Atlantic Roleplay Community Boards

[Dan]

---

"I have dishonored the Legion..."

...Dan muttered to himself as he approached Castle Blackguard. Problems had erupted within the ranks, problems from which were mixed with lies and deceit. Knowing full well of what true working had gone on that evening, he had spoken out without permission and without regard for what his peers would think.

...and it cost him dearly.

"Honesty, that is my virtue", he thought as he began to rise up the tall steps into the gates of Blackguard. He had been given a choice from his captain, to either hide the truth and deviate from his virtue, his moral, his ideal, or leave the Border Legion. Knowing full well what consequences were to come if either choice would have been made, Dan had taken a long and serious moment of reflection upon the decision that was upon him. This decision, from through his perception was a choice of right or wrong. Once he looked within and found this choice, he knew what answer he had to make for himself.

The right answer.

And so, having made his decision, he slipped out his body sash and folded his cloak at the table in front of him. Having it neatly packed into a small pile of clothing, his took the sanction scraps, and began his walk to the Blackguard.

Entering into the complex, he knew all too well where to find his Captain's office. After all, he had been there more than once for discussions, and those memorable discussions were something he would hold proud as an achievement of respect in his rank. Slowly striding towards the door, Dan's palm pushes upon it as the hinges slowly squeaked upon the frame. Hearing no man in occupation of the office, he finished his entry and pushed the door open to clear his path. Dan stepped into the office, and it was messy as usual to him. Provisions scattered here and there, an unfinished report always in its place at the Captain's desk, and the light from behind the captain's chair shining in onto the visitor's chair that sat opposite of it.

It was quite a sad scene for Dan, but alas it had to be done. He entered the room, quietly leaned down, setting the fabrics down upon the desk, and drew from his pocket a small scrap of paper that he had written as a message for Captain Gabriel. He glanced at the scrap, gave a sigh, and sat it onto the fabrics as well.

And that was it. That was to be the end of his days as a Sanction.

Taking a deep breath, he stood firm and swiftly turned to move out of the room with his head held high. Though sad inside, he could not show it those who may be watching, to any who may be watching. Moving down the steps and to the road, he looks to his right. To his right, would lead to the path through Sanctus and to their ally's territory, the House of the Gauntlet. The sun shown brightly as the path was illuminated, with flowers in their bloom as critter scurried about innocently. However, lightbringers, at that time, were perhaps the last people that he wished to be around at the moment, and so he turned his head...

...and looked out to the dank caves at his left. It looked quite deep, almost ominous. Almost tragic, in a sense, as he noticed the old splatters of blood from the new war that had been brought about through the battles to defend the Sanction lands. Though it looked intimidating, it was the only path, and this was a time when Dan had to, once again, find his own path.

And so, he moved out, and began to travel down the small stone steps and into the dark cave that had been made a key point to guard against the Order of the Ebon Skull. While walking down, Dan couldn't help but keep Sanctus's conflict in mind. The lives that had been lost trying to hold these tunnels, the pointless loss of guarding a virtue that he had not even heard been lectured about. Not once had he heard a Paladin teach him a lesson in virtue. As true a shame as it was, it was but none of his concern now.

By the time he had finished that thought, he thought he had made it through the caves, but had only reached what seemed like a barricade. Looking closer, he could tell that it "was" a barricade, but only the ruins and scraps of what once blocked back the evil from Umbra's lands. It looked crude now, even hollow, just as his heart was felt. Moving on, he walked across the bridge and began to ponder another thought into his mind to occupy such painful footsteps he had been taking. What of those that he would be turning his back to? What of Mallory, and her position as Mayor? Who else could Dan look to, to find her warm heartfelt hugs as a greeting? What of Synful, and her son Malakai? When would their patron headfigure return home and give them the care that so desperately deserved? Who would she and he lean to? What of the other women as well? What would become of them in this new war that had been launched upon them and their men?

A tear reached Dan's eye, and slid down his cheek as such images of their warming expressions rushed through his mind. As he hung his head down, he stopped his tracks and brought his palm upon his face to hide the tears. In the darkness that covered his eyes, he then began to see an old memory within his mind. Velvet, Greyskull, Baric, Doo Summ, everyone, all gathered around the porch of the villa, with but one message encrypted within his companion's eyes.

"Never look back"

"Never look back", Dan spoke aloud to himself, and grinned at the thought. He would not shame his old Order's ideals, the Order of the Praetorian Guard. He would not shame the family he had originated from. He knew that if they were with him, at that very moment, they would be telling him the very same thing.

Smiling, Dan brought his face back up to face down his path, and proceeded once more to the exit. Soon enough, through his emotional conflict in the darkness of the tunnels, the light shined out as he stepped out onto the path, onto the next phase of his life. What would it bring him? He did not know, but he did know that he would have to bury his regrets and move forward.

Move forward.

Alter Ego (part 1)