Memoirs of Adventure Creative Writing Contest (NA) - Official Entry Thread

[Lacrucia]

I can still remember the acrid scent of smoke and burning flesh. I feel the hatred boiling the air around me. Tis not my anger, but the Greatwyrm, Nidhogg. The Wyrm’s Shade had possessed Estinien and his enduring rancor had corrupted his form. Nidhogg was reborn and he would bring an end to the Dragonsong War by laying siege to the Holy See of Ishgard with the full might of the Dravanian Horde. I tightened my grip on my lance as my fellow adventures began their assult. Seeing an opening, I leapt high into the air and crashed down on the wyrm’s back with the full force of my body, shoving my lance deep into his hide. I ripped the lance from his body and leapt from back, but the wyrm’s gaze had now turned to me, and before I could react, he unleashed his gathered aether at me and I was hit with the full force of his fire and everything went dark. I took a desperate gasp as my body was lifted from the floor. Rays of light surrounded me as my wounds sealed and my energy returned to me. I picked up my lance once more and we continued our attack against the mad wyrm. He let out a piercing roar with enough force to knock us off our feet and wrapped himself in a cocoon of flames. The cocoon dissipated and my eyes fell upon Estinien, his body twisted and corrupted into a horrible amalgamation of human and dragon. Nidhogg crashed down on the battlefield using a corrupted version of the Dragoon dive. The Shade roared in indignation at our audacity to survive his attack. We continued to wear the wyrm down until once again he took to the skies. The battlefield was seared with bolts of black lightning as Nidhogg descended upon the battlefield in his draconian form, wreathed in flames and glowing with aetheric power. He crashed down on the bridge with the full force of his body, causing shockwaves and tremors that almost threw us into the endless abyss below. He brought all his dragon might upon us, filling the battlefield with swirling darkness, exploding fireballs, and searing us with his white-hot flames. With our final assault, the mad wyrm let out a final roar as the aether that made up his body dissipated. It had been a long road to reach this conclusion, paved with the lives of dear friends, stalwart comrades and bitter enemies. But the Warrior of Light’s work is never done; the Ascians are still out there, scheming plots to resurrect their dark god; and the Garleans continue to move their armies against Eorzea in their mad campaign to rule the world. That is why I stand here in front of your grave, dear Haurchefant, to see you one last time before I depart to foreign lands. Taking a knee before your headstone, I offer a silent prayer: “For those we have lost. For those we can yet save.” (Noble Barding)

[Owra]

The waves are crashing. The sun is setting. People are laughing and embracing under the sunset. I feel the sand squish slowly through my toes as I leisurely walk the edge of the Bloodshore. I find a quiet place far from anyone and take a seat. Off in the distance, the colors of the setting sun swirl together in a muddled mass across the sky; when suddenly crash! Flash! The sky turns wild. Lightning hurls itself across what was once a tame uncaring heaven. A violent explosion of heavenly emotion has replaced my peaceful evening. I watch as the sky twists and distorts into something unholy. I abruptly stand as a colossal storm inches closer and closer.

The wind howls as it whips and slashes across my face. The rain pierces my skin like needles leaving my face tender. I suddenly shiver realizing that I am soaked, cold, and alone. My legs begin to feel like lumps of lead as I struggle to place one foot in front of the other.

Lightning flashes. I scan the horizon and to my surprise I see the silhouette of what appears to be another person. Crack! Another flash of lightning lights up the coal-black sky and my view of this hazy figure becomes clear. No more than 40 steps ahead of me is a young male Miqo'te beside several large boulders. I take a small step forward and scream “Hey!” The wind whistles as it carries my voice across the sand. The young Miqo'te stirs and turns in my direction, he then rises from his kneeled position and begins to wave his hands frantically. I too wave back with enthusiasm. Although I wasn’t close enough to see his facial expression, I had the strangest feeling he was smiling.

I dash quickly toward him and instantly freeze. I am taken aback by his breathtakingly beautiful face which beams with hope, his golden eyes that glow with warmth and his smile which stretches from ear to ear. He looked around the same age as me but in the lack of light it was hard to tell. Gusts of wind and torrents of rain pelted us from all directions. With our fates now intertwined, we faced the storm head on.
The sound of the storm was unbelievable, but we kept on, closing the distance between us and Costa del sol. Our feet finally grazed the rocky hillside as the sun began to emerge. The young Miqo'te gently smiled, waved and then nodded goodbye. Just as swiftly as the storm had come and gone, you too were suddenly striding off, heading toward your next adventure….
If selected, I would like the Ahriman Choker!