The Hood- Chapter One
Meet Our Hero
Jocular put the cocoa on the potbelly stove, the ancient bard warmed his hands with the comforting warmth of the fire. He settled in to the ancient, wine coloured, wing back chair and took a moment to listen to the sound of the rain brushing against the college window panes. He took off his mechanical ocular attachment and rubbed the reddened puckered skin that covered the space where his eye used to be. “Well young cleric, let us get back to the tale- let me see where were we?” Cleric Lister, the hopelessly pallid youth, checked the journal.
“King Lincoln had just recruited the young Lachlan for the Jihad and he had left Avalon to journey into the deserts of the East to battle the evil Empire of Palladium.”
Jocular, tale teller grunted and continued his epic tale.
And Now Begins The Chronicle of The Hero and The Hood
Long, Long ago
The true king and the young nobles, the best and brightest of Avalon, crossed the great ocean in their portable fortress. Their cause was a holy one. The cyborgs had surrendered their humanity to become slaves to Palladium.
The workers of the East were so plugged in and integrated with the massive computer main frame that they had lost their will to the silicone virtual world of PA radix. Palladium gave them a virtual interactive paradise and the price was that workers had to surrender their biological bodies to the use of Palladium. The physical bodies of the citizens of Palladium became zombies with plastic enhancements, silicon and wiring. The empty worker’s bodies became superhuman slaves to the Palladium Empire. Only Avalon of the West refused the offer to exist in PA radix.
In fact Avalonians removed all non-biodegradable elements and resorted to natural resources to survive. Avalon used steam, tubes, piston and cogs to run their world. Cyborg pirates kept crossing the ocean to kidnap Avalon children and seduce them to become one with PA radix as their own people were no longer interested in reproduction.
In time it became obvious that the two societies could no longer co-exist. King Lincoln decided there was no choice but to start a Holy War to the East. Being a Battle King he left with his troops to travel to the East. The Avalon army formed small guerrilla forces. Lord Lachlan, known to his men as ‘The Hero’, was in charge of one of the cells. During a failed raid on Palladium’s Central Command Centre his cell had been wiped out and Lachlan was badly injured. It was only his phenomenal skill with his twin retractable swords that saved his life. Lachlan 'The Hero' was sent home to Avalon by King Lincoln himself.
Lachlan arrived via Airship, he was lucky enough to secure transit on one of the last great Avalonian ships, the rest had been decommissioned due to a lack of oil. Oil could now only be found on the Eastern Continent, even though Palladium was fuelled by nuclear power they guarded the oil and prevented Avalon from gaining access. Avalon was down to a trickle and most engines now ran off steam.
The transcontinental ship provided a silent and slow trip and this gave The Hero plenty of time to imagine what it would be like to return home to Oxley Wood. He visualised the hug he would share with his beloved father, who would have tears in his ancient eyes at the sight of his son. Lachlan dreamed of how he would then ride out to meet with Adina, his betrothed, and together they would spend the last of their days at Oxley Wood in peace and contentment. There would be no more war or blood. There would just be the cherry cheeks of their many happy children.
The Airship touched down at the city of Charlotte, the Avalonian Capital. It had changed greatly from the bustling and bright ly lit city Lachlan had departed from so many years ago.
Charlotte was a city of stone punctuated with the dull gleam of weathered metal and doused in a rusty blood scent. Thermal energy ducts traced over building like succulent veins. Great forests of copper steam flumes adorned the rooftops.
The flumes puffed with hissing fury as if they were always in the middle of an argument. Horses clip clopped on cobblestones and steam carriages created a constant melodic tune. Charlotte was like a massive steam powered organ where humans were the everchanging notes. As the ship floated over head the city seemed quieter and duller than he remembered it. However, as much as Lachlan looked forward to setting foot once again in Avalon he was about to face a devastating blow.
Instead of there being happy crowds cheering the return of 'The Hero' there was, instead, the crude, scarred and vicious Vector. He was Prince Regent Harald’s Man at Arms and he was always accompanied by his Knights of the Brass. Lachlan refused to be intimdated by the feared Knights of the Brass.
They were so named as they wore clothing that was covered in brass coloured discs and they were the personal palace guard. They were known for their efficiency which at time took inhuman dimensions. They loved orders, mindless obedience and blood. They captured Lachlan and took him to the palace. He was some what mollified to see that they did not relax until they had removed his swords. Lachlan knew, from the barely contained joy on Vector's face, that things were about to take a turn for the worse.
Harald, the King’s little brother, waited there for Lachlan. Prince Regent Harald, the tiny weasel , was frothing from the mouth with great excitement as he informed Lachlan that he was no longer a Noble. “There are no Nobles any more. You and your tyrannical kind are all destroyed. No longer will you steal from the honourable workers to fund your expensive lifestyle. I, KING Harlad, have liberated the workers. I have rid the streets of your kind."
Lachlan was incensed but he had always been loyal to the crown so he was not going to tell the worm Pretender what he thought of him. Instead he asked the regent of his father's fate. Harald signalled to Vector. The vile minion, with glee, marched Lachlan to the great steel walls of Harald’s Fortress.
There on a spike he showed Lachlan the decomposing head of his father. “Don’t worry Lord Lachlan, you will join him soon enough.” Lachlan answered him with barely contained rage. “Perhaps Vector, but what do you think will happen to you when King Lincoln returns from the Jihad?” Vector smiled and replied
“War is a dangerous thing, particularly for a brave king. King Harald is not a brave man but he is here and undoubtedly it will be he who is left alive when Palladium vanquishes his courageous but irresponsible older brother.”
Lachlan suddenly attacked, his foot knocked the nearest Brass Knight out. Lachlan had his hands on the fool’s rifle before the man hit the ground. As soon as Vector and his Knights saw the weapon they retreated. Lachlan ran into the night blinded by the tears of rage that refused to abate.
I HOPE YOU ENJOYED CHAPTER ONE- CLICK HERE TO GO TO CHAPTER TWO
HOME
“King Lincoln had just recruited the young Lachlan for the Jihad and he had left Avalon to journey into the deserts of the East to battle the evil Empire of Palladium.”
Jocular, tale teller grunted and continued his epic tale.
And Now Begins The Chronicle of The Hero and The Hood
Long, Long ago
The true king and the young nobles, the best and brightest of Avalon, crossed the great ocean in their portable fortress. Their cause was a holy one. The cyborgs had surrendered their humanity to become slaves to Palladium.
The workers of the East were so plugged in and integrated with the massive computer main frame that they had lost their will to the silicone virtual world of PA radix. Palladium gave them a virtual interactive paradise and the price was that workers had to surrender their biological bodies to the use of Palladium. The physical bodies of the citizens of Palladium became zombies with plastic enhancements, silicon and wiring. The empty worker’s bodies became superhuman slaves to the Palladium Empire. Only Avalon of the West refused the offer to exist in PA radix.
In fact Avalonians removed all non-biodegradable elements and resorted to natural resources to survive. Avalon used steam, tubes, piston and cogs to run their world. Cyborg pirates kept crossing the ocean to kidnap Avalon children and seduce them to become one with PA radix as their own people were no longer interested in reproduction.
In time it became obvious that the two societies could no longer co-exist. King Lincoln decided there was no choice but to start a Holy War to the East. Being a Battle King he left with his troops to travel to the East. The Avalon army formed small guerrilla forces. Lord Lachlan, known to his men as ‘The Hero’, was in charge of one of the cells. During a failed raid on Palladium’s Central Command Centre his cell had been wiped out and Lachlan was badly injured. It was only his phenomenal skill with his twin retractable swords that saved his life. Lachlan 'The Hero' was sent home to Avalon by King Lincoln himself.
Lachlan arrived via Airship, he was lucky enough to secure transit on one of the last great Avalonian ships, the rest had been decommissioned due to a lack of oil. Oil could now only be found on the Eastern Continent, even though Palladium was fuelled by nuclear power they guarded the oil and prevented Avalon from gaining access. Avalon was down to a trickle and most engines now ran off steam.
The transcontinental ship provided a silent and slow trip and this gave The Hero plenty of time to imagine what it would be like to return home to Oxley Wood. He visualised the hug he would share with his beloved father, who would have tears in his ancient eyes at the sight of his son. Lachlan dreamed of how he would then ride out to meet with Adina, his betrothed, and together they would spend the last of their days at Oxley Wood in peace and contentment. There would be no more war or blood. There would just be the cherry cheeks of their many happy children.
The Airship touched down at the city of Charlotte, the Avalonian Capital. It had changed greatly from the bustling and bright ly lit city Lachlan had departed from so many years ago.
Charlotte was a city of stone punctuated with the dull gleam of weathered metal and doused in a rusty blood scent. Thermal energy ducts traced over building like succulent veins. Great forests of copper steam flumes adorned the rooftops.
The flumes puffed with hissing fury as if they were always in the middle of an argument. Horses clip clopped on cobblestones and steam carriages created a constant melodic tune. Charlotte was like a massive steam powered organ where humans were the everchanging notes. As the ship floated over head the city seemed quieter and duller than he remembered it. However, as much as Lachlan looked forward to setting foot once again in Avalon he was about to face a devastating blow.
Instead of there being happy crowds cheering the return of 'The Hero' there was, instead, the crude, scarred and vicious Vector. He was Prince Regent Harald’s Man at Arms and he was always accompanied by his Knights of the Brass. Lachlan refused to be intimdated by the feared Knights of the Brass.
They were so named as they wore clothing that was covered in brass coloured discs and they were the personal palace guard. They were known for their efficiency which at time took inhuman dimensions. They loved orders, mindless obedience and blood. They captured Lachlan and took him to the palace. He was some what mollified to see that they did not relax until they had removed his swords. Lachlan knew, from the barely contained joy on Vector's face, that things were about to take a turn for the worse.
Harald, the King’s little brother, waited there for Lachlan. Prince Regent Harald, the tiny weasel , was frothing from the mouth with great excitement as he informed Lachlan that he was no longer a Noble. “There are no Nobles any more. You and your tyrannical kind are all destroyed. No longer will you steal from the honourable workers to fund your expensive lifestyle. I, KING Harlad, have liberated the workers. I have rid the streets of your kind."
Lachlan was incensed but he had always been loyal to the crown so he was not going to tell the worm Pretender what he thought of him. Instead he asked the regent of his father's fate. Harald signalled to Vector. The vile minion, with glee, marched Lachlan to the great steel walls of Harald’s Fortress.
There on a spike he showed Lachlan the decomposing head of his father. “Don’t worry Lord Lachlan, you will join him soon enough.” Lachlan answered him with barely contained rage. “Perhaps Vector, but what do you think will happen to you when King Lincoln returns from the Jihad?” Vector smiled and replied
“War is a dangerous thing, particularly for a brave king. King Harald is not a brave man but he is here and undoubtedly it will be he who is left alive when Palladium vanquishes his courageous but irresponsible older brother.”
Lachlan suddenly attacked, his foot knocked the nearest Brass Knight out. Lachlan had his hands on the fool’s rifle before the man hit the ground. As soon as Vector and his Knights saw the weapon they retreated. Lachlan ran into the night blinded by the tears of rage that refused to abate.
I HOPE YOU ENJOYED CHAPTER ONE- CLICK HERE TO GO TO CHAPTER TWO
HOME