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Scamall The Clanless Knight

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History (Unfinished)

Origins

Born to an unknown family, Scamall (Pronounced "Skom-ull") was found in infancy in a reed basket, floating in the River Uisce ("Ish-Ka") of the Beithíoch ("Bay-hee-ock") Forest. Cold and alone, help came in the form of his adoptive father, Draoi (Dree). Draoi was the local druid of the Brethren of the Forest, the courageous few who braved the dark forest, even daring to make it their home. Seeing no alternative, Draoi raised the infant as his own, naming him "Scamall", meaning "cloud", after noticing his tendency to daydream. Scamall was taught by his foster father the art of magic and, while he never fully mastered it, showed considerable determination and skill for his young age, even by Draoi's standards. One day, Draoi was sent by the clan chieftain to the Spiral Castle, bringing with him items and techniques to revolutionise alchemy, an advanced technique even then. Bringing his son along, Draoi told him about the Spiral Order, an army the likes of which the world had never seen before. Scamall was fascinated by his father's stories of them, and even more so when he saw the fabled Knights in action. He resolved then and there to become a Knight, and make a name for himself.

Joining the Spiral Knights at 12 for his 5-year training regimen, Scamall was confident in his abilities, for over the years, he had been trained by the Brethren in the arts of hunting and battle. He quickly adapted to the training the Knights imposed on him and, with his extensive knowledge of magic passed down by his father, impressed even the most decorated Knights. However, his social skills were lacking, and he found himself to be the butt of many a joke by his peers, known by most as the "teacher's pet" and "the thieving forest creature". The strict code the Knights enforced prevented his retaliation, and so the slurs continued. One such recruit pitied him and, deciding he'd had enough, told the others to leave Scamall alone. Needless to say, they turned on her, and in doing so, incurred Scamall's wrath. In a training exercise, he beat the culprits in a four-on-one battle, leaving them severely injured and shamed. Visiting his fellow victim in the medical ward, he thanked her for what she did, and she him, complimenting his ability. Scamall asked for her name, and she replied with "Kara", allowing a friendship to blossom.

At 17, Scamall and Kara had graduated from the Academy, and were inducted into the order formally as Spiral Knights. They learned that a large number of Knights were heading off on a rescue mission to retrieve the Flagship Skylark Beta, which went down on a planet it was studying. With several hundred thousand others, much to Scamall's confusion, Spiral Fleet headed out. Arriving in the target planet's orbit, Knights noted several anomalies irratiating from the planet's surface. This was proven to be pure Energy. Unfortunately, a large number of energy flares short-circuited the entire fleet, leaving it succeptibe to the planet's unusually strong gravitational pull. All Knights raced for the escape pods, but the unnecessarily large number of Knights meant that some had to be shared, and extremely uncomfortable and hazardous option, though considerably better than suffocating in the vacuum of space. Scamall shoved Kara into his escape pod, despite her protests, and ran, hoping that there were spare pods on the bridge. To his luck, two were left, the shortage of officers having worked to his favour (Many of which had fallen to earth with the original Skylark). Leaving the other pod for any last-minute stragglers, Scamall got in, pressed the button, and jettisoned, dangerously close to the planet's atmosphere.

Out of the Fying Pan...

Waking months later due to the crash impact, Scamall suffered some degree of amnesia. He could only remember his identity, flashes from his childhood, memories of his father, parts of his training, and the name "Kara". Musing over this, he inspected his heavily-damaged escape pod. His life-support system had preserved him for months, albeit in a comatose state, due to the natural Energy radiating from the earth itself. Horrified at what he may have missed out on in the preceding months, he checked his HUD. HQ had gotten the Uplink working again, and he saw that the Knights were still stranded on the planet (to his almost relief), dubbed Cradle. He recieved a message from HQ informing him to travel immediately to the nearest Rescue Camp, located a few miles northeast. With one last look at his shelter for the last few months, Scamall armed himself, and set out.

By nightfall Scamall had reached his destination. The Rescue Camp contained little more than some tents and shelters made from old escape pods, but the Knights there seemed happy enough. Scamall regained some of his fighting skill in a training simulation built underground, not knowing it was there before the Knights had ever encountered this planet. Passing training with ease, he had won respect from his other party members, who directed him to those in charge of the rescue camp. From these people Scamall learned of what had transpired in the months following the Grand Disaster. The Knights formulated a plan to extract a boundless energy from the planet's Core to repair the Skylark, though they have no way to retrieve it as of yet. Scamall, seeing an opportunity to make himself known, took on the challenge of travelling to the Core, eliminating every monster on the way down, and finding a way to save his people. He just didn't have a single idea on how to do that.

It is here that Scamall begins his journal logs, detailing his time on Cradle.

Safe Haven

The time came for Scamall to leave, and he was guided to the elevator leading to what was known among his peers as The Final Test. On the walk over, he looked down the sides of the bridge and saw gargantuan gears churning beneath the land. It was here that he was informed of the Clockworks, and that it is there he would be venturing. Feeling slightly cold at the thought of perishing in an underground cavern where none would find him, he decided to show no mercy to any that would dare harm him and his fellow Knights. Travelling in a party of four, Scamall blazed through the underground dungeons, though he overestimated his condition. He was still weak from his comatose slumber, and a lot of his energy was spent fighting for survival. As such, he arose from the Clockworks battered and bruised, but very much alive, thanks to the help from his team. Scamall reassessed his goals, and sought to better himself before attempting to descend as far as the Core.

It was morning when Scamall arrived in Haven, and he was seeking some form of hospitality, as well as answers. Approaching a rather stately-looking Knight, Scamall inquired about various issues that were plaguing him: training facilities, armour and weapons vendors, anyone with information. The Knight, named Cort, directed him towards the Arcade, and recommended the Bazaar to him as well, for Scamall had yet to replace his Proto gear. Scamall, after much sidetracking, arrived at the Arcade, and was briefed by Leiutenant Feron on the situation. Now knowing what he was up against, Scamall made it his life's goal to play a part in the Order's escape from the planet, or die trying.

The Ally

Days had passed, and Scamall was having serious difficulty coping with the underground hordes of the Clockworks. His amnesia had forced his practically encyclopedic knowledge and experience as a fighter out of his head. His gear was almost ineffective against monsters from Stratum 2 onward. To top it off, energy costs were rising, making crafting a lot tougher. He needed to find help. One day in particular marked a milestone for him.

Like all other days, Scamall had the daily grind to the Clockwork Terminal. Like all other days, he would continue until the going got too tough, by which point he would return the next day. Not this day. Scamall had arrived in the company of his first ally, a Cobalt-clad clan member by the name of Meekish. Scamall remained in his company beyond the terminal, venturing to Stratum 2. Meekish's skills as a fighter were adequate for this depth, but he was more often than not saved by his Cobalt Armour. Scamall studied the armour's durability as they fought downwards, and decided to acquire a set for himself. At depth 8, however, Meekish's luck had run out, and he was brutalised by a pack of Wolvers. Scamall was forced to use the hunting technique he had learned from his childhood, "Kiting" to group the beasts together, then shot them down. Meekish, impressed, proposed an alliance with his new comrade, and together they set off for the first of the fabled "subtowns", Moorcroft Manor. Scamall, unable to progress further, took the elevator back to Haven, with Meekish promising that they would fight together again.

Plan of Action

The following day, Scamall was in the Bazaar, attempting to craft a weapon to slaughter the subterranean beasts of the machine. Lacking the proper knowledge of weaponry, having been comatose for months before, he bought a Beast Basher, traded for materials with some other Knights, and began upgrading it to the Big Beast Basher. In the process of this, he heard a familiar yell. He turned to see Meekish greeting him. Upon engaging each other in conversation, Meekish told Scamall of his plan to raid the Gloaming Wildwoods, and slay the legendary Beast King, the Snarbolax. Scamall, eager to test out his new weapon, followed Meekish to the Arcade elevator, and the two descended. Depth after depth, Scamall's pickaxe grew in strength, and he felt confident in its ability to destroy the Beast King, for, in Scamall's eyes, it was the pick's true purpose. Shortly before arriving at the Terminal, Scamall and Meekish encountered Sightt, a female Knight with a thirst for wealth. She had journeyed to the Clockworks to uncover the fabled Snarbolax's treasure, said to have been claimed from fallen warriors. With Scamall's skill, Meekish's knowledge and experience, and Sightt's unshakeable determination to claim her reward, the team felt certain that their trial would be a breeze. It wasn't.

The Gloaming Wildwoods

The team's resolve was virtually shattered upon arriving in the forest. The trees themselves whispered with malice, and Scamall felt eyes watching him at all times. Every turn he made, he caught a flash of scarlet before whatever it was vanished, leaving only dread in its wake. The team was forced to fight for their lives through beast and bone, fighting not only the native creatures of the woods, but the restless souls and skeletons of those claimed by the forest. Though despair permeated the team's spirit, Scamall's pick swung with courage, as though it had a mind of it's own. Every so often the team would see the Beast King itself, standing at its fullest height, awe-inspiring and terrifying at the same time, before vanishing, allowing its underlings to attack the Knights. Meekish said that the woods were three floors deep, and that the Beast's lair lay at the bottom, as did its treasure. Each time they saw the Beast it would attempt to weaken them in any way possible, from discouraging them, to injuring them, to killing them. Scamall, though unnerved, remained defiant, declaring his ability to survive against impossible odds. Warning against overconfidence, Meekish also advised to make use of bells placed around the woods, citing their overwhelming effect on beasts. Sightt, remaining solely focused on their goal, eventually reached the final elevator down, and reasoned that the Beast must be devastating in battle for the treasure to be so legendary. In a final moment of preparation, the team descended, with Scamall uttering a battle cry.

Journal

Spiral Knight ID: Scamall

Age: 17

Place of Origin: Unknown

Log Entry 01: Origins

"As I sit here, cold and far from home, watching the Knights who have made this camp theirs, I write in this journal, this tablature, recording my thoughts. I remember little, yet I know enough, at least, I think I do. Should this be found by a fellow Knight, or any sentient creature, in my post-mortem years, let me introduce myself. I am Scamall, Knight of the Order, and through this vessel I make myself known. You may wonder to yourself, "What order of knights?", and, since I have much free time as of late, I am inclined to reply. I shall tell you what I know of my life so far, and perhaps document my future travels, since my memory cannot serve me well enough to fill a proper autobiography. Said travels will commence tomorrow, for I need rest. That's enough of an introduction, now, but you'll forgive me if I confess to not knowing when to stop talking.

"I was born on the Homeworld to an unknown family. I was found in a river, in a basket of reeds. I never knew my birth parents, only the druid Draoi, of the legendary clan of thieves, the Brethren of the Forest, who raised me. He taught me many things, all useless in this foreign Cradle of madness. He often found me atop the Great Irontree, staring at the sky, thinking, wondering, about the great beyond; Is there life out there? Where? Will we ever find it? What will happen then? My reputation as a dreamer was such that he gave me this name: "Scamall", from the ancient language of the Gaelic tribes, meaning "Cloud".

"In my later childhood I was brought to the Kingdom, where I fell in love with the lives led by the heroic Spiral Knights. I aspired to be one of them, to bring honour and glory to my people. Once I was of age, I left the forest to start my new life as a Knight. The training was tough, but my determination and training, the latter of which bestowed upon me by my Brethren, helped me pull through. I remember a name from my training... someone called... Kara? Who is this person?

"We graduated from the Academy in time for the Council of the Spiral Wardens to announce a grand expedition to space. I was excited, to say the least. We learned that we would be a part of the Spiral Fleet, following the Flagship Skylark's expedition throughout the cosmos to save its crew from a grim fate. I was stationed aboard the cargo carrier, the Pelican. After a few weeks travel, we spied an odd planet with a strange terrain, as though parts of the land had been relocated. This was it, all right. Soon after, our energy readings went off the charts, and the Fleet fell to the planet's surface, immobilised by the energy flares. I was ordered to evacuate the ship, as it was only a matter of time before the whole Fleet fell. There was chaos. All Knights fled to the escape pods and were jettisoned towards the planet. With all the commotion, I barely managed to make it to an escape pod. A lot of others had to share, and I suspect many weren't as lucky as I."

Log Entry 02: The Cradle

"I fell from the frying pan, and, it seemed, into the fire. The crash was devastating. My vitals were damaged, and I was put in stasis while life support mended my broken body. I had flashes of my life up 'till that point, and I was certain I was to die there. Fortunately, the planet's radiant energy kept the life support system going long enough for me to make a full recovery. I awoke to refreshing breaths of air, and an aching head. Dazed, I thought only of where I was, and how far I was from home. It was here that I realised that I had forgotten a lot about home. Still, I was contented with the sufficient knowledge I had, and turned my attention to my "not death". I was astonished, yet relieved. Most fortunate that I can live in this environment. I checked my escape pod, and it seemed to be far too damaged to do any more. I removed the energy tank from it and transferred the energy to my suit. How very lucky that my suit can run on this endlessly replenishing supply.

"I checked my HUD and, to my astonishment, the Uplink was working! The surviving Knights must have been busy in the last few- months? No, it can't be! The date must have malfunctioned... How long was I in stasis? How damaged was my body? Where... AM I? Oh, a message. It said something about a rescue camp nearby. It must have been built while I was out. What else have I missed? I decided to head out to that camp, armed with my standard-issue Proto Gear and an ample supply of questions."

Log Entry 03: The Camp

"After a few hours, the sun started to set just as I arrived in the aforementioned camp. Brimming with questions, I asked the Knights in charge everything I wished to know. They gave many helpful tips and said to get to a city called Haven as soon as I could. I went to the training grounds with some fellow recruits and we learned the basics of combat in this planetary machine. I stayed in camp a day or two, checking the local vendor for supplies. I had little money, so I could ill afford the wares. The vendor, however, was twelve feet tall at least, and spoke with a rumbling voice. I was hesitant to approach him at first, as were the other recruits. He seemed friendly enough, however. It appears that these... beings are native to this world, but this one doesn't wish to engage in small-talk. Maybe there are more who can tell me about this place. To Haven!

"While at camp, I received an unusual message from a fellow calling himself Saxton Hale. This gentleman also requested me to visit Haven, but for reasons that would benefit his company. How did he get this Uplink address? I hope he isn't some sort of inter-dimensional businessman. I have enough problems as is."

Log Entry 04: Haven Town

"Travelling across these immense shifting paths had taken its toll on me. Incredible, how these gears have been here since before Skylark's Fall. Incredible still, how vicious its denizens can be. Despite my efforts, I was battered, bruised, and aching. My slumber had weakened me, something I feel shamed for. The Knights who accompanied me through the Depths were not doing so well either. Eventually, after much torment and pain, we arrived at a bright, sunny city; Haven. This sprawling metropolis has been home to many of the Spiral Order for months now. I guessed that many would be able to direct me to any source of information. Cort, a Knight patrolling the Town Square, directed me to the Arcade, and also advised me to visit the Bazaar. I strolled through on my way to this "Arcade", wondering what to buy, what quality these weapons were, and where I was going. After a while, I found myself in what appeared to be a mass of gateways to the Clockwork depths below. I approached the most important-looking Knight I could find, Lieutenant Feron. I remembered him from my training. He visited the training grounds every day to check on the recruits. He seemed to recognise me too, for he greeted me as he would an old friend. Perhaps he's just naturally friendly. He told me of his assignment from Captain Ozlo, another familiar name, to oversee a mining operation in the Clockworks. Apparently, once the Skylark went down, it lost it's primary tearium core. The Clockworks, however, have the key to getting every last Knight back home. If we could harness the boundless energy hidden deep at The Core, we could return home. We just need to acquire certain minerals in order to create a traversable path to the Core, and we should be good to go. This task sounds dangerous, but I'll give it all I have if it means getting every last Knight off this mechanical death trap. Onward!"

Log Entry 05: Alliance

"It's been several days, and it seems I'm no closer to getting to the Core than I was when I first got here. One thing is certain, however. The innumerable lifeforms lurking under our very feet are bloodthirsty. I would hereafter recommend travelling in a group. To get back home, every last Knight must fight as one, or perish as many. Fortunately, I have earned the respect and admiration of a fellow Knight in my travels, and we are now in constant contact should we decide to band together and fight through the Depths. This Knight is called Meekish, member of a local guild. We first fought in a dense jungle, and were nearly killed by its inhabitants. Carelessness does not become us. Fortunately, I managed to stay conscious long enough to shoot down the snarling beasts before they made a meal of us. Together, we made it to a small rest stop several Depths below the surface, Moorcroft Manor. Regrettably, I had no decent equipment, having just the standard Proto Gear from home. Meekish suggested we part ways for the time being, and I gladly agreed, needing time to gather better equipment. We met again the next day, in the Bazaar, while I was organising a trade with some Knights for some crafting materials. He told me of a fierce beast dwelling in the Gloaming Wildwoods. I was intrigued. He said he was mounting an expedition to slay the dreaded creature, for it had taken the lives of many inexperienced Knights. I agreed to the challenge, and we set off to kill this monster. To the Gloaming Wildwoods!"

Log Entry 06: Forest of Shadows

"I expected to find some simple forest, and was unnerved to find... this. I never, in all my time spent in the forest back home, imagined entering a place whose trees blocked out the sun, plunging its inhabitants into darkness. I see know how this shadowy creature preys on the unwary. I have only seen what I trust to be the eyes of the beast. Luminous, red orbs, three on each side of its dark face, glowing like the fires of Hell, radiating the monster's malevolence. Meekish seems to be focused on reaching its den, but I grow more cautious with every step I take. On our journey to the woods, we encountered a couple of Knights. One, either out of fear or lack of energy, chose to exit to Haven. The other, a Knight known as Sightt, stayed with us. As much as I admire her bravado, Sightt seems inexperienced... perhaps she, like myself, has never set foot in this cursed forest. Not too far now. Brace yourself, Snarbolax, for your end!"

Log Entry 07: Lair of the Snarbolax

"We found ourselves at the heart of the forest. I sensed eyes watching us, no doubt glowing red with the intent of murder. Following the path, we soon entered a large clearing, where bones littered the ground; This was it. I readied my newly-crafted Big Beast Basher, steeled for combat. The ground trembled beneath us, when suddenly the dreaded Snarbolax burst forth into the clearing. Our party dived for cover, shields raised to block the hedgehog-like spines being hurled at us like razor-sharp arrows. The beast darted left and right, dodging every attempt to strike it. How does it move so quickly? Does it simply burrow toward the smell of fresh blood? Or does it have an immense network of tunnels stretching throughout the entire forest? No time to wonder, as the monster chased after me, teeth snapping at my heels as I run for my life. Meekish and Sightt remained in the centre of the clearing, next to a thorny bushel, and a... bell. In our quest through the woods we saw similar bells that, when struck, played a sound whose frequency greatly weakened the beasts in its immediate vicinity. Perhaps... I ran toward Meekish, signalling to strike the bell when I was close enough, which he did. Success! The creature, who was completely immune to what few strikes we could make against its iron-strength spiny hide, was now stunned. No longer its original, ominous dark colour, it was now glowing yellow with vulnerability. Its six formerly red eyes were now glowing a yellowish-green. We strike! Alas, we could only damage the creature a certain amout before it flared up again, furious at our luck in finding its weakess. It's now a game of cat and mouse, with the cat becoming more and more frenzied with each successful attack against it. After what seemed like an eternity of combat, the creature, grown tired of our relentlessness, charged, inflicting great damage on the three of us. Sightt was nearly savaged, I suffered a concussion and started to see... things... Kara? Is that you? The hallucinations did not last, as Meekish dragged me to my feet, gave me a health capsule, and pressured me to finish the fight, going in my stead as the bait. As the Snarbolax chased him, closing in on his sprinting legs,I leapt forth, rang the bell, and swung my weapon with all my remaining strength. The beast stumbled, then fell, pickaxe buried in its skull. We had won! Meekish prised several fangs from the mouth of our former opressor as I tended to Sightt, who been gravely wounded in the battle. I offered what little health I had to her, asking her to accept, and she did so gratefully. Meekish divided the fangs among us evenly as tokens of our victory, and we headed toward the exit. There were plenty of spoils, no doubt dropped by fallen Knights. As we departed for Moorcroft Manor, I wondered: This creature had taken the lives of many. With all its ferocity, it could hardly be an endangered species. Could there be more?"

Log Entry 08: Armament

"Once I arrived back at Haven, I realised that our journey to the planet's core would not be that easy. I knew I had to arm myself, but how? With what? Fortunately, my fellow Knights had the answer. The most highly-decorated Knights in the Order, the Azure Guardians, used alchemy to create their base armour, and increase its strength tenfold. I could use a primary armour for swordfighting, and perhaps some specialised armour sets for specific strategies. I spent days gathering the materials and energy, and, in time, I crafted my own Cobalt armour set. It may not be much, but it should serve me well for now. I still needed a sword, so I managed to acquire a recipe for a Calibur from Kozma the quartermaster. It appears that the Calibur is also a part of the standard-issue Cobalt set, much like the Blaster and Blast Bomb, which I also crafted afterwards. Soon after my alchemic success, I ventured back to the Clockworks to test out my new gear."

Log Entry 09: Biting the Hand

"In the time following the Snarbolax's demise, it appeared I was correct. There were more. Fortunately, I have found a way to combat them, and all beasts for that matter. The fangs Meekish procured from the first Snarbolax will serve as the bedrock of this new equipment set. I took the fangs to Brinks, the token trader in the bazaar, who said he'd be happy to help me fashion them into a weapon. According to the survival guide posted in the Uplink, piercing damage is not only dealt by beasts, but is also their weakness. With the fangs, Brinks and I were able to fashion a fencing sword of sorts. He coined the term Snarble Barb as the official name of the sword. He requested that I use my new weapon to bring him more fangs to make more items. I did so, and I received a new shield, the Bristling Buckler. Lastly, though it took a while, he fashioned a bomb, the Spine Cone. I thanked him for his services, and hoped to work with him again soon. Ironic, how the beasts I slew provided me with the very weapons they are most vulnerable to."