ammo with it and it made a great hunting tool for stragglers and the Fallen. I hadn't shot a burst in over a week but I still wanted to remain careful in case I came into contact with an entire Fallen fleet. There were some more crumbling building nearby but as I looked ahead I saw one building that looked to be still standing on the exterior with only rust and age being its downfall. It was one of the few still standing buildings so I decided it would be a good idea to start exploring. The building appeared to be an old hotel and was still fairly spacious despite the rust over time and the rumble. There were still elevators and a front desk used for checking in and some furniture left over. I pulled out my ghost to get an elevator working again and I went up a couple floors. I looked around and could still see rooms with the doors off. The rooms still had mattresses left over or the bathrooms were left with mold all over but some of them were torn up overall. I was nearing the end of the hallway and I had still seen nothing. I suddenly heard I sound that sounded like someone tripped over an old lamp or table. It was near the end of the hallway so I saw the room and decided to take a peek. Inside I could see a fallen vandal who was sitting on the floor with an old electronic sound device on his lap and an old music device next to him. I decided I'd take him by surprise so I grabbed my gun and rushed in from the left side. "Hold it right there fallen scum". I yelled with my gun now aimed in. "Please guardian know that I'm not here to hurt you but to ask you the wonders of the human as a race". Said the vandal with a worried look. I lowered my gun and looked as he sat down messing around with the device trying to get it to work. The vandal then revealed his cape and took out a notebook that by the way the front was titled most likely once belonged to someone of a young age. "I found this long ago and have since been translating it to find out how the young humans used to live. Is it true that life worked like this with school, dealing with bullies, problems with parents, and relationships with females". Said the vandal with a look of curiosity. "I wasn't alive during that time but stories from long ago say that it was a much more simple time back then and only humans would go to war with one another". I replied with a look of despair at what Earth had become. "Guardian do you know what this music box here is or how it works because I found it along with this". Stated the vandal as he pulled out an old record with some dust on it titled Led Zeppelin 3. I pulled out my ghost to see if he could fix it and the vandal was able to set the record into place as the record began to play. I looked at the song list and the Immigrant Song was the tune that was playing now. The sounds brought instant harmony to my ears and for a moment I was lost in the music. "This sounds delightful and I found a lot of these records one day while I was exploring." Said the vandal as he took off his cape to reveal more pockets with other artifacts. Many of them were more records and written documents down to old electronics and children's toys. The Vandal took out some of these objects including two old electronic objects titled Xbox One and Playstation 4 on the electronic items. There was a non functional TV in the room and from stories told I knew how I TV worked. My ghost got it working for me and I looked through the menu on the Playstation 4. I clicked on a game titled The Uncharted Collection and began to play. The vandal watched as I started to play and for the first time in a while I was having fun. The music played in tune with the game and then I decided it was time to play the Xbox. I pulled up a game called Halo the Master Chief Collection and I played for a couple hours. I had become so invested in these virtual worlds with the characters being Master Chief and Nathan Drake. For me it was so interesting to learn about these characters and the situations they went through. In halo there was an alien war like the one we have in this world and I could see many comparisons. For a moment it was just me and my new vandal friend as he sat watching me and sometimes asking questions as I enjoyed this virtual world long forgotten. Suddenly during the game an animal peered into the room and looked at me and the vandal. I was worried as I heard bad stories about the dogs that still remained on Earth but it didn't attack us just yet. "That's my dog I believe they are called". Said the vandal as he looked back at me "I found him on an old journey and we became friends so I take him with me now and we bond together." Continued the vandal calling for his dog now. I began to pet the dog now and he was wagging his tail like any old lap dog before the war. He licked onto my helmet a couple times and for a second I giggled. "Guardian why haven't you killed me yet when I was in training I was told guardians are just savages who want the world destroyed". Said the vandal as he was laying down on an old mattress. "I was told the same thing in training but now I really wonder if you fallen are really just like us." I replied smiling back at my new friend. "The worlds all for us to explore imagine going on adventures together and making our own little society where guardians and Fallen can live together". Said the vandal with a look of hope and sound of hope now coming over him. I thought to myself for a moment and realized that maybe this war really wasn't worth fighting and maybe everything was just our nature and lust for a fight. I decided maybe it was time to join him for my adventures and bond with him for years to come in the same way one would a great friend. Now there was only one thing to say but a million things to do to start this future society. I'm going to call it the Society of the Guardian Fallen. I know it's a little short but this is just a basic introduction to a story I plan to constantly add on to so how was it?

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                • God I wish I had seen this earlier I would've won so hard. [spoiler]maybe[/spoiler]

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                • Bullets flew by his now lifeless body. As I sat behind a mound of earth that had not been around for more then thirty seconds I began to cry. Not only did this man save us from the ultimate fate that landed upon him, he also saved many that had yet arrived. He had a wife, a child, a family that wished for him to come home. To be home. This however was now his home, the earth his kingdom and the blood his subjects. As I remembered why we all followed him and loved him as a brother and father another round hit the soil. Body parts ascending into the air just as quickly as the rocket that slammed into the ground. He may have saved us but not them. My fingers trembling I regretted signing up for this war. I wanted nothing more then to go home and be with my wife... I also knew that however badly I wanted that I was not going to see her again. Maybe another man might keep her safe, maybe she wouldn't love again, maybe this was all a dream. Looking in the reflection of my mirror I brought to attend to my vanity I saw a machine gun emplacement. Looking at all those men dying and screaming for their mothers I decided to do what I needed to do. Slowly unbuckling my backpack straps, undoing my ammo pouches I began to take out my grenades. My hand shaking I opened my final letter pocket and seeing a heavily faded photo of my wife I kissed it and said one final I love you. Looking again at the beachfront, then at the men coming off the boats my conscience told me it was time. I removed my helmet strap feeling the sweat poor down my face as I took it off. Leaned back to the dirt one last time. Now. I sprang up! Running and feeling the wind of machine gun fire go past my face, arms, and legs, little miracles no doubt. I pulled the pins of the grenades and flung them up at the gunmen. The heat of the explosion gave me a sort of comfort that felt as a tender kiss from my wife. Then the bullets pounded into my chest one, two, three, four, and then black. Bullets flew passed his now lifeless body. As I sat......

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                • [u][b]A Dream's Surprise[/b][/u] I was in a twilight sky, walking amidst millions of stars. One would think it beautiful, but the appearance only shrouded the night's true heart. I was freezing, numb, and rejected of warmth from every light there. Alone, I wandered the sky's expanse, desperate for even the smallest of flames just to feel something. I don't know how long I aimlessly roamed, but eventually I collapsed. My body felt like the heaviest of stones and my skin was covered with brittle ice. Even the tears borne of solitude shed from long before were frozen upon my face. There I lied, eyes closed, waiting to be altogether consumed by the wintry maw the celestial sea of sirens had concealed so well... Until I felt a lone tear stream down my face. A tenderness tickled my stinging skin, and in moments I could feel again. Freed from my cold shackles, a newfound desperation drove me toward the promising hope. All I wanted to do was bask within its heart. It had been the only welcoming presence that opened its arms up to me. Shortly thereafter I realized I was no longer coming closer to this jewel. I could still feel its emanating warmth, but the sensation was beginning to slip away. I had not once felt anything so comforting, and the rising sun became the harbinger to my despair. I grew frantic and helpless. No matter how hard I struggled against the invisible tide, I was paralyzed and couldn't even brush my fingertips along the only light that had kindness for me. I was forced to watch my hope fail and loneliness find a strengthened hold over my heart, sinking its sinister claws deep within so I would carry the pain for an eternity. Daylight had broken through the distant clouds and all of the stars vanished from sight. Even the only one I desired diminished with the arriving heat hiding its one of a kind touch. Amidst the presence of the blazing sun I felt just as cold and empty as I had in the hell before, and I continued to wander the sky, hoping night would fall again just so that I would have another chance to find that light in the darkest of worlds. Then I woke up before the dream finished. I never wanted to believe it, but for so long I feared that was the ending--that there wasn't a happy one. The years to follow seemed to support that thought, but I stubbornly refused to accept it. I'm not like people who toss love around casually. So many jump at the chance to overstate their true feelings for a person, and when the worth of my heart's voice found that undeniable and certain truth far from the realm of dishonesty and deception, my words burned as soon as I spoke and the ashes drifted away, riding upon the back of swiftly passing gales. After coming to know what it felt like, I despised the fact that love became no more than a falsity in this world--a simplified means to a meaningless end. I was in love, truly, for many years with a woman I counted a divine blessing. With confidence, I can say few have attained such a relationship as the one I shared with her, and even though for a time I felt that this bestowed grace was misplaced on the likes of me, I came to delight in its peace. Once we were inseparable. We knew each other so well, even the smallest and most fleeting of exchanged looks spoke a thousand words. As each other's rocks, there were none we would sooner turn to for comfort. Once we were beyond content with the fact that no one else existed for us, and even if we were the last people left on the face of the earth, we would be happy. Until mistakes were made. See, I was a soldier without a rifle or whatever expression you prefer that stands equivalent to the fact that I had never been in love before. Unfamiliar territory is the best way I can describe it and saying I was getting outclassed would be an understatement. We attempted to continue in the manner we had for so long, but things just weren't the same between us. Before I knew it she disappeared, and there was seemingly no way I could get her back at my side. I told her that I loved her, but I didn't think she ever really understood the gravity of my confession because of the misfortune love suffers from in this day and age. I watched her slip further and further away from me, and even when I acquired the courage to try to restore our relationship, my efforts failed utterly. I wrestled with the reality that going back and doing things right was feeling like an impossibility. For all of those years on the opposite side of a vast rift, searching for a bridge, I carried the hope of reviving who we were, but every one appeared to be burned and lost in the abyss below. In my extensive bouts of depression, there were very many times I tried to find a silver lining to my torment. I did care about her more than those who haven't been in my shoes can imagine. There was nothing more I wanted than for her to be happy, even if it wasn't with me. You have no idea how hard admitting that was, and I had done so frequently. Not once did the distance decrease. Not once did it look like that fire would burn again. I watched someone else live my dream, and I knew undoubtedly there was no way anyone could possibly love her more than I did. The difference between me and any other man was like comparing heaven and earth. But that didn't matter. She couldn't have been happier anywhere other than where she was, and it wasn't with me. I still clutched onto the dying hope, refusing to see it extinguished but when I was honest with myself, I knew it was only a matter of time. And there was nothing I could do about it. Not one woman I met after ever succeeded in stealing my heart from her grasp, let alone closely contest for it. My capacity to love was limited to this one person who meant the world and more to me. No one else could ever make me happy... Or so I thought. The day I feared came and I was struggling against the painful implication that the greatest days of my life spent with her would never breathe again, and the bones would remain forever unreachable in the sea's depths. With that burden initially tearing my spirit to shreds, a creeping revelation struck me. You see, another girl, whom I'd counted a close friend and had been talking to for two years, had time and time again proven to be unique beyond compare, counting my love. It was strange for me to think that once I considered this "angel from the east" one of those whom had fallen so very short. But I was brought to reflect upon my many conversations with her. Often times, in many of my darkest days, she was there to comfort me, even if she didn't know she was. How many times she effortlessly put a smile on my face in the two years I'd known her was beyond my reckoning. I had never really appreciated her so much until that day, and as the hours and days passed, my world was flipped upside down. This woman, whose voice I hadn't even heard, displayed an odd measure of so much curiosity and care into me that I began to doubt if I even wanted to be with the woman I had loved for so long. For those extremely few that knew just how much this girl meant to me knew how huge this change was. Even I didn't know what to think. As time continued to pass away, I found myself less and less drawn to her, even content with the separation we experienced. This new spark that was ignited had me contemplating things that never once occurred to me before. So many dim and lonely hours passed, and the eastern angel was sooner there than my only love was. Often times, this girl engaged in conversations with me before I had the chance to. She had so many opportunities over the previous two years to sever all connections with me but she hadn't. She was still there, and for all I could tell that's where she wanted to be. It was then I revisited the memory of that dream and I began to wonder. Maybe my happiness isn't found in the twilight or its stars. Maybe it's in the daylight. Even with so much literal distance between us, the warmth this eastern angel offered was far more powerful and vibrant compared to the star I found myself detaching from. I almost laughed at the thought that the sun rises in the east and it takes it a little while to set over here in the west. Took me long enough to notice, but I'm starting to feel a new hope rising with the dawn. Before I never wanted to accept the possibility that the love I experienced was just a lesson for the days to come, but now in the midst of brighter ones, I feel more at peace with the fact that maybe that was its purpose, so that I could do things right next time. One of the last things I ever learned in these long years filled with tragic experiences was putting my past love to the stake, but not before witnessing the unbelievable stealing of my heart from her hands. An indescribable burden was lifted from my shoulders, and most of what I felt was unbridled appreciation. My hopes for her haven't waned in the least. I still hope she finds true happiness, but I'm coming to peace with the fact that mine's not with her. There is better out there, for me at least. I'm not going to settle for second best and I'm not going to treat myself as if I am. My heart's a big one and at one time I would have seen it wither away into nothingness for the sake of someone I loved, but now I know it deserves someone who sees it as a priceless trove full of affection that she alone is deserving of. A love that she can hold as her own and never doubt. Whoever she is, I will not see her happiness as well as my own sacrificed with my heart's martyrdom. I will not see this new hope extinguish. Somewhere my light is waiting for me. Whether or not I've found her has yet to be discovered, but for now, my gaze is set eastward, searching for her in the sunlit sky.

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                • Edited by BARACK OBAMA: 7/4/2015 7:47:52 PM
                  An excerpt from [u]The Hanes Mawr[/u] [i]Of the Seraphs[/i] There were thousands of Guardians. More than a million, even in the early days of the City Age. Many rose into the Light. But a special seven rose higher than all the others, these seven had been gifted more power from the Traveler than any other Guardian could wield. They were three Warlocks, three Titans, all nameless, and one Hunter, whom is sometimes noted as being called Sarnifax, the strongest, and their leader. They were given the titles of Seraph, being as they were the strongest of the Light. Little else is known about them except for the part they played in the Great Disaster. [i]Of the Great Disaster [/i] There came a time during the City Age when the Guardian Vanguard of the Tower deemed the City strong enough to gain a foothold and ultimately take back the Earth's moon Luna from the monstrous Hive beasts. An army of thousands of guardians came to the cursed moon, and at first there were few losses as they swept across the surface, but in the Ocean of Storms, the doors of the Temple of Crota were opened, and the Hive abomination, Crota, Son of Oryx and his army of a thousand Knights came forth, and reaped the Light from all that stood in his path. Many guardians fled in terror back to the City, the only survivors of the battles. But Crota, now with little resistance left, would have turned to Earth, and raised his armies to wipe out what remained of its strength. If it were not for the Champions among Champions that dared March against his armies, turning them to ash in their wake, and dared defy the Dark God. Soon they faced Crota, but they as individuals could not destroy his immortal soul within this plane of existence. But they did so together. The Warlocks and Titans channeled all their remaining Light to the Hunter Sarnifax, and as a conduit he unleashed a wave of Light upon Crota, and his mortal form shrunk away, and was banished from this realm, so that only his soul remained, which fled back into an alien dimension, and there he bid his time, controlling his malice and wrath, waiting for the time for when he could return. And so the Light consumed the bodies and souls of the Seven Seraphs, and in this world they were no more. Thereafter, the Moon was made a Forbidden Zone, even as the Hive fled beneath the surface once more, gathering their strength in the Hellmouth, waiting for their master to return.

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                  • Edrigu’s eldest sister, Aiala, was the first to go missing. She’d gone to pick wildflowers one spring morning, out in the moors beyond the village, and simply never came home. Chief Kelmar had been furious, of course, sure that someone had tried to steal his bride-to-be away. His other three wives had sought to console him, but he was not a man to be so easily placated. So the village hunters spent fruitless weeks under leaden skies, tramping through the cold, foggy hills, without finding any trace. In the end, Kelmar had to be satisfied with whipping Edrigu’s father for carelessness, and claiming his cousin Naiara instead. The day before the betrothal ceremony, Naiara too had vanished. This time, the hunters had found something. Kelmar’s eldest son Diagur had gone out with one of the search parties, and become separated in the fog. Edrigu and his companions had found Diagur’s body, roughly tied to a twisted old elm tree on the crown of a bare hill, the face and neck blackened and burned. Kelmar had wept and torn his beard when they brought back the body, and when the old priest had suggested they build a burial mound, Kelmar had struck him about the head so hard the old man had fallen dead on the spot. The next morning, they’d found a large, black stone at the door to Kelmar’s longhouse, crudely engraved with two lines of runes: “Diagur’s tree,” and below it, the name of Naiara’s sister, “Izarra.” Every man in the village had taken a spear, knife, scythe or axe, and gone to the tree where they’d found Diagur’s body, and lain in wait until nightfall. Then they saw it. A shambling giant, taller than a man, features hidden behind a thick, shaggy hide. Flames guttering in each of its hands. Its cry was like a thousand animals gone mad, a gibbering cacophony of pain and fear, striking terror into the stoutest hearts. They’d fled. When they returned to the village, they discovered Izarra had vanished from her hut. More black stones followed, with more names, but there was no more talk of hunting or fighting. One by one, the young women of the village were summoned to the tree, each one vanishing in the night without trace, until there were none left. The next stone was white, and on it was engraved another name: Edrigu. The next morning, Edrigu took his father’s hunting spear, kissed his mother goodbye, and strode proudly from the village. The others cast down their eyes, unable to meet his gaze, ashamed of their own cowardice. Edrigu was calm, his face betrayed no fear, his tread was steady as he passed under the gate and out onto the moors. He sat beneath the tree, spear across his lap, and gazed up as the blue sky dwindled and the shroud of glittering stars appeared from where they had hidden beneath the veil. The pale moon rose, corpse white like a blind eye in the face of a god; seeing all, observing nothing. He heard it before he saw it, the gibbering wail rolling across the hills. Saw it come shambling up the hill in the moonlight, its hide rustling like a dead forest in the wind. Felt the heat of the flames it held in each hand. He stood, and cast aside the spear. Waited until it came within arm’s reach. “Aiala? Aiala, I know it’s you,” he said. “I know why you did it, why you felt you had to do it. You wanted to escape Kelmar, you wanted to make sure none of the other girls had to marry him either. I understand. “That’s why it started after you went missing. That’s how you know all the names. That’s why Diagur died without a mark on his arms or body—you surprised him. That’s why you called me. Well, here I am. Let me help you. We can go back to the village, get rid of Kelmar,” he held out his arms. “You and the other girls can come home.” The thing paused, as if uncertain. He heard Aiala’s voice. “Edrigu? Is that you?” “Yes, it’s me. It’s all right. It’s over now. Come home.” Then it spoke. “Where are you hiding Naiara? Get back here, bitch,” it said in Diagur’s voice. Its flaming hands came up and locked around Edrigu’s wrists. His flesh blistered, seared and bubbled, and he sank to his knees, screaming in pain. “If you don’t come out this minute, I’m going to make you wish you’d never been born.” The flames spread to Edrigu’s clothing, his hair, his inhuman screams rising higher and higher until they spiraled away with the thick, greasy black smoke rising from his body. The beast stood a moment over the charred husk, brittle ashes that were already blowing away in the wind, then seemed to make a decision. It began to lurch towards the village, muttering over and over to itself. “It’s all right,” said Edrigu’s voice. “It’s over now.”

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                    • [u]Rahool's Lament[/u] You can’t hide in the quiet of the archives all your life, even if you enjoy the silence. I miss that silence, Guardian, that resounding quiet that embraces one buried in their studies, surrounded by the written word, be it ink on manuscript or words on a screen. I miss the solitude, the excitement of a new discovery, the exhilaration of testing a new theory, the realization of a new pattern of sequences. I remember in my younger years, that moment I decoded my first Engram as a student at the Cryptarch Academy. I felt as though the knowledge I gained was so precious, the content and meaning of our work so imperative to the continuation of our existence in this universe. To create something from seemingly nothing, Guardian, it is as close to the power of the Traveler as any of us will ever come. I miss that feeling of discovery, when everything was new and exciting, and held a special meaning. I miss the close work with my fellow Cryptarchs, like-minded comrades who shared in my joy every time another Engram was decoded. But now I stand here, day in and day out, taking your Engrams and turning them into treasures for you. Hundreds, thousands, a million Engrams pass through my hands. I decode matter from the past and the present, and I turn it into something tangible for you, something you can work with, to assist you in [i]our[/i] struggle against the Darkness. Yet for some unfathomable reason, you seem to despise me. Well, my friend, let me tell you something… You don’t even have the mental capacity to fully appreciate the process of decoding those Engrams, yet you rely on them for armor and the ability to protect yourself. You are literally clothed and armed with the blood, sweat and tears of our ancestors, items from a past culture we may never be able to fully recover. You are utilizing the creations of a civilization that is responsible for our current existence. You don’t even know what “existential” means, do you? No, of course not. And how do you thank me? You grieve over the fact I am able to produce for you a perfectly functional set of Mangala Skin gauntlets, or a fine pair of Knight Type I leg armor. And as I recall the countless hours I spent agonizing over the encryption on the very first Nemesis Plane V chest piece that was brought back to the Cryptarch Academy years ago, you tear it apart for Hadronic Essence, [i]right before my very eyes[/i]. You don’t even have the decency to walk across to the other side of the Tower before you destroy my work with such ease it’s as though you’re simply pushing a button! And the weapon parts! Don’t even get me started with those! What’s so bad about the Helios FR5? Or the Searcher MK. 37? You weren’t lamenting such a decryption back in your earlier days, now were you? You and your weapon parts, bah! It’s only gotten worse now that Banshee’s agreed to reforge things. Do you know what I miss most of all, Guardian? I miss the respect and appreciation from my peers. You curse my trade when you should be thankful any amongst us has the ability in the first place. Not a single one of you can be grateful for the time and attention and effort that it takes behind the scenes to decode those Engrams. Every cryptogram, ever character and marking, the symbol and language of an entire universe tangled up in energy and Light, all swirled together in a little mass of atoms and molecules, it’s enough to make a man go mad! My head aches some evenings from this work, Guardian….These codes and these symbols, I see them in my dreams…. And yet here I stand, today, tomorrow, for as long as you need me, for as long as Engrams need decryption, I will be here, ready and willing to assist you. This is my sacrifice for the greater good. Just remember, Guardian, a million deaths are not enough...

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                      • As the wind swept across my face, I remember the days of my early childhood, as if they were whispers being spoken into my ear. Spoken by a forgotten soul who caresses my mind with every syllable. They come rushing back in a flood of emotion; playing with my little brother in the yard, making my first real friend, falling on the sidewalk and splitting my lip open. The day my dad left. My mind stops there, and the scene plays in my head over and over again. "Daddy, where are you going?" "I'm leaving, kiddo. Don't worry, I'll be back." "But where are you going?" "I can't tell you. It's a secret. Not even your mom knows." "But what about the monsters?" "Like I said, I'll be back. No monster is gonna get my son while I'm still alive." "Promise?" "I promise." Those were the last words I ever heard from him, and that was the last time I ever saw him. After a week went by, my mother became distraught. And with each month after, she seemed to get worse and worse. I just waited patiently. It wasn't until ten years later that my mother decided to take her own life. Only a week ago from now, in fact. She had raised my brother and I for as long as she could, trying her best to be a good mother. I suppose the stress finally got to her. I couldn't keep this kind of secret from my brother. I had to tell him some way. "She's going away for a while too, to visit Dad." "Is she coming back?" "I...not for a while..." I could see the tears welling in his eyes. "But don't worry, I'll take care of both of us until she does. She'll be home before you know it." "Do you promise?" My words got caught in my throat, as I remembered back to the day my father left. "I...I promise." "I promise". I mouthed those words over and over again, eventually speaking them in a low mumble. A gust of wind hit my face again, as if Mother Nature herself were pushing against my thoughts. Those two words had more meaning in my life than anything else. They carried the legacy of a man who is only a memory, and they're the words I used to console my brother. It was then that I realized I needed to keep that promise, unlike those before me. I stepped back from the edge of the bridge I was standing on, and started walking home. I crossed the street and BLAM I was hit by a car, instantly killing me

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                      • Edited by The Monarchy: 7/7/2015 9:40:02 PM
                        I'm writing something personal that has to deal with this kinda thing (sorta lol, it's a long, long story behind it), but the chapter I'll put in here isn't nearly ready. *sees the deadline* Oh, I'll get it next time around.

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                        • Edited by ArkangelS187: 7/7/2015 8:25:45 PM
                          My name is Archangel. Or just plain Angel. I am a female Hunter, one of the best, and Lauryn is my player. We play almost everyday, and when she boots up the Xbox and logs onto Destiny, she always chooses me as her character. Even as she controls my movements, with her horrible aim and suicidal charges, I am happy when we are playing together. It is dark where I wait for her. I adjust my cape, just like I've done a hundred times in the past few hours, and sigh. Staying up late means getting up late, and Lauryn was probably still sleeping. I swiped through the home screen and looked at her achievements out of boredom. I suddenly felt the Xbox starting up. Yes, yes! I quickly stood as I prepared to relinquish control to her. I could tell she was excited to play, like me, as she quickly navigated through her games to Destiny. Wait......no. Something was wrong. The Xbox was struggling. I heard Lauryn's grunt of confusion and frustration as it restarted itself. Then I heard only silence. No. NO. NO!!! I could see it from this side, and feel it in the now lifeless black shell that was the Xbox. The red..... The red ring glowed like a Gate Lords' eye. I retreated into the hard drive as I felt it being removed and the Xbox unplugged. I sat in the cold dark and cried with her.

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                        • [b]I Will always Love You[/b] As I walked down the street with my girlfriend, we case to a crosswalk. She had run ahead, and I noticed a semi. I rush forward, and push her out of the way, then blackness. When I see again, I'm on the pavement, surrounded by people, my girlfriend holding my hand. "Please don't leave me, no please!" She begged, but I knew I wasn't gonna make it. "Listen to me.... I will only say this once. I won't say it again. You are my light, shining bright in this world of darkness in despair. My anchor. Without you, I would drift away. Though It may seem like I'm gone, I'm not. I will always be your guardian angel. Whenever you go to sleep at night, I'll be there, holding your hand. Just take a look around and you'll see I'm always there. I'm that wind passing by you, I'm the sunshine that falls on you perfectly. I'm the water that feels so good on your skin at the beach," I say, light fading from my eyes. We're both crying. "One last thing... [i]I will always love you, Death can't separate us for long. [/i] I fade, and see a bright light. I walk towards it, and I hear a voice. "[b][i]Words well spoken, [/i][/b]" it says. "Thank you, Father," I reply. "[b][i]You wish to be her guardian angel? I will let you leave, to see her every day. [/i][/b]" As I walk back. I'm back on the pavement, but I'm not. I stand up, and she's still weeping. As she went throughout the day, I follow her. At last, she goes to bed, and I hold her hand, and whisper five words into her ear. "[i]I will always love you. [/i]"

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                          • Last day for entries. Happy Bungie Day!

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                          • Here by my submission for this yonder Contest: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1XnZJl48DrRfWi_R_5sbd9Ag-YJQfhM2qtv4S_U-MY5c/edit Please let me know if this link is okay. I tried posting it on this forum, but because it's a small script, the formatting was incompatible with what the forums requested.

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                            • A Destiny story Ghost: Are you sure it's safe to go in there? This is where the hive breed. Jacobs: Oh come on! It'll be fun. When's the last time we've been down here? Ghost: Two days ago. Jacobs: And we survived that, so we'll survive going through it again. Ghost: Last time we where with our fireteam. Jacobs: Yeah, but last time I didn't have a brand new shotgun. I'm going to blow off some heads with this baby. Now let's go in. *Jacobs and his ghost enter the hive breeding room* Ghost: I'm not picking up any activity in here, I think it's empty. Jacobs: Hmm, let's look around for something. *Jacobs and his ghost search room for any signs of hive life* Jacobs: I found a hole going into the wall, I think I see movement in there. Should I stick my shotgun in there and blast'em to peices. Hehe. Ghost: that would be highly illogical as there might be something valuable in there, or there's nothing and you would waste a bullet, making noise which will... Jacobs: Okay, okay I get it! I was just joking... *Suddenly a thrall jumps out of the hole and attaches itself to Jacobs* Jacobs: Aaagh! It's clawing me! *Jacobs throws thrall off of him and aims his shotgun at the thrall, pulling the trigger* Jacobs: The gun's jammed! Ghost: Punch the thrall! *Jacobs punches thrall repeatedly until it's dead* Ghost: What happened to your shotgun? Jacobs: That thrall must've scratched up my new gun and broke it! I didn't even get the chance to use it at all! Ghost: We can get it repaired, I'm sure Banshee-44 can fix it. Jacobs: Okay, let's get out of here. *Jacobs arrives at the tower and approaches the gunsmith, telling him his problem* Gunsmith: Well, let me have a look at the gun. *Jacobs pulls out his shotgun and shows it to Banshee-44* Gunsmith: Hmm, I won't be able to make it the same that it was, but I can make it fire. Jacobs: How long will it take? Gunsmith: I'll have to repair most of the gun, I'm guessing maybe a week or so. Jacobs: Can you repair it faster, I need a shotgun for the cruicible. Gunsmith: I have a lot of people's guns to repair, it'll cost you extra. Jacobs: Ok, fine. A couple days later... Jacobs: Is it done yet? Gunsmith: Yeah, I had to hurry a bit and add a few...additions. Jacobs: Wow, it's a lot different than before. You added a scope and a silencer? It looks awesome! Will it work? Gunsmith: Yeah, it's nice and all, but there's a catch. Jacobs: A catch? Gunsmith: It's such an awesome gun, but since I added a scope, silencer and maximum range, it barely qualifies as a shotgun, so I had to take away it's secondary slot to make it fair. Jacobs: So it's a primary? But what will I use for a secondary? A sniper? That's weird. Gunsmith: Well, if you want to use this fun gun, you'll have to sacrifice your primary slot. It has so many features though, I call it the universal remote.

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                              • Edited by Steel Assassin: 7/7/2015 2:48:28 AM
                                I know multiple entries don't count. I'm just uploading this because it fits with the theme and I had fun writing it. All lines in this are Halo dialogue; hope you enjoy reading it. (Written before Halo 4 was a thing) [u]Didact's Reprisal[/u] [i]Mendicant Bias- Beggar after knowledge Machine and nerve with its mind concluded Did you think me defeated? You will find no salvation on this ring Lies for the weak! Beacons for the deluded! This slander offends All that walk the path Clear evidence of treachery long hidden The weight of your heresy will stay your feet No enemy has ever withstood our might Not even the Flood can stop it Its divine wind will rush through the stars Now is the time of our unworlding One final effort is all that remains And I am not afraid We shall fulfill our promise We fight for the grace of the Mantle And this time None of you will be left behind[/i]

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                              • .............

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                                • Edited by CrestedEBIN: 7/5/2015 7:44:35 PM
                                  Poesy to sacrifice : Sacrifice: sacrifice is never using the weapon you love because you always have another weapon to amass Sacrifice is charging into battle knowing you will probably die . Or maybe become bad ass It's giving 500 motes of light to xur in the hopes the exotic engram is new content !! sacrifice is playing with guardians who suck - Sherpa - or get bent Sacrifice is necessary , it's all good and it's the only way to play . It's bad enough ur inside alone - AND alone inside the game?!? So get out and meet a newb , rank him up and get him strong . And when u guys have met and gamed perhaps you'll say so long Or maybe a message pops in requesting you a friend upon their list .. In this game of destiny there is no greater gift! By: Deeez Nutzz

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                                  • Edited by CrestedEBIN: 7/5/2015 7:44:15 PM
                                    The 6 of us met in orbit randomly - knowing only that we are in this together . there were 3 main zones we needed control of not as easy task - knowing that in order to gain the upper hand sacrifice was required ! I took it upon myself , unspoken to my mates ( I had a feeling the 5 others would be working hard on points Alpha and Bravo first ), to make this plan work. Quickly as we descended into the Cauldron I equipped my Nothing Mantacles and as fast as my blink could take me - agility maxed - armour clad light - I headed directly into meat n potatoes; ( when in the cauldron make stew! I told myself) point Charlie ... As I round the door frame as I expected 6 guardian as rigid an tough as hard light - capturing Charlie at leisure - two quick scatter grenades onto Charlie with prayers ... As the first grenade explodes my second is released but it only takes a millisecond longer for these guardians to find my Skull of Akhamara n their reticles . I am dead , but not without hearing the sweet sound of 'Bravo secure' to accompany me to my re spawn . Our team is strong - I am the leader of the score board - we are off to a winning start. Death ... Well earned . By: Deeez Nutzz :) Written as I want to try an encourage more rushing in capture playlists - it works for me - I love drawing first blood and getting multi kills to boot - when a grenade becomes as effective as a rocket it's a beautiful thing !

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