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+--- Thread: (OLD) Christopher Lived - Witch Hunter (/showthread.php?tid=1217)
(OLD) Christopher Lived - Witch Hunter - Cantin - 06-13-2020
(So I talked in Discord about posting this story back from when I first time encountered Grimmworld, which was 12 years ago. I will rework this for my character, but thought people might want to read how it looked back then)
The descent into madness
This day in the kingdom world would prove life altering for Christopher Lived. It started when Christopher noticed that a strange happening was taking place. From his window he could see people, but not hear them. The seemed angry, and it looked like they were shouting, Christopher couldn't read their lips, but it pointed towards an execution of some sort. A mob was always around when a villain was being brought to justice.
The mass of people seemed big, as more and more people went by. Suddenly a horse-pulled cart came by, it was hauling a criminal, Christopher thought, but when the cart passed it was a young woman who was in the cage on the cart. Christopher couldn't help but wonder what crime
such a young woman could have committed to become so hated.
He just had to see this no matter what mother said. Christopher's mom had left the house to complete a long list of chores. Plenty of time to see what's happening he thought. He
nervously went downstairs and jimmied the doorknob to make a minimal amount of noise. Silently the door opened like a gateway to another dimension, a reality he hadn't experienced in a long time, since childhood in fact. Christopher joined the agitated mob in escorting the cage, with everyone shouting, hissing and booing he couldn't make out what anyone actually said.
The mob came to a standstill at the Crescent square where festival were held annually. The crowd formed a circle around the cage and occasionally somebody threw something at
the caged woman, Christy somebody had called her, looked terrified. A man through the crowd and over to the cage, he motioned for the mob to calm down and be silent.
"I am Maldrium"
"I am a member of the city-state and I demand to know who is responsible for this"
Another man came out from the crowd.
"I am Viktor and I am the one who started this, and I say we burn her for her crimes!"
The crowd bellowed "BURN HER!" "BURN HER!"
Maldrium replied:
" Very well. What proof do you have?"
Viktor yelled
"I heard her talking about.." A loud explosion interrupted Viktor.
A barrel came rolling toward the mob and it exploded about 500 meters from where Chistopher stood. People began running, gunshots and yelling began. Christopher hid near the wall on the
south side of the square. He saw a lot of people running to the western exit, this included Viktor, but Maldrium stood his ground near the cage. A band of men rushed towards maldrium
and a fierce sword battle began between him and a person who appeared to be the leader of the attackers.
"I will not let you free her!" Maldrium yelled
"Luckily I don't need your permission! I am taking my daughter home!" The man replied.
During the sword duel a couple of men managed to free Christy, when this happened Maldrium yelled
"GUARDS!" and the city militia began flooding into the square.
"We have Christy! Retreat" Christy's father said.
With those words he had sealed his fate, Maldrium pierced the man's chest with a rapier. The rescue group began scattering fleeing from the guards, Christopher ran the same way as
Christy. He had to get the whole story, but he lost track of her and instead decided to go home before his mother returned and the guards probably couldn't distinguish between him and
one of the attackers. In a small alley just not far from his home Christopher bumped into Christy
"Help!" she yelled at Christopher
"What have you done since they hate you so much?" Christopher replied
"I cant talk about that now?!" Christy yelled
"The scary man is after me" she said whimpering
"Who ?... Maldrium?"
"I'll help you, I know these streets"
The two of them fled the scene and Christopher guided them into a almost hidden passageway between two houses a stones throw from his own home.
Gasping for air Christopher talks:
"Now we should be safe, return the favor and tell me what the reason for all of this is"
Christy
"I am not sure, Viktor used to be a friend of my family he never had with me healing his wounds in the past"
Christopher
"Healed?"
Christy
"Yes he accused me of being a witch, even though..."
Everything went silent, Christopher could see her lips move, but when she said witch it was like the world became muted. He composed himself and took hold of Christy's arm while she was still talking
".can you see how silly it all..ow that hurts, let go!"
Christopher's hand tightened its grip.
"Let go!" "Let me go!" Christy hissed
Christopher opened his mouth
"WITCH!!!" He shouted as loud as he could
"What are you doing! NO!" Christy cryingly yelled.
After about 20 seconds Malrium appeared
"You have done a great deed young man."
He notioned some accompanying guards to take Christy away.
"NO!!!!" "DAAAD!!!!"
She kept yelling, crying and kicking as she was dragged away.
Maldrium turned to Christopher
"What's your name young man?"
Christoffer
"I am Christopher Lived"
Maldrium
"I think you showed an exemplary way of dealing with a witch."
Maldrium
"I am contemplating whether to offer you an apprenticeship. What qualifications do you have?"
Christopher stood surprised that this man, who looked like a noble would offer him thehonor of being his apprentice, and at the same time he thought that this knowledge he was being offered would be useful in this new reality he had become a part of.
"I can read and write. I know a lot about witches from.." Christopher hesitated about what to say for a second.." the stories my mother told me. I also share your passion for witch hunting...Oh and
I have a little bit of experience with maces and bows."
Christopher didn't know if his skills would translate into the profession, but his desire for the apprenticeship fueled his mouth.
"That is quite more than I had anticipated from a commoner, although I don't care much for maces. You will have to learn the art of swordsmanship instead." Maldrium said
"So what is your answer? Do you wish to enlist in this war or do you want to hide your face in shame as the rest of the commoners do?"
Christopher thought only for a second
"I will partake in this. I will be your apprentice and one day I will hopefully be your equal."
Maldrium smirked
"Now now, don't rush too much, you have much to learn. We must inform your family of this situation and there will be a long journey ahead as well."
Christopher paused how was he going to tell his mother this? She didn't want him leaving his room and now he was going to travel away, for an unknown amount of time.
Christopher led Maldrium to his house with a bowed head. Already fifty meters away he could hear his mother's shrill voice
"Woe is me, who now has neither husband nor child."
When she saw Christopher her face first became a smile and then a frown.
"Where have you been and who is this person?!"
"I swear if you've been up to no good you will get the beating of a lifetime!"
As she grabbed Christopher and began walking into the house Maldrium spoke.
"Your son was at a scene of bad deeds, but he performed good and just deeds, not vile ones. I have taken him under my wing and he shall become my apprentice. He will be away for about a month after which he will get to come back here..."
Christopher's Mother's face became red as ember and she interrupted.
"In no way are you taking my son anywhere!"
Christopher knew she would react like this, but he was unsure of what Maldrium's response would be.
"Let Christopher go inside and we can talk about this like civilized people."
Christopher got shown into the entry hall of the house. He couldn't hear their conversation, he could only hear his mother yell, and then she became silent and suddenly she opened the door.
"Please follow and obey the distinguished gentleman, my son."
Christopher didn't know how to react at first, but he was happy that he was doing something exciting. He Followed Maldrium to the city castle where they supplied themselves for the journey.
Maldrium talked to some city officials while Christopher sat in a coach, which had luxury and wealth unlike any he had ever seen.
The Journey to the destination, which Maldrium wouldn't disclose, did not go easy. They were ambushed twice, but both times Maldrium managed to fend of the attackers. Maldrium cursed a lot during these travels but assured Christopher that such a tongue wouldn't be accepted.
After a week of travelling Christopher was allowed to come out of the coach for the first time. They had arrived at the destination and a special destination it was. Before him was a temple
carved out of the mountain, with flames and banners on its stony exterior. He was met by shrouded people who carried with them a standard that had the same banner as the temple. The banner had a
crescent moon on it. While Christopher was looking at the temple in awe Maldrium suddenly said
"This part of the journey is yours to take alone"
With that said the horses pulled the coach and Marldrium away and they soon faded in the mist that was all around the temple.
"You have arrived at the temple of the Crescent Moon. We have been waiting for you."
"It is not often that Witch Hunter Maldrium brings us pupils"
Christopher stuttered, he hadn't expected this kind of reception.
"I'm honored and I hope to learn as much as possible."
"Silence!" the robed figure yelled
"You are not allowed to speak unless told to do so"
The robed figure went on
"Names and personal information does not matter, you will address all of us as "Master"."
"Welcome to the hardest month of your life."
That it would indeed be for Christopher. He was beaten, mildly tortured and then he was taught in all the ways of witch hunting. Since he had met Maldrium he had not dreamt and neither did he in the temple.He constantly wanted to be taught more and learn more. His goal was going back to old town to purify it according to his new doctrine.
All witchery is bad and must be dealt with swiftly.
All confessed witches must die by the flame.
Those who help witches are as bad as the witches themselves.
There are no boundaries to what can be done to get a witch to confess.
After a month Chirstopher was deemed a novice witch hunter of The Crescent Moon. The robed people praised his tenacity and willpower, but reminded him that constant training and improvement was needed. When he was let out of the temple Maldrium stood waiting in front of the same coach Christopher had arrived in.
"Good to see that you are alive, the last three apprentices I sent here weren't as lucky"
"I think I merely wanted it bad enough" Christopher replied.
"Let's leave for home then. We can talk on the way." Maldrium said
The journey back was as troubled as last time, this time the difference was that Christopher could hold his own in the fights. Besides fighting Maldrium shared some of his wisdom and experience.
Upon returning Christopher to his home, Maldrium presented him with a silver rapier.
"This is for you, it served me well in my first year, it should do the same for you, I hope."
"You will have about a month in this town before I return with your first assignment. Until then
you will have time to hone your skills and find any heretics or witches that remain in the city"
With that said Maldrium left Christopher again.
Christopher would be busy oh yes. He would recreate the order in this old town and he would wear the mark of the Crescent Moon at all times. Perhaps his skills would need honing before he would make his move, but Christopher was impatient and wanted to start his crusade soon. He went straight inside his home and without saying a word to his mother he went into his room
and laid in his bed. Tonight he would dream again, this time of a more pure world tomorrow.