I hope this is where this kind of post can be made. If not, I'll be happy to delete and repost (or kindly be relocated by a mod). This is just an unpolished piece threw together because I had too much free-time and coffee.
It is inspired from the Kenshi universe, meaning I tried not to be too constricted by the gameplay aspects, but still keep the feel of the current state of the game. The rhythm is a little off, so please keep that in mind that I will likely edit it later to fix that stuff. If people like this, I'll write more. If not, I'll probably write more anyway. Enjoy
.Jyo was not used to running through desert sand, which was unfortunate considering the person trying to kill him seemed very used to it. He stole a glance over his shoulder to see if his assailant had started lagging behind – no such luck. Jyo tried kicking off one of his boots in an attempt to get more traction on his bare feet, but only managed to get the boot halfway off before tripping mid-stride.
“Shit!” Jyo spouted as he became considerably less vertical.
The sandy ground was soft under Jyo’s belly, but not as forgiving to his face. An explosion of pain radiated from Jyo’s nose as his skull impacted the surface of the dune with a sharp crack. At least his boot had fallen off. He got back to his feet as quickly as his exhausted legs would allow, and continued to run – blindly now, as the shock from breaking his nose had not yet subsided. Blood tickled his face as it gushed from his nostrils and clotted on the dry sand stuck to his lips. As soon as he could see again, he checked on the progress of his soon-to-be executioner, who was nearly within reach. This was going sour very quickly; Jyo could see he had two options left.
A glint of light reflected off of Jyo’s rapier as he drew it in a swift and agile motion, spun around, and thrust blindly. Jyo was swift enough to catch his assailant off guard, but had failed to account for the differential created between his bare foot and his booted foot. His opponent dodged the blow, hopped to the side to avoid a head-on collision, and skidded to a halt. With both hands, the attacker readied his studded iron club. Jyo now recognized that this man might not necessarily be aiming for murder. There was a strong possibility that his assailant intended to shatter every bone in his body and take him prisoner for… reasons. Death was a much more preferable option. Jyo began to panic; he had never broken a bone until thirty seconds ago. He had never been in a duel until five seconds ago. He had never even had to use a sword until just now. There was only one option left.
“Hey, c’mon now! What do you want? I-I’ll give it to you! There’s no reason to have blood on our hands, neh!” Jyo pleaded
“Kwotso kaheezheem, zhembhu kworeh!” The bandit snarled in a foreign tongue.
With his rapier still extended, Jyo pointed to his coin purse.
“I. HAVE. MONEY.” Jyo annunciated “I. KNOW. PEOPLE.” He smiled and nodded reassuringly.
“Kohrohtseetze-yaruzho!” the attacker screamed through his incomplete set of teeth.
It was no good. The man either didn’t understand Jyo, or simply did not care. Jyo would have to fight here, and likely die here.
“I’m sorry mom. Sorry dad.” He said under his breath. He could feel his throat quiver as fresh tears began to well up. “Sorry cap’n. I fucked up.”
Jyo clenched his teeth and thrust for the man's abdomen. The bandit sidestepped. Jyo could see man bring down the club in slow motion; it hit his extended arm. Racked with pain Jyo instinctively dropped the rapier as his opponent closed the gap and kneed him in the groin. A primal agony seized Jyo’s torso and he collapsed to the ground. He noticed the condition of his arm. It’s not supposed to bend that way. He was reminded of his sister’s laugh when she would finally catch him in a game of tag. ‘What strange thing to remember at a time like this,’ he thought.
“Dzowomo, myuyowonya kaheezheem.” The bandit chuckled over Jyo’s writhing body.
A warm sensation flooded onto his waist. He couldn’t tell if it was piss or blood.
“I fucked up.” Jyo whispered to the memory of his sister.
The steel tip of the bandit’s tabi made contact with Jyo’s skull. After a flash of red, the desert melted into the sky.
Jyo awoke to a rainbow of pain. He had been propped up on a boulder, and a thin layer of sand had deposited itself onto his half-naked body. Clots had formed in his nostrils blocking airflow, so his jaw hung agape and sand caked onto his face where a medley of blood, snot and drool had streaked down his mouth. Jyo now had nothing but his skivvies and the sleeve of his jacket where the mugger cut it from his newly misshapen arm. The sun was sinking behind the jagged peaks of a distant mountain range, and the air was beginning to cool down. Jyo felt something lying on his lap – a stick had been placed across his legs. ‘Thanks’, Jyo thought to himself as he drifted back into his slumber.