(( Sorry guys, another long one, this is the backstory for my Fetchling. Enjoy the read. Also awesome story Simon))
Jez Dauwer is a simple man. He likes good food, comfortable beds and candles. He likes to sell candles, buy candles and talk about candles. His dream is to set up a candle company spanning both Gazra and Gilliad. Born in the mountains and raised by Dwarves, Jez sees no point to the war and wishes it could end so he can fulfill his dream, and so, he has decided to go out into the world and do what he can to make that happen, he plans on talking to the leaders of each country, discuss the issues and try and make an agreement. Many people tell him its naive but he believes it is the best option.
Jez Dauwer is a lie.
The Kayal are descend from the Plane of Shadow. On the Material Plane, they are known as Fetchlings. Tanar Zetzi is a a Kayal. Tanar had a fairly average childhood. He grew up in the care of his Aunt and Uncle, two Humans. He didn't differ too much from humans, his skin was a pale gray making him look permanently ill and malnourished. His eyes were a bright yellow colour also often attributed to malnutrition. He fitted in, he didn't know of his Outsider heritage. When Tanar was 13, his life changed forever. His uncle returned home one night, covered in blood. Tanar never found out what his uncle had done but that night he found something more important out. People are never who they seem. It was a subtle noise, but Tanar heard it. The sound of a spear plunging into his uncles heart. His aunt quickly suffered the same fate. Tanar got out of bed, unafraid, and went to investigate. He went into their room. They lay on the bed with a candle sticking out of the hole in their chests the spear had made. Only one was lit. Tanar walked up to them. He was in shock, he didn't know how to react. He simply lit the second candle.
There was some sniggering behind him and a thin, greasy man walked out, holding a spear. '
Why?' asked Tanar. The man replied '
HE did someone wrong. SHE was for fun.', the man pointed at the candle '
Why?'. Tanar turned, tears starting to form at his eyes as it sunk in he was an orphan once more, '
It needed lighting, its the least they deserved. Who are you? What now? Are you going to kill me too?', it was starting to get to Tanar and he begun panicking. '
Woah, woah, woah kid, calm down. I like your thinking, it is the least they deserved, I leave one at every kill, the last respect if you will. Now, to answer your questions. Samael, an idea and no, Probably not'. '
An idea? Oh my god, are you going to torture me? Please don't! I won't tell, I'll just run away, please let me live' Tanar whimpered. '
I have a much better idea than torture. As I am now, I can only come and do what I do best when told to by my boss. IF I had a more, permanent base, perhaps I could stay for a bit longer, you know, hang about and have some fun. Now, I know you're only a kid and all, but how about you let me stay, I'll let you live and show you a thing or two about how the world works. Well, this world anyway'.
Before Tanar could even respond, Samael seemed to disappear, leaving only a cloud of smoke. Tanar composed himself and thought. He needed to get what he could together and leave, go to a new place. Find a new family, do what he can to survive. He went to leave the room but as he passed through the cloud, it seemed to flow into his lungs. His vision blurred. He blacked out. His head filled with darkness. His heart filled with darkness. He saw a shape approach him. It formed into a thin, red humanoid. Tanar knew who it was. Samael. ‘
Rather empty in here kid, I better get started’ Flames started to appear and soon his head was filled with images of a place. Samael spoke again ‘
This, this wondrous place is where I come from, or at least it looks like it. Beautiful isn’t it. Right kid, its time to go, the rest of your life starts now. I know someone who’ll get you into shape.’ Samael disappeared. Then there was only the Abyss.
Tanar's memory of the next few years is hazy. Partly because of the time Samael was in control, party for wanting to block out his training. Samael took him to a school, a secret school and used his 'connections' to get Tanar trained. The training was torture, a mix of extreme physical exhaustion and mental conditioning. At first Tanar knew very little of who he was being taught by. He barely ever saw them, barely even heard them. He would have books dropped infront of him, or left by his bed teaching him of the ways of the Ninja. Sometimes he would wake up in a new place, with a blade and another student. This only happened if he failed an assignment. Eventually he got to know a few of the other students. When he spoke to them of Samael, they didn’t understand. He was unique.
Samael talked regularly to Tanar, told him of the Abyss, of Demons and how the world worked. How Kings, Queens, Generals and Presidents forced their will upon the lowlifes of the world. How they deserved life as much as any other mortal. He taught Tanar of his Kayal heritage. He showed Tanar how to utilise his natural talents and Samael's otherworldly abilities. He quickly grew to be a powerful Ninja. As time went on, Tanar started to gain more control over himself, he and Samael started to work together, it became a symbiotic relationship. Tanar and Samael gained the same motives, the same ideas and beliefs. Tanar learnt of Samael's lord, Baphomet and his queen, Lamashtu. Tanar would often ask Samael if he would ever get to visit the Abyss, meet Baphomet and Lamashtu, and never get a response.
At the age of 21 Tanar had finished his training. He had excelled as his connection with Samael grew. It reached his final assignment. All he had been told was of a nearby keep, how the lord was declaring a holy war against the follows of Norgober, the Grey Master, the Reaper of Reputation, the god of murder and poison, the god to Ninjas. Tanar made his way to the keep. It was an impressive structure, surrounded by a small village. ‘
Kid, this'll be real fun. Time to show 'em what you got’ Samael transmitted to Tanar ‘
Do what you do best, I’m right here to help you out’. Tanar skulked into the town at night without detection, an easy thing when as naturally, and unnaturally, talented you are at such things. He reached the keep wall, and climbed over. There were numerous guards on duty, but none of the dozy humans managed to spot the Kayal as he reached the main building. Using his natural ability, he formed his appearance to look like a guard and walked in. Knowing he could not maintain this for long, he went straight upstairs and found a small room to gather himself. ‘
What now?’ he thought, before he could respond to himself ‘
Remember what you were taught two years ago, when you had to fight in the daylight’ Samael reminded him.
Leaving no trace, causing no noise, shedding no light and completely invisible to the normal eye, Tanar walked out of the room and ran. He ran as fast as he could to the top of the keep, straight for the Lord’s chambers. There were two guards, he’d have to wait. He climbed up the walls and hid in the rafters. As time wore on, his energy wavered and he turned visible again, now dependent purely on stealth he remained still. The guards stood there for three hours. The doors to the Lord’s chambers swung open as two more guards walked out, they were changing shift. It was his chance. With a huge jolt of speed, Tanar leapt down, tumbled between the guards and into the room, only to jump up again into the rafters once more. He held his breath, waiting for the shouts of the guards. But none came. As the guards closed the doors behind them, and no more walked in, he looked into the room more carefully. The Lord was going to sleep, it was his chance. He crawled along the rafter until he was above the bed.
He slowly got down and drew his blade. The perfectly made katana seemed to separate the air as it moved silently towards the Lords chest. He was just about to plunge it in when he heard a whimper behind him. A young boy stood there, staring. It was the Lord’s son. Tanar walked over to him, knelt down and whispered ‘
Norgober’s reach extends everywhere. None who dismiss him is safe. Run now and let everyone know’. The child slowly backed away, standing there, in shock. Tanar walked back up to the Lord. The katana punctured his chest without noise. The Lord died almost instantly, just letting out a small wheeze as air escaped his lungs. Tanar pulled out a small candle and placed it in the wound, lit it and headed for the window. Before he left, he turned once more and looked at the child. The boy started walking towards the door, Tanar knew he didn’t have long. Opening up the window, he threw across a grappling hook to a nearby guard tower. He swung and as he reached the tower, he heard shouting in the keep. It was time to go, and quickly. He managed to jump across the wall and make a run for the nearby forest.
It took 4 days before the guards lost his trail. Eventually he made his way back to the school. For the first time, he saw all of his masters before him. Seven of them, standing there. He was presented with various pieces of equipment to aid him. Boots that made him faster, anklets so he could climb the slipperiest of slopes and even upside down, a cloak to help him blend further into the shadows, a chain shirt that seemed to leak out darkness around him and various weapons and tools. After 8 years of training, of total immersion in the ways of the Ninja, he had become a silent assassin. The Ninja Masters gave Tanar Zetzi a new name, The Abyssal Blade.
By the time Tanar was 23 years old, he and Samael had grown to be a part of each other, they thought the same way, acted the same, virtually were the same. One day while traveling to his next mission, Samael heard from a messenger sent by Baphomet. Samael was to use his physical body to serve Lamashtu. For reasons not disclosed to Samael, she needed him to try end the war between Gazra and Gilliad. He was to kill a general, get the other country to go on a full rampage. Samael transmitted this divine message to Tanar. With glee at the thought of a new and challenging kill, Tanar and Samael started their quest. Under the cover of Jez Dauwer, they set off in search of their prey.