Royale

[Seasick]

So, this is my new fanfic. I'd like to thank my two awesome co-authors who have helped me and I hope will continue to help me as we unfold the secrets in Royale, Vito_Lucente and Incinerator!


Chapter 1:

1911, Bermuda Triangle


The small sailboat fought against the strong waves, the picture of two crossed muskets on it's left side along with it's name to the right of the Muskets, Le guerrier de fer. On board were three French men, who had agreed to transport an American man named Benjamin McCormick, who spent most of the trip sulking in the corner or the ship's main room. He hadn't removed his tan trench coat, or his boots, or even his bowler hat. His somewhat evil yellow eyes, paired with his red beard made for quite a spectacle. He sat, there, humming some Mozart tune, and it was starting to annoy Pierre LeFont, a newer Crewman. His knew the song, of course. But Benjamin had been humming it over and over again since the left. From what Pierre understood, he was a Pinkerton Agent. But in his mind, it didn't give him the right to be so annoying. The ship lurched again, making Pierre uncomfortable. Night was coming fast, and it was hard to see at night. They'd probably have to stop, but there was something in the air...Something that smelled almost like....Hell. The air was thick, and warm. A steady brezze blew against the ship's windows. The captain, Haden Cullen, shouted down, "Die Winde sind zu stark! Wir gehen zu müssen, entweder für die Nacht oder an eine ruhigere Gewässer!". Benjamin looked to Pierre, "What did he say?" he asked, to which Pierre responded, "He says we're either going to need to stop or continue to calmer waters.". Ben sighed, "Great." Suddenly, the window behind Pierre broked, sending shattered glass into his head. He dropped his book, entitled Die Tragödie von Hamlet, Prinz von Dänemark, and tumbled to the floor, dead. "Oh, God!" Benjamin screamed as a black air filled the boat. He felt himself spinning, then he tripped and fell, but he didn't feel himself hit the ground. There he remained, falling into a bit of darkness for what seemed like an eternity.

Comments Suggestions? Questions? Feel free to share!


PS: No, I don't know why there's a frowny face representing the thread.

[Vito_Lucente]

I like how it turned out! Did you just randomly put a frowny face there?

[Doctor Tivilon]

You've got the skills to write, my friend, but you really need to focus on coming up with new ideas. The lack of originality in this part of the forums is laughable. I really do mean this in the nicest way possible.

EDIT: seriously, what's up with the frowny?

[Seasick]

You've got the skills to write, my friend, but you really need to focus on coming up with new ideas. The lack of originality in this part of the forums is laughable. I really do mean this in the nicest way possible.

EDIT: seriously, what's up with the frowny?

First, this was just a very standard, safe opening. I wanted it to be kind of basic, and not get too wild.

Second, I REALLY don't know what happened with the frowny face lol.

[themaster]

That was awesome. The smiley face (or frowny face) in the title made it that much more epic. Well done.

[Seasick]

Chapter 2:


Benjamin started fading in and out of consciousness about Seven hours later. When he eventually became fully conscious again, he found himself on a wooden bar with a figure standing over him. As his eyes came into focus, the figure spoke.

"Good....Just take it easy, you'll be okay."

Benjamin muttered something, to which the man chuckled.

"Don't worry, I'm a doctor." The man said.

The man had a big, bushy beard with some slick sideburns. His face was wrinkled and kind, matching his grey hair and bushy eyebrows well. His green eyes focused on Benjamin's face as he injected him with something that made Benjamin feel better, more aware.

"Call me Patch." The man said. "Everyone else does."

"Where am I?" Benjamin asked, rubbing his head.

"You're in Hannigan's Tavern. It's a small pub, run by a guy named Fargus Hannigan a long time ago." Patch answered.

"Anyone else here?" Benjamin asked.

"A few others. There's my wife, Margaret, up on the roof. She keeps those...Demons away with her musket. Everyone else is out Scavenging. They should be back soon, matter of fact."

Benjamin nodded. "Where'd you find me?" to which Patch sighed, saying,

"There was some riot about a half hour ago. Crazies with their Repeaters shooting at each other. Naturally, I locked the doors and got down, Colt in hand, when you come tumbling down the stairs. Woulda shot yeh if ya hadn't been twitching. So, for the the Karma I fixed you up."

"Well that's all well and good, but I ought to be going. Got a lady to find and I have a deadline to meet." Benjamin began, but Patch interrupted him.

"What year are you from, kid?"

Benjamin turned, a confused look on his face. "Born in 1882, got here in 1911. Why?"

Patch sighed. "I was born in 1922, believe it or not."

Benjamin snorted, "Sorry guy, I ain't fooled by that War of the Worlds mumbo jumbo."

Patch laughed. "That's what they all say, kid. You said you came here looking for a Woman? I came here because I got this letter requesting my help in the state of Kansas. Middle of a farm. All the Sudden, got real cold out. Even though it was noon the skies looked like it was ten at night. A thick, black fog came all around me, then I trip and fall, Just to find myself in front of the Music Hall, where I was rescued by Margaret. You should go talk to her. Just up the stairs, third door on the left."

Benjamin nodded slowly, then stepped away from the cracked wooden door to the outside, and instead heading for the stairs. The floor creaked as he walked, the faint sound of mice and bugs skittering across the floor present. He grabbed hold of the rusted metal rail as he went of the stairs, his other hand brushing the faded green wallpaper with a pattern of fluers-de-lise. As he rounded a corner on the stairs, he came to a short hallway and proceed quickly to the third door on the right, opening it, he found himself on the roof of the building. He stopped, dead in his tracks.

The entire sky was pitch black, and through the streets a cold, dark fog blew. As he stepped on the stones covering the roof, he saw a Woman in Victorian-style dress pointing a musket at him. Before he could say anything, he heard a pop. He flattened himself on the roof as a window to a building across from Hannigan's shattered. Before Ben could get up, he fealt the sharp tip of a blade on the back on his neck.

"Move and i'll gut you." Said a woman's voice, in a growl.

"Margaret? It's Margaret, right?!?" Ben said, frantically. The blade slowly lifted off his neck as a Woman stepped in front off of him, offering him a hand. He grabbed it, and as he got up he saw her full attire.

She wore a torn pink dress with torn white gloves, complete with a tasseled wig. Her face was heavy-set, and she was surprisingly young.

"You're not the fighting type, are you, kid?" Margaret said, leaning on her musket, making a disgusted face.

"You got a jump on me, that's all." Ben said. "Where'd you get that thing?"

Margaret guffawed. "Albert's Armament's, down the street from the Music Hall. Now, if you don't mind, there a Freaks everywhere."

Ben nodded, "Oh, of course...of course.", and he ran back downstairs.

"Patch, thanks for fixing me up." Patch nodded, focused on something he was tinkering with at the bar.

"Hate to ask, but do you have any..Weapons, or something?"

Patch sighed. "Nope. Check the weapon store by the Music hall."

Ben sighed, then noticed a hammer leaning against the door to the outside.

"What about that? Looks sturdy."

Patch sighed again, "It's a weapon if you want it to be, kid."

Then, picking up the Hammer, Ben stepped out onto the cobblestone streets, closing the door behind him.
----

Chapter 3 coming soon.

[Seasick]

Chapter 3:


Ben stepped onto the cobblestone, and could now fully absorb where he was. To the east, he saw a large Clock tower. He blinked. Looks like that one in London. he thought, yet looking forward, to the South, he saw a landmark he knew he had seen. The White House. He turned around, planning to go back in Hannigan's, only to find all the windows broken, and where a door once stood, cobwebs gathered. The floors were torn up, and what remained of the stylish wallpaper was on the floor, in pieces. He was speechless, sitting against the wall of what was Hannigan's. He buried his head in his hands and, suprising to even him, quietly sobbed for about an hour, Before passing out.


---


He heard a crash, and a bloodcurdling scream. He sat up, Hammer at the ready, and saw that to the Northeast, there was a man. He stood in workers overalls with a grey shirt, a flat hat, and no shoes. He was looking down at a tipped over Popcorn stand, with all this popped popcorn piled up on the street.He slowly turned his head, and smiled. His teeth were sharpened to a point. All of them. His eyes were all black. He made a sound...like a mix between a cackle and a scream. With that, he pulled out a kitchen knife from a pocket and charged. Of course, it wasn't the weapon that scared Ben. It was the...thing...holding it. Ben managed to roll to his left just in time, as the thing tripped and sailed into the Tavern. Taking the chance, Ben quickly got up and sprinted East, as he heard more screams and footsteps behind him. Then, he heard his worst fear. Gunshots bullets zooming past him. He saw his chance to his right, an alley, and lept inside, curling up next to some trash bags to try and hide. Sure enough, it worked, as the large group of people sprinted past.

[Seasick]

Chapter 4:


Okay... Ben thought. I've been here for what, an hour? Time to get moving.


He slowly stood up, grabbing his Hammer firmly in his left hand. Exiting the alley, he looked to the East, and squinted his eyes. A bright light flashed, accompanied by sounds of Fireworks and music.

Safe bet that's the way to the Music Hall. he thought, and with that he started East.


Though, after about ten steps he stopped. Every step made him increasingly more light-headed than the last. He felt cold, as drops of sweat fell off his forehead and onto the street. He had to continue on, though. Two last steps, then he fell on his side. He heard the impact echo, and lay there frozen, when he spotted graffiti scratched onto a nearby brick wall next to the entrance door of a store named Samuel's Film Reels and Records. Though, it wasn't the fact it was there that disturbed him, not at all. It was what it said.


IT'S A GAME...R.M., and below the graffiti was a dead rat, nailed to the brick wall by it's neck.

Sitting up ever so slowly, Ben approached the wall and ran his fingers along the graffiti. For some reason, it comforted him. Like the way he imagined a mother's voice would comfort a baby, or a bone would comfort a Dog. With that, he continued East, looking out for more graffiti. Once again, each step made him feel increasingly lightheaded, but he couldn't stop. Not as in he didn't want to...he physically couldn't stop walking. He wanted to stop. Wanted to rest. But his body kept moving East. He even puked, felt it dribble down his chin, on his shirt, down his pant leg and into his shoe, finally wetting his sock. He heard his heartbeat, felt his head throb. He wanted to stop, Oh god, that would have been bliss. But he kept going. As if he were hypnotized. By then, he only heard White Noise, bloodcurdling screams, and the pounding of his heart. His vision started to blur. His body wanted to drop, but some force would not let go. Ben closed his eyes shut, tried to black out, but he still felt the pounding. Felt more vomit gurgling up his throat. Finally, as if weights were lifted off his shoulders, he fell. He didn't mind the pain that followed, he just sat, happy as a Clam, regaining his senses. But a noise caught his attention.

It was a high pitched cry, not unlike an ape. He felt a breath against his hair and face, felt hands poking at him, and when he opened his eyes, he saw a creature, hunched over, looking him right in the eye. It's skin was all grey, covered in a sticky clear substance. It's eyes were all white, and it's ears were little more than scars on it's head. It's small, muscular body was covered in strange tribal scars and tattoos, and it's nose was no more than two holes. It had no mouth. It's feet were weebed, and lastly, it's spine stuck out like a scared cat's. Then, something happened. The skin beneath it's nosehole tore apart, revealing that it had a 'mouth'...but it was a hole. No teeth, no tongue, no gums, no throat. It looked up at the sky and howled, but it was broken and high-pitched. In the distance, several howls responded. It looked at Ben, pulled out a strange metal tube, and knocked him out.

[Vito_Lucente]

I'm glad I get to read these beforehand, I like it! I feel like I should contribute something more substantial than just my approval though...

[Seasick]

You and Incinerator, as my co-authors, CAN do more XD. You can make suggestions, Come up with ideas, write chapter drafts of your own, Even come up with concept art for characters and locations :3

[Seasick]

Chapter 5 pt. 1:

"Mondays is for drinking to the Seldom Seen kid..."

Ben groaned. His left cheek felt cold. The tune had stopped, as whoever had been singing it looked at him. He dropped a metal object, then got up, and walked over to Ben, nudging him with his left foot.

"Bud, you alright?" He said, crouching next to him. He patted him on his scalp, sighing.

"Wmhmph...." Ben mumbled, rolling over on his back, eyes still closed.

"Get the hell away..." He spoke half-heartedly, and got nothing but a grunt in return.

"Fine, said whoever was with him. "Not like I give two ☺☺☺☺s about you." He got up, and walked away, sitting back down in his original spot, he began singing a different tune.

"Somewhere....Beyond the Sea...."

"Wait..." Ben said. He tried to sit up, but could not, so he just opened his eyes. He was in a cell, which was strangely tidy, with the only mess being Rat droppings on the floor.

"Who are you?" Ben asked, finally sitting up, though he felt unbelievably light-headed.

"Is it that important who I am? The way I see it, you're identity is far more important."

Ben looked at the man, and their eyes met. The Man wore a green, hooded cloak. He was old. His face was full of wrinkles, and he had a grey beard, which hung below his chin. He wore a strange leather armor, with rings on the chest peace, Fingerless leather gloves, Leather pants, also with rings on it, and modified Work Boots, with steel welded on the top, where his toes were. He also had a piece of metal bolted onto his left shoulder.

"Wha....?" Ben asked.

"They're after you. You're....special."

"The hell? Who are you?" Benjamin said, now fully awake, and angry.

"My name is no longer important. Now i'm known as only three things. The Shephard, The Warden, and The Redeemer."

"I didn't ask for your damn nicknames. Who the hell are you?!?" Benjamin yelled.

The Man sighed. "My birthname was Raul Mencia. I was born in Mexico City in 1964, and my parents crossed into America in 1987. I decided to tag along. Now, it's your turn."

Benjamin shrugged. "Benjamin McCormick. I was born in Pennsylvania, and I worked for the Government. I was sent here to find a Girl."

Raul raised his eyebrows. "Oh, who is this girl?"

Benjamin furrowed his, "Codename Alice. She's believed to be the 'daughter' of an Island Tribe Chief in Bermuda, but apparently not."

Raul smirked, "I think...we could be of use to eachother." He offered up a wide, yellow-toothed grin.

Ben cocked his head, "Like what?"

At this, Raul stood. "The people here, all o' them, In this Prison, are slaves."

Ben was puzzled. "What?"

"They are all apparitions of real people. The Guards, the Prisoners...."

"You?"

"No!...no, no......Sorry. I just get a tad Defensive. Now, we can kill them with conventional methods, like firearms and such, yet they are tougher than us, almost invincible. It'd take more than a few fatal shots to drop one. However, Not long ago, in the Sewers, I found an bottle of pills in a cabinet, yet only one was inside. It was a sphere-shaped black pill, and across the container it said, in black ink, 'LAST RESORT'."

[Seasick]

Chapter 5 part 2:

Ben interrupted, "What'd you do?"

Raul shook his head. "I took it. It took about an hoir until something....happened. I was sitting against a wall, when a voice echoed throughout the Sewers. It said something along the lines of, '' No están dispuestos a adaptarse al espíritu de nuestra revolución! No los quiero! Nosotros no los necesitamos!''....I don't know what he said, though. After that, I heard so many things, I couln't make out anything, then I passed out. When I awoke, I was tied to a pole, and a circle of demons had formed around me, all scrawny, hunch backed, and sharp toothed. I looked into their tiny eyes, their peculiar noses and jaw, when one of them bit me, starting my mauling....I was so frightened, but then, my head gave a massive throb, and an arrow soared through the air, going right into one of the demon's skulls. Then, a shadow darted across the street, and two other monster's necks split open. The last one got into a defensive stance, but a figure seemingly materialized behind him, and snapped his neck. The figure was about 6 feet tall, and wore a black hooded cape. He had a burlap mask, with a single eyehole. But, the strange thing was there was a part that was sagging...like a...like a snout. It also had this strange black armor on, and black gloves. There was a yellow eye peeking out of it's one eyehole. It pulled out a hatchet, and swung. It missed by a hair, and instead of hitting me, hit the rope. I took the opportunity, and ran for my life. But then, I was hit with a dart, and woke up here about a week ago."

Ben blinked, "So, you made a monster, but another came in?"

"I think so. Wait, I have an idea....." Raul closed his eyes, focused very hard, and doubled over in pain. Yet, in front of Ben, a black pill dropped.

"Take it...." Raul choked out. Ben showed no hesitation, and swallowed the pill. For him, it only took ten seconds.

"Four Score and Seventeen years ago...."

"I am not a crook!"

"I am going to stop calling you a white man, and i'd appreciate it if you'd stop calling me a black man...."

"A hun, gaping at the gates of Rome. Even the air you breath...."

"Ladies and Gentleman, The 44th President of the United States...."

"Is our Children Learning?"

"AAAAGH!!!!!" Ben cried. He fell to the floor, his head was visibly throbbing.

Suddenly, a loud whistling sound occurred,and a Woman appeared. Clifford's head hurt even more.

"Well, look at you, Benjamin! That's what you get for going out without a coat! Let's get you some hot chocolate and medicine...."

[Seasick]

Chapter 5 part 3:

Ben froze. He knew that voice. Raul stifled a laugh.

"M-Mom?"

"Yes, dear?" His mother was slim, healthy, happy. Her teeth were perfect, her skin not a sickly grey. Her eyes were full of energy.

"I-"

"No, no talking. Drink." She shoved a mug of Hot Milk in front of him.

"Where'd you get this?" Ben asked.

"From the kitchen. I'm shocked you've forgotten where we keep milk!" She laughed....Her laugh was beautiful, and contagious. The whole cell eventually was full of smiles and laughter, yet it all suddenly stopped.A weird whirring sound could be heard outside the cell, and there stood another Woman. Her skin was a pale-grey, her teeth were yellow, her tongue was white. Dried Vomit was stuck on her chin and on her polka-dot dress. Her hair, what little she had, was thin and grey, making her head visible. Her face was wrinkled slightly, a purple darkness had replaced her eyes, as it just poured out of her sockets like smoke. Dried mucus could be seen in her nose. It sounded like she was congested, as well.

She screamed, letting black-purple smoke come out of her mouth as well.

"How uncouth!" Benjamin's healthy mother stated. Raul sighed, pulling out a blackjack from the back of his pants. He went to swing at her scalp, but out of nowhere, Benjamin grabbed his arm. "NO!" he yelled.

Raul yelled, while trying to break free,

"She's a Monster!"

"She's my Mother!"

"She's possessed!"

"She's sick!"

"Look into her eyes!"

"Look into your heart!"

Suddenly, Raul lost his footing, allowing Ben to toss him back against a wall. Ben them reached through the bars, pulling the thing, that was so much more than a monster to him, close. Just as the thing bared it's fangs, the Chk-Chk of a Pump-Action Shotgun was heard, and then a deafening bang was heard. For a full minute, Ben hugged his 'Mother'. Then, he just let go. She fell back, the top of her head was completely gone. A guard, on the the second floor, stared down at the body, his face emotionless.

"YOU BASTARD!" Benjamin screamed at him. "YOU KILLED HER!"

Before he could say more, Raul had covered his mouth and pulled him back. He held a firm hand over Ben's mouth and nose until he passed out. His 'Mother', exclaimed, "Oh Dear!" Before simply vanishing, along with her less than friendly Doppelganger. Then, Raul picked up Ben, and flung him over his shoulder. He closed his eyes and focused. A Soldier appeared, with some Explosives.

"Plant them." Raul said.

"Yes, sir." The soldier replied, and he planted the Explosives on the Prison wall. The Wall exploded, as darknss poured into the prison, and Raul, wiith Ben on his shoulder, stepped outside, into the darkness.

[Vito_Lucente]

So I assume the chapter I wrote is next?

It's going awesomely by the way.