Skidrow

Backstory

Skidrow Overview:

Skidrow is an aggressive faction known for its brute strength and ability to intimidate the competition. They are not afraid to get their hands dirty and take action on their own. Skidrow doesn’t take orders from anyone and values strength above all else.

Personality: Aggressive, fearless, independent

Skills: Strength, combat, intimidation

Factions will be implemented to VerseX in the gaming world. Each faction will be assigned different tasks and challenges to complete. The character will be usable in both VerseX Gaming and Metaverse, although most skills will only be able to be used in VerseX Gaming.

Faction Backstory:

Power is in the many, he who is conceitful will eventually fall. Arrogance has no place mwith us, for 100 brains are better than one. Each individual being has value, at least those amongst us do.

The day I left was a sad day indeed, I loved my siblings, if only the feelings were reciprocated. I hated the arguing, I could never initially entertain any thoughts of being better than anyone. After all, we are all the same inside. That's the belief of my people. Terms like leader and hierarchy have no place here. I may have founded a place for these people but in no way am I better than any being here.

My Name is Dire Doe, Dire to my people. It seems such a long time ago since I last saw my brothers and sister but I have a new family now. Thinking back, the split was the best thing that had ever happened to me, it enabled me to grow and mature in ways I didn't think possible. Although, at the time of leaving them, I was broken, I missed my family.

As I wandered aimlessly through the streets of this land for months after the split, building shelter in any alleyway or doorway I saw fit, I began to grow warm to the idea of being a traveller. Having no place of permanent abode hadn’t affected me the way I thought it would, I actually relished the idea of being free, for if I had my health intact, I could call anywhere home. Surprisingly, it didn’t take long to develop the skills I needed to live, foraging for food and materials, learning crafts that I never would have been able to accomplish alongside my family. I hated the fact that I had nobody to show the skills I had learnt. Every moment of everyday, the fact that my family wasn't around to see the man I was becoming was eating away at me, a huge hole in my life that couldn’t be filled. What's the point in having a free life if I had nobody to share it with?

It was after these initial few months of wandering alone on a cold evening that I stumbled upon a large abandoned warehouse, the weather was relentless and I thought this would be a safe place to rest myself and keep warm out of the snow. So in I went, searching for the driest corner to rest my head for the evening. As I approached the back of the warehouse, I noticed a small light flickering weakly against the wall, revealing a symbol of some sort which appeared to be painted on the wall. I probably should have fled there and then, but my curiosity had taken a hold of me and was forcing me to continue towards the light. I drew nearer with great caution and realised that this light was actually a campfire surrounded by five to ten sleeping bags. Hung over the campfire was an iron pot which I assumed contained food of some sorts. The sleeping bags were ragged and overused and each one was headed with a hat which contained stitching of the same symbol that was painted on the wall. It looked like a skull if I'm honest, but the stitching was so deteriorated it was hard to tell.

Judging by the strength of the fire, the beings who lived in this building hadn’t been around for an hour or so. Did I have time to sneak a quick snack and leave before they returned? I knew I shouldn't have, but my hunger combined with the beautiful smell of cooked food got the better of me. I grabbed a bowl and swiftly poured some of the food from the pot into it. It didn't taste the best, but who was I to judge in this time of need? I wolfed it down, eating like a bear who had just risen from its hibernation. I reached back to the pot for a second helping, it was at this moment that I felt a cold object against the back of my skull. Followed by a male voice shouting aggressively. “What the hell do you think you're doing?” I was defenceless, caught red handed in this act of thievery, with my mouth still full with food I gulped and uttered “I was cold and hungry, I don’t want any trouble.”

“Kill him!” shrieked another voice from my rear. I closed my eyes, my body stiffened, anticipating the worst. Several seconds of silence passed, each one seeming like an age, awaiting the verdict of this unknown being, like a criminal awaiting the juror.

“No, we’ll get his brains all over our bed mats” he replied. Now talking to me he said “Turn around, slowly, try anything and it will be the last thing you ever do.” I turned as slow as physically possible, trying to reassure them with my body language that I meant no harm, my life depended on it..

Now facing the 3 beings in front of me, all of similar build, they weren’t well maintained and wore ragged clothing. I saw the metal object which had been firmly dug into the back of my head, it was a gun. The 2 other males now surrounded me. I knew there were other beings out there but I never assumed that they had grown so aggressive nor had they had the technology to build weapons. My naivety would be my downfall. “On your knees!” the gun wielder shouted. I dropped to my knees, with my head in my hands, whimpering words of plea, begging them not to do this in a bid to try and find any way out of this dooming dilemma.

After another few ageful seconds, accepting that this would be my fateful end, I felt the nub of the gun removed from my skull. I looked up in disarray, and to my surprise, the second man held in his hand another bowl. It was filled to the brim with more food. I was confused.

“B..But I stole from you.”

They all sniggered collectively, and one replied “We’re all thieves here lad! Come on eat. You owe us now though!” You could tell by their choice of words and general scruffy appearance that they weren’t very educated. With a relieved face. Gracefully, I accepted the food, my hands trembling as I took it from him.

They continued to be hospitable, offering me a sleeping bag and warmth in their circle. I didn't speak that night unless I was prompted by the others. I kept my fearful head down and eyes on the ground.

After an hour or so, more returned, bragging about their endeavours of pillaging local areas and showcasing their bounties to the rest of the crew. Some of the items they had acquired were quite impressive. I didn’t sleep much that night, and even thought about fleeing a few times, but I would be lying if I said that the company didn’t bring me the comfort I had been craving. So I stayed, curious to see how these people lived and perhaps I could be a part of their group.

Months progressed, joining them in their underground activities of stealing and extortion, and I began to grow familiar with this bunch, especially the leader, Drew. I didn’t once mention the fact that I was one of the first beings and to be honest they didn’t ask about my past. Our numbers were our strength, we had a strong head and with weapons to back our cause, nobody could mess with us.

For years we pillaged, took what we wanted when we wanted, without a care for any other being or how it affected their lives. I began to make a name for myself, Dire Doe they called me. I learnt many new traits. Stealth and nimbleness, I learnt not to care what others thought of me and only cared about what I alone wanted. I was as swift as lightning and learnt how to fight. I could dismantle and re-mantle a weapon in seconds, and I brought efficiency to the gang. So much so that I quickly rose through the ranks and became the second in command next to Drew.

As in any situation like this, I grew to think that I knew better than Drew, I often could see things clearer than he could and my decisions would usually lead to better bounties. One morning as we performed our usual briefing to the gang over the areas we would deliver our guns to and also which areas we would be stealing from, we got into a little scuffle over which were the most efficient routes to take to avoid other gangs and where would be the most bountiful. Naturally, he didn’t like this sudden defiance of his leadership and struck me across the face, as a father would do to his child when they spoke out of turn. To his surprise, I charged at him, knocking him to the ground. With me on top of him he shoved me off and said “So you think you can challenge me do you? Let's go then.” He charged at me with all his might and I dodged with ease, throwing him to the ground as I moved out of the way like a bullfighter ushering a bull to its demise. Several times this occurred without myself breaking a sweat. After the fourth or fifth time he got to his feet, looked me in my eyes and shook my hand.

“Well done son he said.” And that was that. I agreed out of pity that his routes were the best and we continued in our mission for the day. What happened next probably won’t surprise you, but at the time I couldn’t see it coming…

That night when I was sleeping, unbeknown what was coming my way, I was awoken by blows to my face and 5 bodies all surrounding me kicking and restraining my hands and feet. Had we been infiltrated? No, It was my own squad, turned against me, headed off by Drew throwing the blows, Saying things like, ‘Want to challenge my leadership?’ and ‘I’ll show you who the real boss is.’ It was at this point that I managed to kick my legs free and wriggle my way out of the manhandling I was receiving. The skills I had learnt were no match for anyone, I was too fast for any of our team to keep a hold of me. That is when Drew grabbed his gun and began to fire. I was too fast though, a moving target like me is hard to hit.Had he really just tried to have me killed over a little argument? Perhaps it was the embarrassment of being bested in front of the whole crew. Regardless, I had to get out of here.

As I fled, filled with the feeling of betrayal and hurt at the fact my own team, who I saw as family could do this to me, all I remember hearing was Drew screaming “I MADE YOU! YOU UNGRATEFUL PR*CK, I SHOULD HAVE PUT YOU DOWN LIKE THE WHIMPERING DOG YOU WERE! I WILL FIND YOU!”

I was alone again. Back to square one, I had to get as far away from that warehouse as possible. Night after night I kept out the light and stuck to hidden areas, avoiding the routes that our gang used to take. With the solitude,I began to realise the wrongness of my previous ways, how had I turned into such a terrible being? Taking ownership of whatever I wanted and not caring about anyone or anything else. I had become a monster, and I had let my need for belonging take over my morality in more ways than one. Who was I?

On one bleak rainy night, I was seeking shelter in a large underpass. As I sat by the fire I had formed, a dark figure tentatively approached me, fear washed over me, had they found me?. Was I about to meet my end? As it approached, each step closer into the light gradually revealing the nature of this petite being, I began to notice that my fear was unjustified. There she was, all 5ft 5 of her, water dripping from every groove of her fair body, each drop catching the light as it fell to the ground like a shimmering rainbow. Drenched from the unabeating downpour, she murmured “I’m Jessyca, can I stay here the night, I won’t be any trouble to you.” What she didn’t know was, from the moment I looked into her eyes, I felt a feeling I never had before. In fact I felt a range of emotions, the once washing of fear had transformed to comfort, a serene sense of belonging, and I think she felt it too. Was this love? All I knew is I didn't want this person to ever leave my gaze. I welcomed her and let her sit close by the fire. I could see her clearly now. She didn’t say much that night, but she didn’t need to. Just being next to Jessyca made me feel like I had found a new home within her.

The next day we spoke in depth, with every word the fondness for each other grew uncontrollably. I spoke about my father and how I had left my family due to our varying opinions, about my past time with the gang and how I was filled with guilt and self loathing from what I had done, and she explained that she had woken up one day in this land with no memory at all. From what I could gather she hadn’t been in this place long. She didn’t seem to care about my past. I like to think she saw through my ruggedness to the goodness within my core.

Call me selfish, but fate or whatever you want to call it had brought us together and I wasn't about to let her go. That day we agreed that it would be beneficial to us both to stay together, and since then we have never looked back. My life suddenly had meaning again, a new found companion to share my experiences with. I taught her my knowledge in foraging and crafting, advising her every step of the way. For that, she appreciated every inch of my being.

As further months passed, we started to sweep the streets, marking out places we had been and moving further and further across the map, searching for lost beings, giving them a home, passing and progressing our combined knowledge. We found power and comfort in collectiveness, understanding that we were better together.

Eventually we settled in an area we now call Underpass, the name was to celebrate the place where me and Jessyca met, for without that fateful interaction, we wouldn’t have the blossoming colony we have today. When we arrived there, Underpass was fully abandoned, not a light or shelter in sight. Now it’s a thriving district for any lost being who may be seeking shelter. We grow our own food, create our own buildings, sew our own clothes, we forge our own weapons and every day is a new lesson for each and every one of us. The people gave our colony a name, Skidrow, a means of remembrance that we came and thrived from the very streets we inhabit.

Although we call our home Underpass, as long as we are with each other, no matter where we go, we will always be at home.