Introduction
The Land of Tane
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Locations – A1
Gods – A2
Races – A3
Classes – A4
Story – A5
Characters and Character Creation – A6
A1 – Locations
Godsprings and Delta – the god of life, Shakkel, struck the cliffs that mark the edge of the northern Icefields with the hammer that forged the world, unleashing four streams of water called the Godsprings. The water from these four springs is of a holy origin, and has properties that can heal and rejuvenate. The Godsprings are watched over by the Clerics of Shakkel, to whom he gave both the Godsprings and the city of Delta that rests between them. It is in Delta that all clerics study the histories, practice healing and aiding magic, and converse with their gods. Delta is home to the largest Temple of the Godes yet to be built. A dome of translucent silver light covers the city of Delta, protecting it ceoma ll that would harm it. The water which comes through that dome is clean and free of all threat, and anything that passes through the shields finds themselves purged of all evil that once contaminated it. This dome also serves as a shield against beings of evil nature; it is said that a black mage attempting to pass through the shield without the protection of Shakkel will be stripped of his soul. This has never been tested, with good reason.
The Seshamine Range, Cliff’s Edge, and Eagleview – the Seshamine Range is the oldest, and most dangerous, mountain range in Tane. Inhabited by ferocious creatures that exist nowhere else but among its aged peaks, only the most experienced travelers risk a journey through these mountains. Most try for Two-Range Pass, a small gap between the tips of the Seshamine and Dala mountain ranges. It is said that, once, these two ranges were on in the same, forming a sort of arc around the Thurgood Plains, but that Furogh; the Earth-Shaper; struck down one o the many mountains to form a pass between them, that the plainsmen could make contact with the humans of the Godsprings and strengthen their people. Cliff’s Edge and Eagleview are cities built at the edges of the Seshamine Range; one on one side of the mountains, the other opposite it. Cliff’s Edge wasa city of the horsemen from the Thurgood Plains, and Eagleview the city of men venturing out of Godsprings. When the two people met in Two-Range Pass, the cities became mixed. Cliff’s Edge is a center of trade between the horsemen and the people of Godsprings. Eagleview is a center of trade between the elves in Elfingrove and throughout Thenet and Bulson Woods, and the people of the Godsprings. Eagleview is also the home of a graceful Temple of the Gods, and to the greatest Tower of High Magic in all of Tane.
Thurgood Plains, Drak Shat, and Malimoor – the Thurgood Plains are the home of the great horse-tribes. Once a barbaric, tribal race, though they still travel in family clans during the summer while they raise their herds, they have developed a system of cities that house the people during the winter. These cities are called Drak Shat and Malimoor. Malimoor is the more recent city, and so of a more sturdy construction; built of stones imported from the dwarves in the Dala Range. Drak Shat, their first city, is built almost entirely of wood and thatch; now, when buildings burn, they are replaced with stone, so there are a few dwarf-work houses there as well. Drak Shat is their main trading camp; this is where they drive their herds for the three-week summer trading fair every year. As such, it is populated throughout the year; some plainsmen who have left their nomadic ways to become merchants or craftsmen maintain a permanent residence. Malimoor, on the other hand, is abandoned during the summer. The businesses there open only when the merchants and craftsmen arrive a few weeks ahead of the others. These are people who were selected at the end of the previous winter to end their herding early and take up the mantle of shopkeepers for the next year. New shopkeepers are chosen every year. Malimoor would not have been built at all, but for the fact that another city was necessary to support the growing population of plainsmen and to give a house to those who could not make it to Drak Shat because of early snows.
The Gray Plateau, the Swamps of Dethe, and Grasshome – the Gray Plateau was once the home of a grand city, spanning almost seventy miles in all directions. This city was the only home and the birthplace of the kinderlings, or, as they are known to elves, barilas; little elves. However, a century in the past, it became the focal point fot eh armies of Zerval; god of light; and Helkara; goddess of the dark; struck it down to prevent her enemies from making a collective attack on her children. The kinderlings fled, and have become a separated, wandering race, finding hoes among all the races. They have never returned to their home on the Plateau. There is nothing left that can live there; it a plateau of perpetually burning ash. Only a few of the hardiest men and women, and all of them children of Helkara, have managed to resettle there, in the little city of Grasshome which has sprouted in the wake of Helkara’s wrath. They survive there by trading the endless supply of ash for food and water from the plainsmen, who can then sell the ash to mages and clerics for use in their spells, as the unholy ash is an extremely potent component. To keep her children alive, Helkara has promised to continuously replenish the ash. About twenty miles away from Grasshome, on the other side of the Assifin River, lie the swamps of the Dethe. The Dethe being reclusive and almost at toal mystery to the rest of the races of the world, not much is known about the Swamps. No mapper who has ever gone more than ten miles into the Swamps has ever returned. Countless mappers and adventurers have simply disappeared after daring the seemingly featureless forest of monsters and Dethe. No one has ever seen a full-blooded Dethe; only the half-bloods that they sent out from their lands to ‘watch’ the other races. Because little is known about the apparently neutral Dethe, every disappearance or death that occurs in the area where one has taken up inhabitance is blamed on them. It is said that the Dethe can suck out a man’s soul, if they get too close. No one has ever seen it done, but many still maintain that it is true.
The Dala Range, Hardard, Shakere, Aldet, and Califine Lake – the Dala Range is the largest, and safest, mountain range in Tane. It is ancient and riddled with the thousands of caves; natural and not; which give homes to the dwarves. Because these fearseome fighters and powerful smiths live here, any monsters which might have once made their homes here had long since fled to the safety of the Seshamine Range. Still, this range is harder to cross during the winter than the Seshamine; there are very few passes, because its residents use caves, and those few fill to the brim with snow during the cold seasons. The only sanctuaries that a mountain traveler can reach are the cities of Hardard and Aldet, both on opposite sides of the Califine Lake at the direct center of the Dala Range. They are small mining towns built in surface caves not used by the dwarves. They are kept supplied all through the summer, and as soon as it gets cold, ten months worth of supplies are stocked up in deeper caves to ensure that anyone who comes to these cities for refuge will be able to survive. There are no permanent residents of these cave-towns. They are only inhabited by stranded adventurers. The only other city in the Dala Range is Shakere, the city of the dwarves. Seven miles below the surface, it is virtually unreachable by any who are not dwarven. It is a sprawling complex; a perfect example of the beauty of dwarven craftsmanship. Tall, thick, twisting spires carved out of the very rock are the houses where the dwarves live. The spires are hollowed out, with slabs of stone left between each set of rooms. These rooms are accessible by the twisting stone walkways which spiral up the sides of the pillars, and dwarves can cross from one pillar to another using arching bridges which were left un-carved. As dwarves are not people to stay in the home, they are more likely to be found in the workshops or working and sparring in the caverns; each dwarven family needs only one level in these pillars, because all they do in them is sleep. These pillars run in a spiral around the central area, a slight depression in the floor of the massive cave the dwarves’ carving created. This area is where the wares produced in the workshops are sold. It is also where public meetings and celebrations are held. This area, in itself, is almost a mile across. There is a clear, sluggish river running through the center of the depression; bridged by dwarven hands; that is a drain for the Califine Lake. This lake, forty miles wide and one-hundred and twenty miles long, is the largest in Tane, and is considered sacred by the dwarven and dragon folk. It is also several miles deep, and inhabited by shadow water beasts, some of which have never been seen. It is filled by rain and snowmelt, which is constant in these frigid mountains, and by underground springs. It drains through dozens of underground rivers, like the one running through Shakere, which keeps its level more or less constant.
Thenet Woods and the Elfingrove – Thenet Wood is a vast temperate forest, covering hundreds of miles in all directions, lying to the west of the Thurgood Plains and the Seshamine and Dala Ranges. Thenet Wood is made up mostly of deciduous trees, like oaks and maples. In the far northwest it transforms into the expansive evergreen realm of Burson Pines. It, along with Burson Pines, is the home of elfinkind. In its lower reaches, directly beside the Elfinflow, is Elfingrove; the river-side home of the elven race. The elves make their homes within the vast trunks of the Tree of Life. There is only one Tree of Life in Tane; the reason that it wasn’t named as a species. To the idle observer it would appear that the elves make their home in a massive grove of strange, star-leafed trees; thus the common name of Elfingrove. The truth of it, however, is that the entire grove is made up of one tree; the central trunk serves as a meeting-place for the elves, but they do not live there. Thick branches spread out from this central trunk, the lower of which arched downwards and then burrowed into the earth. These branches put out roots of their own, eventually becoming their own trunks. The Tree of Life, as commoners call the great trunk at the center, spreads for twenty square miles. To kill it, one would have to burn the entire grove, thus destroying the whole organism. And even then, the millions of seeds that it has put out to sleep over its long life would germinate, and at least one of them would survive to become a new Tree of Life. Each massive trunk on he Tree of Life is entirely hollow, allowing a beautifl home for the elves. In turn, the magic of the elves’ eternal life nourishes the tree. Though the elves can live without the tree, the tree can not live without the elves; an imbalance relationship, but the elves have no intention of betraying their home. The elves have another word for both Elfingrove and the Tree of Life. Elfingrove, they call Shalk-shafa, Home of the Joined Ones. The Tree of Life they have named Misara, as she is their goddess. For the rest of the world, she is the Goddess of Rebirth; responsible for passing the dead on to another life. Though travelers are permitted to passthrough the grove, none who are not elfinkind have ever been accepted inside Shalk-shafa.
The Burson Pines, the Blackwaste, and the Ruins of Fortend – the Burson Pines is a vast wood, almost as large as Thenet wood, but mad up entirely of evergreens. It, too, houses an elfin race. Burson Pines is home to the drow. They prefer the constant shadow and the quiet of a world where the leaves neither shake nor fall. As it is, they tend to live in hollowed-out hills that they call Mitoko; or ‘my-place’. They are easy to defend, and very difficult to find, as the entrances are in the ceilings and are covered in natural turf. Once, they inhabited the entirety of burson Pines, with a single city that commonfolk called Fortend, and that the drow had no name for. They simply called it the drow word for city; Fortdiend; which was translated into the common name. However, in the same event that made the Gray Plateau, the city of Fortend and a strip of forest sixty miles across and almost three hundred miles long was destroyed by Helkara as punishment to her children for consorting with the children of Zerval. This destroyed area became known as the Blackwaste. It never grew back, and Fortend was abandoned. The drow have never built another city. Few dare to venture into the Blackwaste, for it is inhabited by the wandering souls and corpses of the drow who did not escape their goddess’ wrath.
The Icefields and the Sheffindai Desert – the Icefields in the north no longer have any ice. The glaciers which gave them their name; and their random scattering of rounded boulders; have long since receded. Now, they are a vast and fertile land which provides most of the farming in Tane. Mostly flat and almost entirely featureless, except for the boulders and the patchwork colors of the different crops, they are a boring land. And because they are so well inhabited, there are not many monsters there to contend with. The most common enemy here are highwaymen and an occasional wyvern; the few who dare come down out of the mountains hundreds of miles to the north and hunt the livestock. There are no true cities; instead, the flatlands are scattered with small towns where farmers can trade their goods and where adventurers can rest and restock before moving on to more dangerous country. The Sheffindai desert, inhabited by a nomadic, and generally dangerous, people called the Leyathin, is an entirely different story. Extending as far as the eye can see, and further, to the east of the Dala Range, it s a desert of sand and little else. There is almost no water, and the few soaks and oasis that do exist are the subjects of constant war between the Leyathin tribes. Despite the danger of entering a volatile war-zone such as this, many adventurers are too drawn by the many rare monsters; such as giant snakes, scorpions, lizards, and sand-dragons; and by the rumors of vast treasure buried somewhere beneath the sands to pass it up. No one has ever proven the tales of treasure. More adventurers die than survive.
The River Shakkel, Tarsha’s Canyon, and the Elfinflow, Samul, Assifin, and Talek Rivers – the River Shakkel is the vast, swift ribbon of water that is created by the joining of the four Godsprings. It stripes across most of Tane, running into the Seshamine Range, where it has burrowed out the deep gorge of Tarsha’s Canyon which slices the Range in two. From this canyon, it runs into the Elfinflow and the Samul, Assifin, and Talek Rivers. Tarsha’s Canyon found its name in an old children’s story; no one knows if the legend is true. Tarsha was a beautiful woman; half plainsman, half elf; who learned the plans of the army of Zerval from her husband, a general there. When Helkara heard that Tarsha knew the plans, she sent an agent in the form of an enticing young man to learn them. Rather than be tempted into giving her husband away, Tarsha fled to the nearby canyon and hurled herself off its edge. It has been said that Helkara’s shriek of rage was heard even beyond Tane. In the end, Helkara discovered the plans anyways, and the war was ended in the destruction which created the Gray Plateau and the Blackwaste. Tarsha’s futile death became a tale to teach loyalty, discipline, and honor to the children of plainsmen and elves alike, though both races claim that Tarsha appeared more like their kind.
A2 – Gods
Shakkel – the God of Life and Death, and all the non-humanoid races
Furogh – the Eart-Shaper, and the god of dwarves and orcish folk
Zerval – the God of the Light, and of humans and kinderling, and one of the Warring Twins
Helkara – the Goddess of the Dark, and of the drow, Dethe and kinderling, and the second of the Warring Twins
Misara – the Goddess of Rebirth, and of the elves, drow, and Dethe.
A3 – Races
Humans – a good but easily corrupted race following Zerval. They generally range around 5-6 feet in height, and tend to be very strong physically. They are a sturdy, adaptable race; the reason that there are so many different cultures of humans. A new culture seems to develop in every separate climate. They can be almost anything, though they generally prefer swords over bows and magic.
Elves – a neutral, but generally good, race following only the goddess of Misara. Generally ranging around 6-7 feet in height, and very delicate, though lovely, in appearance. They are a slim, quick, but brittle race that requires some type of forest to survive. They have an innate talent for magic; especially spells dealing with nature; and lean towards becoming clerics or mages. They much prefer long-distance battles and ambushes with bows or slings over fighting face-to-face with a sword or a club.
Drow – a neutral race following both the goddess Misara and the goddess Helkara. Ranging from 6-7 feet tall, like their elvish cousins, they resemble something between elf and human in their strength and build. They, like humans, are incredibly versatile; though they prefer double daggers to sword and blunt weapons, and magic to any weapon at all. They are a reclusive people, nervous about mingling with the other races, lest they once more face the wrath of their goddess Helkara. Most drow will attack any non-drow that wanders into their home forest. The entire race has a special fondness for the collection of literature.
Dwarves – one of the most ancient races, following the god who shaped the earth, Furogh. Ranging from 4-4.5 feet tall, 5 at the highest, they are a stocky and powerful race that runs with a rolling, galloping gate. They dislike being away from their mountains, and thoroughly enjoy creating things. Though they prefer stone, they will work with almost any material. They prefer hand-to-hand combat with axes or hammers, but will use a heavy crossbow or ingenious dwarven invention of they must. Dwarven clerics and mages are incredibly rare.
Kinderling – a neutral race following both of the feuding twin-deities, Helkara and Zerval. They are not like other Halflings from outside of Tane. They are not always happy and carefree; though there are rare specimens that act this way. Most of them, in fact, are nervous and sometimes even malicious. They steal because they have to, having been literally blown out of their home on the Gray Plateau and scattered to the winds a hundred years ago. They have since held a grudge against all the races that follow only Zerval, and have become stoic, if sneaky, people. However, once one becomes close to a kinderling, one can find the cheerful Halfing that lives inside all of them. Only when they know the people they are talking to will they be their natural, sprightly selves. They are more commonly thieves than anything else, but startling intelligence and inner strength make it possible for them to be magics, clerics, or fighters as well.
A4 – Classes
Mage – mages use magics which are generally not involved in nature or healing. They are a secretive people. No one outside the Circle of Magic knows what goes on in the Tower of High Magic. Mages can wear any color they like. Alignment can be identified by the talismans they carry; each mage carries the talisman of the god who they worship. Mages can not wear metal armor, as it interferes with their casting.
Cleric – clerics use magics involving nature and healing, and usually not the sort of damaging spells used by mages. They are an open and generous people. The citizens of Tane turn to the clerics at Godsprings for help in times of trouble, and it is up to this priesthood to provide that aid. Clerics can not use sharp weapons, only blunt.
Fighter – fighters are the ones who run into battle and destroy the enemy, hopefully before those silly mages have the chance to wiggle their fingers and cast their spells. They can use any weapon they want, but prefer larger, and often sharper, weapons.
Thief – thieves are the sneaks, spies, item-collectors, and trap-finders of a party. They are, in part, responsible for keeping the party alive as they wander. They are highly valuable for collecting information. They must be relatively small in stature, and can not carry much that is heavy or noisy; thus, light armor and small weapons.
Custom or Advanced Classes – not all of these classes will be accepted. A custom class would be a merging of two classes, like thief and fighter, or cleric and mage, or cleric and fighter. An advanced class would be something like a Paladin, or a Necromancer, or an Assassin. These are highly specialized classes, and should only be requested if you have a history in gaming, and a very clear idea of what is involved in that sort of class.
A5 – Story
This will be updated constantly, as events occur, in case anyone needs to come back for a refresher.
The PCs begin in Eagleview. They have just come in from their various adventures, and are resting up before starting the search for another quest. They have no idea what is waiting for them.
A6 – Characters and Character Creation
taken ~The Cleric Dessana~ taken
taken ~Severin Ward~ taken
taken ~Izhak Rosat~ taken
taken ~Loto~ taken
taken ~Gareth Tenderfoot~ taken
taken ~The Cleric Dessana~ taken
taken ~Severin Ward~ taken
taken ~Izhak Rosat~ taken
taken ~Loto~ taken
taken ~Gareth Tenderfoot~ taken
Character Skeleton
In the description section.
Name:
Race:
Class:
Age:
Appearance: (please include a picture)
Level: (start with one, I will announce level-ups)
In the personality section.
Personality:
Diety:
Likes:
Dislikes:
Life Goals:
Fears:
Quirks:
[/i}
In the equipment section.
[i]Weapons: (normal weapons to begin with, no magic.)
Armor: (normal armor to begin with, no magic.)
Gear: (anything else that you carry, assume that rations are provided)
Animals: (if you have a horse, mule, dog, or cat, which you should not have to start with)
Magic Items: (you should not have these to start with)
Spells: (for mages and clerics, you start with three zero-level spells, I will announce when you can add a spell. Each time, you will gain a certain number of new spells, which you can take from any of the levels at or below your current level. If you have an idea for a spell you would like to create, you may suggest it on the Spell Suggestions thread.)
Clerical spell list http://www.dandwiki.com/wiki/SRD:Cleric_Spell_List
Druid Spell list (also for clerics) http://www.dandwiki.com/wiki/SRD:Druid_Spell_List
Mage spell list http://www.dandwiki.com/wiki/Sorcerer/W ... plement%29
In the history section.
History: (where were you born, who was your family, what rank were you, how did you become what you are today?)
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The Story So Far... Write a Post » as written by 5 authors
Setting
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DMing will be written in italics, in the present tense.
Roleplay will be written normally, in the third person past tense.
Roleplay will be written normally, in the third person past tense.
Setting
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Dawn comes brightly to the city of Eagleview, where our PCs have gathered to rest after their various journeys. The city begins to rise with the coming of the sun. People take to the streets, ready to go to work, or to market to buy food for their families. Many men and women flock to the Black Hat Inn, the center of gossip in the city of Eagleview. The city, this day, has much to discuss.
Rumors fly as people eat and drink and talk. The blacksmith's daughter ran off with the cooper. A cleric of Helkara has snuck into the city, and the mages from the Tower are hunting him down. There is a thief in the city who steals only the left sock. Most of these rumors are ridiculous, but everyone seems to agree on one thing.
People here are disappearing.
It started about a week ago, with the disappearance of a miner's daughter from her bed in this very inn. Soon after, a pair of newlyweds were taken from their honeymoon suite. A child was stolen from her home in the middle of the night. Fifteen people have gone mysteriously missing, all in the middle of the night when they should have been asleep. There was never any sign of entry. Their doors and windows remained closed and locked, their covers undisturbed. There was no sign of a struggle. It is as though they have simply... disappeared. There was speculation among some that the mages of the Tower were involved, until last night.
One of their own has disappeared. A young elvish mage, sent as an emissary to the human Tower in Eagleview. There is concern that if the elves learn of the disappearance of their young mage, there will be war. A rallying cry has gone up throughout the city. Posters have been hung in every window and on ever corner.
It is these posters which have brought our adventurers to the tavern. The promise of adventure, money, heroism; it is usually enough to bring together all sorts of adventurers. And so it has.
In the back of the inn, the Captain of the Guard, Andulin, waits for warriors of all sorts to answer the call. He waits to put them together into one party, and send them out to battle. Beside him sits a young elf, a warrior of some sort. A clerical warrior, sent by her people to aid the humans in retrieving the elf-mage. As beautiful as all her people, with hair like sunlight and eyes like water. Her face is well-known to even those who have never seen her before, and her name even more-so.
The rising legend Dessana. The black-hearted elf-maiden who has been the subject of so many rumors of late. No one knows her, no one understands her. Most believe that she will someday turn to evil.
Most agree that now, she is a force for good.
Do as you will.
Rumors fly as people eat and drink and talk. The blacksmith's daughter ran off with the cooper. A cleric of Helkara has snuck into the city, and the mages from the Tower are hunting him down. There is a thief in the city who steals only the left sock. Most of these rumors are ridiculous, but everyone seems to agree on one thing.
People here are disappearing.
It started about a week ago, with the disappearance of a miner's daughter from her bed in this very inn. Soon after, a pair of newlyweds were taken from their honeymoon suite. A child was stolen from her home in the middle of the night. Fifteen people have gone mysteriously missing, all in the middle of the night when they should have been asleep. There was never any sign of entry. Their doors and windows remained closed and locked, their covers undisturbed. There was no sign of a struggle. It is as though they have simply... disappeared. There was speculation among some that the mages of the Tower were involved, until last night.
One of their own has disappeared. A young elvish mage, sent as an emissary to the human Tower in Eagleview. There is concern that if the elves learn of the disappearance of their young mage, there will be war. A rallying cry has gone up throughout the city. Posters have been hung in every window and on ever corner.
Help Wanted
Adventurers to find the missing citizens of Eagleview.
You will be heavily rewarded.
Meet with Andulin at the Black Hat Inn.
Adventurers to find the missing citizens of Eagleview.
You will be heavily rewarded.
Meet with Andulin at the Black Hat Inn.
It is these posters which have brought our adventurers to the tavern. The promise of adventure, money, heroism; it is usually enough to bring together all sorts of adventurers. And so it has.
In the back of the inn, the Captain of the Guard, Andulin, waits for warriors of all sorts to answer the call. He waits to put them together into one party, and send them out to battle. Beside him sits a young elf, a warrior of some sort. A clerical warrior, sent by her people to aid the humans in retrieving the elf-mage. As beautiful as all her people, with hair like sunlight and eyes like water. Her face is well-known to even those who have never seen her before, and her name even more-so.
The rising legend Dessana. The black-hearted elf-maiden who has been the subject of so many rumors of late. No one knows her, no one understands her. Most believe that she will someday turn to evil.
Most agree that now, she is a force for good.
Do as you will.
Setting
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As the sun had rised in the horizon, small rays of light had gone through the crack in the window to hit the face of the sleeping dwarf, as it woke him up from his slumber. The discipline that took over the dwarf during his life back in Shakere, a strict time to go to work, had kicked in as he flipped the sheets the other way and jumped onto the ground with a resounding thump. Izhak woke as the wind whistled through his naked body and stretched his hands up in the air before putting on his clothes that he hid under the bed.
It's been seven weeks since that faithfull day in Shakere when his father hadn't still comeback from his route to the villages outside. It's been four weeks that Izhak had tried to convince the Dwarven Elders to send a party after the missing blacksmith but they have continously refused. There was tension forming up in the mountains, this that Izhak knew, but the Elders wanted it to be secret among the general populace.
So it has been three weeks that Izhak had fled the mountains in search for his father, heading into all the villages nearby to scour for information, leading the dwarf into Eagleview but more specifically the Black Hat Inn.
As Izhak had gotten the last piece of equipment on his now clothed body, there was without a doubt that there was a connection with the missing people here and his own missing father, there just had to be.
It just has to...
He brushed off a strand of blond hair that has on his eye then walked downstairs to the tavern and sat himself down in a stool. Most people took notice to him with an eyebrow raised then went back to their own buisness. This was something else that Izhak had enjoyed pretty much outside of the mountains, the rumours of a Dwarven bard who knows magic, had spread actually quite quickly. Whether in amazement or in disbelief Izhak didn't know but it probably was about him. He dressed the part and every piece of metal that hung from his ears, neck and wrists just screamed magic but in truth they were just Dwarven luck charms since Izhak had never went outside of the mountains before.
The owner then came to the counter asking the dwarf what he'd like.
"Just an apple Buck." Izhak said with a grin on his face as he stroked his chin feeling the long sideburns that he knew in twenty more years would turn into a flowing beard. As the appple came around Izhak slipped a couple of silver coins in the owner's hand for payment.
"Would you happen to know what happened to these missing people now?" The dwarf asked, taking a giant bite off red apple he was given.
"Only that the Captain of the Guard are lookin' for some brave souls to find them." The owner pointed to one of the many posters hung around town, pinned to wall in the tavern, that wanted some adventurer's to find the missing citizens of Eagleview with a heavy reward.
This was the only lead that Izhak could go on.
"What if I want to see 'em?" He questioned to the owner, taking another bite into the apple, devouring even the core.
The owner's face adopted a look of complexity then pointed to the back door.
"They're inside through that door."
With that Izhak jumped off his chair and walked through the door, twirling the bone flute that was in his hand, till he saw the table that was there and the two other people. One of them was no doubt the town guard, for he was clad with heavy armor, yet gave off the feel of leadership. The other person however was a tall Elven woman, wearing some bizarre armor, or was it armor? Was that her skin? She matched the general rumours of an elf, knife ears, tall, but surely someone would have said there skin was black? It didn't match the colour of her face, that's for sure, so perhaps it was a second skin?
Thinking about it was just making his head hurt, so he sat next to the elven girl, with at least another chair in between them.
The height difference started to become somewhat noticable as he sat down then looked at the both of them. He pulled out his flute and placed on the table, then took out a small knife from his pocket, to start to add even more details to the already high fashioned flute.
"Good mornin' to you both." Izhak said in a happy tone then continued to whittle patterns among patterns.
It's been seven weeks since that faithfull day in Shakere when his father hadn't still comeback from his route to the villages outside. It's been four weeks that Izhak had tried to convince the Dwarven Elders to send a party after the missing blacksmith but they have continously refused. There was tension forming up in the mountains, this that Izhak knew, but the Elders wanted it to be secret among the general populace.
So it has been three weeks that Izhak had fled the mountains in search for his father, heading into all the villages nearby to scour for information, leading the dwarf into Eagleview but more specifically the Black Hat Inn.
As Izhak had gotten the last piece of equipment on his now clothed body, there was without a doubt that there was a connection with the missing people here and his own missing father, there just had to be.
It just has to...
He brushed off a strand of blond hair that has on his eye then walked downstairs to the tavern and sat himself down in a stool. Most people took notice to him with an eyebrow raised then went back to their own buisness. This was something else that Izhak had enjoyed pretty much outside of the mountains, the rumours of a Dwarven bard who knows magic, had spread actually quite quickly. Whether in amazement or in disbelief Izhak didn't know but it probably was about him. He dressed the part and every piece of metal that hung from his ears, neck and wrists just screamed magic but in truth they were just Dwarven luck charms since Izhak had never went outside of the mountains before.
The owner then came to the counter asking the dwarf what he'd like.
"Just an apple Buck." Izhak said with a grin on his face as he stroked his chin feeling the long sideburns that he knew in twenty more years would turn into a flowing beard. As the appple came around Izhak slipped a couple of silver coins in the owner's hand for payment.
"Would you happen to know what happened to these missing people now?" The dwarf asked, taking a giant bite off red apple he was given.
"Only that the Captain of the Guard are lookin' for some brave souls to find them." The owner pointed to one of the many posters hung around town, pinned to wall in the tavern, that wanted some adventurer's to find the missing citizens of Eagleview with a heavy reward.
This was the only lead that Izhak could go on.
"What if I want to see 'em?" He questioned to the owner, taking another bite into the apple, devouring even the core.
The owner's face adopted a look of complexity then pointed to the back door.
"They're inside through that door."
With that Izhak jumped off his chair and walked through the door, twirling the bone flute that was in his hand, till he saw the table that was there and the two other people. One of them was no doubt the town guard, for he was clad with heavy armor, yet gave off the feel of leadership. The other person however was a tall Elven woman, wearing some bizarre armor, or was it armor? Was that her skin? She matched the general rumours of an elf, knife ears, tall, but surely someone would have said there skin was black? It didn't match the colour of her face, that's for sure, so perhaps it was a second skin?
Thinking about it was just making his head hurt, so he sat next to the elven girl, with at least another chair in between them.
The height difference started to become somewhat noticable as he sat down then looked at the both of them. He pulled out his flute and placed on the table, then took out a small knife from his pocket, to start to add even more details to the already high fashioned flute.
"Good mornin' to you both." Izhak said in a happy tone then continued to whittle patterns among patterns.
Daylight slowly crept over the horizon, burning away the morning mist that so desperately clung to dear life, and through the window slits of the Black Hat Inn to cast it brilliant light upon Gareth’s face, but it did not wake the rogue from slumber, no the headache from the ale he drank last night is what did that and it had certainly been a long three hours until this horribly moment with day was upon the world. Last night had been awful for the young Kinderling, and now that he thought about last night’s occurrences there was a good chance his aching head had come from the goblet that had been used to bludgeon him in the common room downstairs, but for some reason he could not figure out what this whole business about a thief stealing only people’s left socks had to do with him. He had only been hustling a dwarf in a fair game of dice, the I Win You Lose kind of game, when all of a sudden he took his left sock off and lost it with everything else that night, but some woman had accused Gareth of being this damnable left-sock thief and that’s when the goblet came around.
I need something to drink….maybe some coffee and breakfast will help this aching head of mine.
He had only just arrived in town the previous night, to be welcomed with a terrified community and large “REWARD” signs hanging on half the walls, but already his prospects for adventure had skyrocketed tenfold at the prospect of finding a couple people. It may not have been the ideal employment, but money is money and upon gently feeling a rather large bump concealed underneath his sandy-brown it seemed best to make it honestly while here. After another moment he knew it best to not try and comb around the sensitive region, it may open a wound for all he could remember, and picked himself up out of bed slowly, crossing over to a dresser on the far side of the room from the hay-stack bed.
No use taking my gear with me, just going downstairs for a bite.
It only took a few minutes for Gareth to dress in his simple linen clothing, putting on only a shirt, pants, and his neck-emblem that had been a gift from his father long ago. Taking a deep breath to steady himself the exhausted Gareth waited patiently for the daylight to fill the room just a little bit more, easing the strain on his eyes as he strolled towards the door, and after carefully locking his door proceeded down the hallway towards the common room. He had not been able to afford one of the more expensive rooms upstairs, and as such had to make due with a room closer to the stables, but it still had a marvelous view of the mountains.
The disoriented rogue trudged through the awakening inn, unused to the morning life that had never really suited him, but unable to escape its clutches by this horrid headache he continued on towards the Inn Keeper, placing a hand on the front counter the owner was standing behind to keep himself from falling over. Unfortunately due to his small stature the other man could only just see the top of Gareth’s head from over the counter, but knowing there was only one individual that short he walked around to attend the younger Gareth. The older man gazed at him with a worried look on his face, the man who kept Gareth from being beaten senseless had been him, and he certainly did not wanting a patron to die during such bleak times as these.
“Are you alright sir? I know you took an awful hit last night, and I am so sorry that such a terrible thing could have happened. Is there anything you would like to break your fast? We have oatcakes and sausage this morning. ”
“Well I’m not dead yet so I can’t be doing too badly eh? Gods be good the cakes and sausage sounds wonderful, if you have any coffee that would be a blessing. I will be in the back room when it’s ready.”
Without waiting for a reply from the Inn Keeper Gareth trudged off towards the door separating the common room from a small back room that had multiple purposes, but lost in his hangover and pain the young rogue could not hear the Inn Keeper’s warning at its occupants. With the thumb and middle fingers of one hand being used to rub his temples Gareth wandered through the door separating the two rooms, only looking up after shutting it behind him, and that’s when he stopped mid-rub to look at the other guests. There happened to be three others for the moment, two males and one female, but even though the female was shockingly beautiful each one took him by surprise.
Feigning disinterest he stalked off towards a table just to the side of theirs, trying to appear innocuous but not trying to hide from them in the small room. The one who worried him most was a rather large warrior clad in heavy armor, more than likely a City Guard attending for some reason, maybe it had something to do with those posters littering the town, but if he had heard about the problems last night, or was looking for the left-sock thief, then it would be best to not arouse his interest. Nearby to him was….another damnable dwarf. How many of them were there exactly, and why did they not try and act like civilized folk, or at least not take their socks off when gambling, this one wasn’t as particularly worrisome as the City Guard, but it was like a knife in the wound after last night.
Seated beside to two men, however, was a tall Elven beauty, garbed in a fascinating armor that clung to her form, looking eager for adventure, and having what could almost be thought of as a malicious glint in her eyes. Without a doubt he would need to introduce himself at a later time, he had always been a sucker for the taller Elven women of Tane, and this one was a prime example of the beauty of her people. After a few more moments of silence the door opened up to let the Inn Keeper enter, bringing a plate of food and mug of coffee for Gareth and an apple for that repulsive dwarf bedecked in trinkets like a woman. Yawning loudly the young rogue picked up an oatcake, pouring a glob of honey over it from a small cup that the Inn Keeper had brought especially for Gareth, and then took a large bite from the delicious treat, savoring the flavor with a sip of coffee as well.
Helkara be good let this be an easy day.
I need something to drink….maybe some coffee and breakfast will help this aching head of mine.
He had only just arrived in town the previous night, to be welcomed with a terrified community and large “REWARD” signs hanging on half the walls, but already his prospects for adventure had skyrocketed tenfold at the prospect of finding a couple people. It may not have been the ideal employment, but money is money and upon gently feeling a rather large bump concealed underneath his sandy-brown it seemed best to make it honestly while here. After another moment he knew it best to not try and comb around the sensitive region, it may open a wound for all he could remember, and picked himself up out of bed slowly, crossing over to a dresser on the far side of the room from the hay-stack bed.
No use taking my gear with me, just going downstairs for a bite.
It only took a few minutes for Gareth to dress in his simple linen clothing, putting on only a shirt, pants, and his neck-emblem that had been a gift from his father long ago. Taking a deep breath to steady himself the exhausted Gareth waited patiently for the daylight to fill the room just a little bit more, easing the strain on his eyes as he strolled towards the door, and after carefully locking his door proceeded down the hallway towards the common room. He had not been able to afford one of the more expensive rooms upstairs, and as such had to make due with a room closer to the stables, but it still had a marvelous view of the mountains.
The disoriented rogue trudged through the awakening inn, unused to the morning life that had never really suited him, but unable to escape its clutches by this horrid headache he continued on towards the Inn Keeper, placing a hand on the front counter the owner was standing behind to keep himself from falling over. Unfortunately due to his small stature the other man could only just see the top of Gareth’s head from over the counter, but knowing there was only one individual that short he walked around to attend the younger Gareth. The older man gazed at him with a worried look on his face, the man who kept Gareth from being beaten senseless had been him, and he certainly did not wanting a patron to die during such bleak times as these.
“Are you alright sir? I know you took an awful hit last night, and I am so sorry that such a terrible thing could have happened. Is there anything you would like to break your fast? We have oatcakes and sausage this morning. ”
“Well I’m not dead yet so I can’t be doing too badly eh? Gods be good the cakes and sausage sounds wonderful, if you have any coffee that would be a blessing. I will be in the back room when it’s ready.”
Without waiting for a reply from the Inn Keeper Gareth trudged off towards the door separating the common room from a small back room that had multiple purposes, but lost in his hangover and pain the young rogue could not hear the Inn Keeper’s warning at its occupants. With the thumb and middle fingers of one hand being used to rub his temples Gareth wandered through the door separating the two rooms, only looking up after shutting it behind him, and that’s when he stopped mid-rub to look at the other guests. There happened to be three others for the moment, two males and one female, but even though the female was shockingly beautiful each one took him by surprise.
Feigning disinterest he stalked off towards a table just to the side of theirs, trying to appear innocuous but not trying to hide from them in the small room. The one who worried him most was a rather large warrior clad in heavy armor, more than likely a City Guard attending for some reason, maybe it had something to do with those posters littering the town, but if he had heard about the problems last night, or was looking for the left-sock thief, then it would be best to not arouse his interest. Nearby to him was….another damnable dwarf. How many of them were there exactly, and why did they not try and act like civilized folk, or at least not take their socks off when gambling, this one wasn’t as particularly worrisome as the City Guard, but it was like a knife in the wound after last night.
Seated beside to two men, however, was a tall Elven beauty, garbed in a fascinating armor that clung to her form, looking eager for adventure, and having what could almost be thought of as a malicious glint in her eyes. Without a doubt he would need to introduce himself at a later time, he had always been a sucker for the taller Elven women of Tane, and this one was a prime example of the beauty of her people. After a few more moments of silence the door opened up to let the Inn Keeper enter, bringing a plate of food and mug of coffee for Gareth and an apple for that repulsive dwarf bedecked in trinkets like a woman. Yawning loudly the young rogue picked up an oatcake, pouring a glob of honey over it from a small cup that the Inn Keeper had brought especially for Gareth, and then took a large bite from the delicious treat, savoring the flavor with a sip of coffee as well.
Helkara be good let this be an easy day.
Setting
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Eagleview
Random Alleyway
Severin Ward, The Collector
Random Alleyway
Severin Ward, The Collector
...
"Atta girl, now you're putting on a show."
...
"Final stretch -- put your all into this one!"
Several loud grunts later signaled the deed was done. This extraneous activity left Sev, a bit tired but very satisfied; though the same could not be said for his partners. All of whom were unconscious from the stress and strain brought upon them by the size and magnitude of Sev's hammer. Now, some would argue it was much too early for this sort of thing, but when was there ever a good time for a tumble or two? Besides, it wasn't even his idea. Sev was just a poor, naive boy when it came to these matters. All he wanted was just a bit of information, but by the time he figured out what was happening, it was too late. The filthy whores had him surrounded; telling him to remove his clothes and give them all he had. So he did what any man would do. He killed them.
Well, he didn't kill them, per se. All he did was beat them within an inch of their life. Serves them right too! The bastards got their just deserts, as far as he was concerned. They could probably smell the gold on him, which was sort-of-a good thing. The thought of their filthy hands harassing some pretty lady gave him the chills.
"Not to worry my beauties, for as long as there is breath in my lungs, no one shall ever caress your curvaceous bodies, but me." Sev exclaimed as he affectionately kissed his beloved hammers. He then tucked then back into their respective beds, before picking up his traveling bag.
In the end, Sev got what he had wanted and more... The info he was seeking was the location of the Black Hat Inn. Through the Great Vine, he heard rumors that things had went missing. Things that needed to be found. And this was Sev's specialty. So once he arrived in Eagleview, he sought out further information on the subject. This led him to the seemingly friendly bandits posing as good men. In their defense, they did tell him who and where they could find the person hosting such a quest and even told of the events that lead to this debacle. They were sooooo nice, that they then offered to take him there and in return for their generosity, they would rob and kill him.
Tuning to spit at the ground where the bandits lay, he continued on his way. He wasn't far from the inn and he couldn't be happier. It was still early and after such a long journey and a good brawl, there were two thing s he desired most: a big goblet of ale and a woman. Since it was still morning, he was sure that he could down a flagon and take a woman to bed before he began his next quest. So as Sev barged through the doors, he spoke loud and clear.
" So, I hear Eagleview needs The Collector to find some missing people!? Before I do this, I will need women and wine, in that order."
Sev chuckled as he disturbed the calm of the inn. He moved forward into the room, throwing his large sack on the bar. His eyes made quick work of his surroundings, finding what he required quickly. He slunk over to the best looking elf in the room, he lips parted once more whispering a few words in her ear before pulling away, waiting for a reply.
Sure he was being brash and maybe a little rude, but he meant well. He was merely a warrior trying to have fun before doing the honest people of this town a great deed for a modest fee. Where was the harm in helping yourself, before helping others?
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Andulin had been absorbed in his own thoughts when the dwarf approached. He sat in his chair, leaning against the arm rather than the back, one leg cocked up over the other. He had a hand over his eyes, trying to shade out the commotion of the inn and think about what he really needed to thin about. Where on earth could these people be going?
As such, he hardly heard the dwarf's greeting, and he did not register that it was aimed at him. He made no move to respond. And that left Dessana to do it.
She gave Andulin a vicious glare, totally uncharacteristic of her people, but it was lost on him. He could not see her anyways.
"Human," she hissed. He did not answer, so she reached out and slapped him sharply across the back of the head. "Human."
Andulin jumped sharply, sitting bolt upright, and turning to stare at her. Dessana arched an eyebrow sardonically, tipping her head sharply towards the dwarf. Andulin whipped around to stare at Izhak.
"Ah," he gasped. "My apologies. I didn't... see you there..." he trailed off, aware of how stupid he sounded, stating what was quite obvious to everyone. He forged on anyways, determined not to make a complete fool of himself. "Are you here about the kidnappings?"
Dessana, for her part, lost all interest in the conversation. She turned to gaze out at he rest of the inn. The Black Hat had always been popular, but this was getting ridiculous. Why her people had ever been foolish enough to put her up in a place this full of people, she would never understand. She did not do well among a crowd of her fellow elves, let along surrounded by these brainless humans, and metal-headed dwarves. She had never wanted to be involved, never wanted to go out and search for this half-wit mage who got himself caught by someone doing something he shouldn’t have been doing. More than likely he was already dead. So this whole thing was entirely pointless.
But she was stuck here, whether she liked it or not.
Desperate for something to occupy her time other than this stupid human and his dwarf friend, she started to examine the rest of the room. Her eyes fell on a kinderling; a barilas; sitting at a table nearby. She had always liked the barilas, more even than her own people. For some reason she simply… got along better with them.
She could only hope that the little kinderling would come over and join them. It would make this journey quite a bit more bearable, if the barilas was with them…
Her thoughts were abruptly cut off as a dwarf exploded into the Black Hat Inn. Dessana looked around at him, arching her eyebrow in irritation. Adulin, too, looked around in alarm.
" So, I hear Eagleview needs The Collector to find some missing people!? Before I do this, I will need women and wine, in that order."
“Pompous ass,” Dessana observed quietly, narrowing her eyes at the dwarf. She hated men like that, who were so obsessed with their own masculinity that they assumed any woman would simply fall into their arms.
Apparently, the dwarf assumed that she would simply fall into his arms. He came across the room to her and whispered in her ear. She did not bother to listen to whatever it was he said to her. She just pulled out a dagger and set it against his thick neck. A cruel elvish dagger, more than long enough to sink straight through his airpipes.
“Dessana!” Andulin gasped, distracted from one dwarf by an assault on the other. “What-?!”
Dessana did not move. She did not say anything. She simply sat with her dagger point against the offending dwarf’s throat.
As such, he hardly heard the dwarf's greeting, and he did not register that it was aimed at him. He made no move to respond. And that left Dessana to do it.
She gave Andulin a vicious glare, totally uncharacteristic of her people, but it was lost on him. He could not see her anyways.
"Human," she hissed. He did not answer, so she reached out and slapped him sharply across the back of the head. "Human."
Andulin jumped sharply, sitting bolt upright, and turning to stare at her. Dessana arched an eyebrow sardonically, tipping her head sharply towards the dwarf. Andulin whipped around to stare at Izhak.
"Ah," he gasped. "My apologies. I didn't... see you there..." he trailed off, aware of how stupid he sounded, stating what was quite obvious to everyone. He forged on anyways, determined not to make a complete fool of himself. "Are you here about the kidnappings?"
Dessana, for her part, lost all interest in the conversation. She turned to gaze out at he rest of the inn. The Black Hat had always been popular, but this was getting ridiculous. Why her people had ever been foolish enough to put her up in a place this full of people, she would never understand. She did not do well among a crowd of her fellow elves, let along surrounded by these brainless humans, and metal-headed dwarves. She had never wanted to be involved, never wanted to go out and search for this half-wit mage who got himself caught by someone doing something he shouldn’t have been doing. More than likely he was already dead. So this whole thing was entirely pointless.
But she was stuck here, whether she liked it or not.
Desperate for something to occupy her time other than this stupid human and his dwarf friend, she started to examine the rest of the room. Her eyes fell on a kinderling; a barilas; sitting at a table nearby. She had always liked the barilas, more even than her own people. For some reason she simply… got along better with them.
She could only hope that the little kinderling would come over and join them. It would make this journey quite a bit more bearable, if the barilas was with them…
Her thoughts were abruptly cut off as a dwarf exploded into the Black Hat Inn. Dessana looked around at him, arching her eyebrow in irritation. Adulin, too, looked around in alarm.
" So, I hear Eagleview needs The Collector to find some missing people!? Before I do this, I will need women and wine, in that order."
“Pompous ass,” Dessana observed quietly, narrowing her eyes at the dwarf. She hated men like that, who were so obsessed with their own masculinity that they assumed any woman would simply fall into their arms.
Apparently, the dwarf assumed that she would simply fall into his arms. He came across the room to her and whispered in her ear. She did not bother to listen to whatever it was he said to her. She just pulled out a dagger and set it against his thick neck. A cruel elvish dagger, more than long enough to sink straight through his airpipes.
“Dessana!” Andulin gasped, distracted from one dwarf by an assault on the other. “What-?!”
Dessana did not move. She did not say anything. She simply sat with her dagger point against the offending dwarf’s throat.
Setting
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Izhak snickered a little watching the tall elf smack the armoured "captain of the guard" upside the head and nod towards his direction. It was common for dwarven woman to do the same thing, to be strong and to show it, yet things outside the mountains were different. It seems the gorgeous human beauties are meek by nature, easily wooed, and very very skillfull in bed...
This dwarf's laughing grin quickly dissapeared by Andulin's patronizing words.
"You..daft...fool..the..'captain'...talk to me like that..ought to just...." Izhak whispered under his breath as he stood on the chair then sat cross legged on it so his upper body was now proudly seen with his arms crossed and blank face.
"Ay, I'm heard of these dissapearences. I think my father is among on of many of these diassapearences, lest I hope that he is, or this trip down from the mountains are for lost, for Furogh's sake." He took a pause to look up at Andulin seeing that he was paying attention then placed his whilting knife back in his pocket and blew on the bone flute to rid of the small specks of dust before twirling it in his hand.
"I be suspeting they be smart and use magic but not mages. No mage can walk through the mountains and expect to combat a dwarven warrior, burn a hole in him, come back to Shakere and drop two bodies in the dead of night and kidnap a Master Blacksmith in the same part-"
In the middle of the speech that Izhak delivered a booming voice came over the bar that of which belonged to an obnoxious (human?) silencing the tavern's rumours and chatter. The Collector, apparently that's what he was called, was already on the bad side of Izhak. Boasting belonged to morons and the dead.
A crack of a smile lifted Izhak from his foul mood as he watched the elf put a dagger into his throat after whispering something into her ear.
"Dessana!" The captain exclaimed giving her name away causing this dwarf to look at the situation with a wide grin.
"Dessana, the black hearted elf who beats evil with a fist of power." Izhak let out one of many rumours surrounding the elf maiden as others sitting in their tables started to whisper to themselves. The dwarf felt sorry for "The collector" and wondered what was in that sack he'd dropped at the bar.
"Let the idiot go." Izhak said in a serious voice, not wanting to see aother man die as he narrowed his eyes and he gripped his bone flute with a side grip and placed his mouth on one end of the flute, already playing the methodic notes to start casting a spell...
This dwarf's laughing grin quickly dissapeared by Andulin's patronizing words.
"You..daft...fool..the..'captain'...talk to me like that..ought to just...." Izhak whispered under his breath as he stood on the chair then sat cross legged on it so his upper body was now proudly seen with his arms crossed and blank face.
"Ay, I'm heard of these dissapearences. I think my father is among on of many of these diassapearences, lest I hope that he is, or this trip down from the mountains are for lost, for Furogh's sake." He took a pause to look up at Andulin seeing that he was paying attention then placed his whilting knife back in his pocket and blew on the bone flute to rid of the small specks of dust before twirling it in his hand.
"I be suspeting they be smart and use magic but not mages. No mage can walk through the mountains and expect to combat a dwarven warrior, burn a hole in him, come back to Shakere and drop two bodies in the dead of night and kidnap a Master Blacksmith in the same part-"
In the middle of the speech that Izhak delivered a booming voice came over the bar that of which belonged to an obnoxious (human?) silencing the tavern's rumours and chatter. The Collector, apparently that's what he was called, was already on the bad side of Izhak. Boasting belonged to morons and the dead.
A crack of a smile lifted Izhak from his foul mood as he watched the elf put a dagger into his throat after whispering something into her ear.
"Dessana!" The captain exclaimed giving her name away causing this dwarf to look at the situation with a wide grin.
"Dessana, the black hearted elf who beats evil with a fist of power." Izhak let out one of many rumours surrounding the elf maiden as others sitting in their tables started to whisper to themselves. The dwarf felt sorry for "The collector" and wondered what was in that sack he'd dropped at the bar.
"Let the idiot go." Izhak said in a serious voice, not wanting to see aother man die as he narrowed his eyes and he gripped his bone flute with a side grip and placed his mouth on one end of the flute, already playing the methodic notes to start casting a spell...
Setting
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Eagleview
Black Hat Inn
Severin Ward, The Collector
Black Hat Inn
Severin Ward, The Collector
"This again, huh? Is everyone on edge here, or is it customary to greet another by threatening their life?"
His question was rhetorical and so he waited for no reply. Once he was a safe distance from the business end of the dagger, he readjusted himself and took more time to examine the people before him. Dessana... He recognized the name, it belonged to an elf that was said to be on the same quest as he. At least this is what the bandits had told him... They also spoke of a guard called Andulin, and by the looks, the taller man was him -- the dwarf just didn't scream City Guard to Sev. Plus, he just didn't like a dwarf void of a beard, there was something mischievous about it; he would have to keep an eye on that one.
Compared to earlier Sev was a different person. Since his fun had been extinguished, it was time to get down to business. He took a seat amongst the three, choosing this time to put distance between himself and the elf woman. It was then that he noticed the sounds coming from the dwarf. Staring daggers at the small stranger, he waited for silence. Sev had great disdain for bards, their music and any other street performer. They were all a nuisance, one he felt the world could do without. He cleared his throat as things grew quiet and spoke.
"How about we start over, yes? I am Severin Ward, known throughout Tane as The Collector. I am here looking for the ones called Andulin and Dessana, I was told that these are the people to speak to about a quest. Am I right in assuming you are the ones I speak of?"
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Andulin cleared his throat nervously, tugging at the sleeve of his shirt. It was not every day that he got to see and elf maiden put a dagger to a human's neck and call him a dwarf. It was not every day, for that matter, that he got to see an elf maiden.
He would have preferred never to have meet the cleric Dessana
"Yes," he answered quietly, glancing sideways at Dessana. The instant the dwarf had moved away, she had sheathed her dagger and gone back to sitting calmly in her chair. She hardly seemed to remember that the encounter had occurred. "Yes, I am Andulin. And... this is Dessana."
He swallowed again, then gave his head a vigorous shake. He had to get back to business.
"We don't have many leads, right now. All we know is that the captors headed northwest, towards the Burson Pines. There are suspicions that they may have been drow, but no one can think of an explanation for why there was no sign of entry-"
"Magic," Dessana cut him off.
Andulin turned to gaze at her.
"Excuse me?" he asked.
"I've told you this before, human," Dessana observed shortly. "A mage of Helkara could easily have done something like this."
"The mages in the Tower said that there was no trace of magi-"
"Then your mages in your Tower are fools, and ought not to have such a large say in things."
He would have preferred never to have meet the cleric Dessana
"Yes," he answered quietly, glancing sideways at Dessana. The instant the dwarf had moved away, she had sheathed her dagger and gone back to sitting calmly in her chair. She hardly seemed to remember that the encounter had occurred. "Yes, I am Andulin. And... this is Dessana."
He swallowed again, then gave his head a vigorous shake. He had to get back to business.
"We don't have many leads, right now. All we know is that the captors headed northwest, towards the Burson Pines. There are suspicions that they may have been drow, but no one can think of an explanation for why there was no sign of entry-"
"Magic," Dessana cut him off.
Andulin turned to gaze at her.
"Excuse me?" he asked.
"I've told you this before, human," Dessana observed shortly. "A mage of Helkara could easily have done something like this."
"The mages in the Tower said that there was no trace of magi-"
"Then your mages in your Tower are fools, and ought not to have such a large say in things."
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Izhak mostly for the part put his concentration to the instrument, till he glanced at the situation to find it resolved, and an angry mask looking down at him. The dwarf stoppped playing his music and stared daggers back at The Collector, for he hated people like him, more specifically: fools like him.
Though his hate for him was temporarily soothed by Sev's seriousness that he had adopted, introducing himself, then sitting down, getting things back to buisness.
The dwarf put the bone flute back in his pocket, listening intently to Andulin's words, until Dessana interrupted him with the word of magic. It could be...but such a way of thinking was lazy, to consider something unexplainable magic, even in the face of something obscure such as this.
Izhak was stroking his chin, where his thick, blond sideburns had gone to, and closed his eyes in thought.
"Perhaps...someone found a way to make magic untraceable. I'd reckon that's how it is in the tower of mages, problems, soloutions and problems to them soloutions, like everywhere else."
Even to the dwarf that didn't sound right so he quickly spoke again.
"Suppose the first door made had no lock, and the owners got everything stolen by thieves, so someone decided to make a lock. With a lock it provided safety and peace because only the owner had the key. Then came about picking locks. The only thing anyone could do was get a better lock in hopes of keeping them valuables. Suppose this mage of Helkura are thieves and the tower of 'em mages are owners. The only difference is that when someone picks a lock, someone could see that and make a better one, while on the other hand since the tower of 'em mages can't see that they're being played for fools because there is no trace for magic they can't even know of the counterpart to make magic untraceable in order to make a soloution!"
Izhak simply sat cross legged in his chair, seemingly still having a lot of breath left in him, though that's because of training with the flute, an instrument that calls for controlling one's air. Though it is a habit of the dwarf to overthink things, it could be a possibility, but then something else that came to his mind as he directed Andulin.
"If you already know where these captors are, why are we going instead of a group of soldiers?"
Though his hate for him was temporarily soothed by Sev's seriousness that he had adopted, introducing himself, then sitting down, getting things back to buisness.
The dwarf put the bone flute back in his pocket, listening intently to Andulin's words, until Dessana interrupted him with the word of magic. It could be...but such a way of thinking was lazy, to consider something unexplainable magic, even in the face of something obscure such as this.
Izhak was stroking his chin, where his thick, blond sideburns had gone to, and closed his eyes in thought.
"Perhaps...someone found a way to make magic untraceable. I'd reckon that's how it is in the tower of mages, problems, soloutions and problems to them soloutions, like everywhere else."
Even to the dwarf that didn't sound right so he quickly spoke again.
"Suppose the first door made had no lock, and the owners got everything stolen by thieves, so someone decided to make a lock. With a lock it provided safety and peace because only the owner had the key. Then came about picking locks. The only thing anyone could do was get a better lock in hopes of keeping them valuables. Suppose this mage of Helkura are thieves and the tower of 'em mages are owners. The only difference is that when someone picks a lock, someone could see that and make a better one, while on the other hand since the tower of 'em mages can't see that they're being played for fools because there is no trace for magic they can't even know of the counterpart to make magic untraceable in order to make a soloution!"
Izhak simply sat cross legged in his chair, seemingly still having a lot of breath left in him, though that's because of training with the flute, an instrument that calls for controlling one's air. Though it is a habit of the dwarf to overthink things, it could be a possibility, but then something else that came to his mind as he directed Andulin.
"If you already know where these captors are, why are we going instead of a group of soldiers?"
The pounding in Gareth’s head had gone from a hammer beating on an anvil to a woodpecker drilling one spot repeatedly, on a whole the coffee idea had been a rather bad one considering the headache was probably from dehydration, and a genius like him had to imbibe the normally delicious beverage. Fortunately his oatcakes had gone down much smoother, especially encased by a large dollop of honey to settle the stomach, and by and large his morning was beginning to shape up with a little sustenance to tide him over until his second breakfast came along. Unfortunately the almost pleasurable experience was soon shattered by a rather large, vile, someone bursting in screaming about wanting wine and women, and without a doubt this big lout was going to cause some trouble.
If he has any intelligence he’ll stay away from the warrior maiden over here.
Alas the hapless fellow seemed to hear the Kinderling’s thoughts and automatically doing the opposite, like a spoiled child used to getting his way with everything. The blundering oaf even had the audacity to whisper something in her ear, by the look on her face it was not something pleasant, and apparently it was sweet enough the Elven maiden most definitely wanted the fool’s tongue for a keepsake. That was one of the long, evil daggers they used for skinning things none-the-less, and many memories caressed his aching head of long, drunken nights playing Elven knife games, unfortunately they sometimes ended up with people losing a body part, typically a finger.
The large City Guard called out a name fearfully, sounding more fearful of the name spoken than for it, a name that was well known around the Thenet Woods. Well then this certainly has become an interesting party. Without a doubt he know that an introduction was necessary concerning the company involved, and as far as he was concerned this was turning out to be a pretty good deal for him, or would most assuredly, but there was still that unfortunate dwarf seated with the rest. I don’t mind a good tune every now and again, but dwarves… There better be some good money involved.
What followed happened to be very beneficial for the rogue, filling in the bits and pieces that he was not partial to and hearing a few ideas that were tossed around the table. Unfortunately there was not enough evidence to suggest much at this time, but like all dwarves this one had to start spouting off about some gibberish concerning locks and thieves or what have you and ending up with a conspiracy theory, which had some merit were there ANY evidence they could use at this time. Without a doubt though the next thing the left the bard’s had to be one of the most idiotic questions he had ever heard asked, and the fact that the dwarf was here without thinking about it was almost insulting to any person capable of intelligence.
"If you already know where these captors are, why are we going instead of a group of soldiers?"
“We’re cheaper mate, why pay a group of trained soldiers equipped with weapons paid for by another’s coin, do you know how expensive that is or how many rag-tag adventurers there are running around that can be bought with a little coin? Besides the obvious it can also help if they cannot be implicated in the process of fixing this problem, if we die they can deny everything and find some more fool-hardy fools. Anything else you would like to ask dwarf.”
Without a doubt Gareth’s first words to his new associates was rather caustic, but the truth was the truth and there was no reason to hide knowledge from each other, despite them being replaceable. They needed each other to survive in the ordeal to come, and knowing that the Kinderling rogue stood up; pushing his clean plate and empty mug towards the opposite side of the table, and walking towards the others he took a seat next to the Elven maiden Dessana, appearing a child seated next to the tall, dangerous woman. With a roguish smile on his lips the smallest person at the table introduced himself with just the tiniest gleam in his eyes denoting the throbbing agony that was punishing his head.
“Apologies everyone, I am a Gareth Tenderfoot of Thenet Woods and I am also interested in the quest you take.”
If he has any intelligence he’ll stay away from the warrior maiden over here.
Alas the hapless fellow seemed to hear the Kinderling’s thoughts and automatically doing the opposite, like a spoiled child used to getting his way with everything. The blundering oaf even had the audacity to whisper something in her ear, by the look on her face it was not something pleasant, and apparently it was sweet enough the Elven maiden most definitely wanted the fool’s tongue for a keepsake. That was one of the long, evil daggers they used for skinning things none-the-less, and many memories caressed his aching head of long, drunken nights playing Elven knife games, unfortunately they sometimes ended up with people losing a body part, typically a finger.
The large City Guard called out a name fearfully, sounding more fearful of the name spoken than for it, a name that was well known around the Thenet Woods. Well then this certainly has become an interesting party. Without a doubt he know that an introduction was necessary concerning the company involved, and as far as he was concerned this was turning out to be a pretty good deal for him, or would most assuredly, but there was still that unfortunate dwarf seated with the rest. I don’t mind a good tune every now and again, but dwarves… There better be some good money involved.
What followed happened to be very beneficial for the rogue, filling in the bits and pieces that he was not partial to and hearing a few ideas that were tossed around the table. Unfortunately there was not enough evidence to suggest much at this time, but like all dwarves this one had to start spouting off about some gibberish concerning locks and thieves or what have you and ending up with a conspiracy theory, which had some merit were there ANY evidence they could use at this time. Without a doubt though the next thing the left the bard’s had to be one of the most idiotic questions he had ever heard asked, and the fact that the dwarf was here without thinking about it was almost insulting to any person capable of intelligence.
"If you already know where these captors are, why are we going instead of a group of soldiers?"
“We’re cheaper mate, why pay a group of trained soldiers equipped with weapons paid for by another’s coin, do you know how expensive that is or how many rag-tag adventurers there are running around that can be bought with a little coin? Besides the obvious it can also help if they cannot be implicated in the process of fixing this problem, if we die they can deny everything and find some more fool-hardy fools. Anything else you would like to ask dwarf.”
Without a doubt Gareth’s first words to his new associates was rather caustic, but the truth was the truth and there was no reason to hide knowledge from each other, despite them being replaceable. They needed each other to survive in the ordeal to come, and knowing that the Kinderling rogue stood up; pushing his clean plate and empty mug towards the opposite side of the table, and walking towards the others he took a seat next to the Elven maiden Dessana, appearing a child seated next to the tall, dangerous woman. With a roguish smile on his lips the smallest person at the table introduced himself with just the tiniest gleam in his eyes denoting the throbbing agony that was punishing his head.
“Apologies everyone, I am a Gareth Tenderfoot of Thenet Woods and I am also interested in the quest you take.”
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Dessana gave the kinderling a frigid look as he took the seat beside her, but she said nothing. He was barilas, after all. She could tolerate him...
She turned back to the brainless mongrels who now surrounded her table.
"They are sending us because they do not know where the enemy is," she commented coldly.
"She's right," Andulin agreed, falling more into his element. "We only know that they started out towards Burson Pines. Beyond that, we have no idea where they went. They could be in Delta, for all we know."
"And with your luck, they probably are," Dessana muttered. Andulin glanced at her, but wisely made no comment. He chose, instead, to continue with his description of the quest ahead of them.
"We will be sending you with supplies," he told them. "You will travel and fight as a group. It is best that way, since we don't know what could be waiting out there. Your mission is to go rescue the citizens, above all else. If you happen to kill the enemy while you're at it, all the better."
Dessana sat perfectl still for a moment longer, and then she simply swung to her feet and walked away. She already knew the quest. She didn't need to hear the rewards. She was not in this for the money; she was in it because she was bored.
Her armor shifted as she headed over to the bar, ignoring Andulin's eyes on her back. The bartender slid a goblet of fine elven wine across to her. He did not make eye contact; he had learned from his first encounter with the elf maiden. She raised the glass to her lips, pointedly ignoring Andulin, who decided to go back to his explanations.
"Each of you will earn two hundred gold pieces for the quest," he told them. "Plus fifty for every beast you kill. We will supply you with potions and a few magical items, though there are not many that the mages are willing to give up. We will make sure you have armor, weapons, ammunition, anything you need to get this mission done with. If you choose to accept the mission, you leave in the morning."
He nodded towards Dessana, at the bar.
"She'll be going with you."
She turned back to the brainless mongrels who now surrounded her table.
"They are sending us because they do not know where the enemy is," she commented coldly.
"She's right," Andulin agreed, falling more into his element. "We only know that they started out towards Burson Pines. Beyond that, we have no idea where they went. They could be in Delta, for all we know."
"And with your luck, they probably are," Dessana muttered. Andulin glanced at her, but wisely made no comment. He chose, instead, to continue with his description of the quest ahead of them.
"We will be sending you with supplies," he told them. "You will travel and fight as a group. It is best that way, since we don't know what could be waiting out there. Your mission is to go rescue the citizens, above all else. If you happen to kill the enemy while you're at it, all the better."
Dessana sat perfectl still for a moment longer, and then she simply swung to her feet and walked away. She already knew the quest. She didn't need to hear the rewards. She was not in this for the money; she was in it because she was bored.
Her armor shifted as she headed over to the bar, ignoring Andulin's eyes on her back. The bartender slid a goblet of fine elven wine across to her. He did not make eye contact; he had learned from his first encounter with the elf maiden. She raised the glass to her lips, pointedly ignoring Andulin, who decided to go back to his explanations.
"Each of you will earn two hundred gold pieces for the quest," he told them. "Plus fifty for every beast you kill. We will supply you with potions and a few magical items, though there are not many that the mages are willing to give up. We will make sure you have armor, weapons, ammunition, anything you need to get this mission done with. If you choose to accept the mission, you leave in the morning."
He nodded towards Dessana, at the bar.
"She'll be going with you."
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Loto sat in the darkest corner of the tavern. He was dressed in civilian cloths with his few belongings in a bag at his feet.
His hair had grown long after two years alone in the forest. His brothers in the Black Hood were nowhere to be seen these days.
Perhaps they had abandoned their forest mission or were all dead. It did not matter. He was a deserter, and if they found
him he would be the dead one.
The Wood had called to him to be her protector, but that did not stop him from feeling useless. He felt once again
like the bastard boy that longed for meaning to his existence. Loto, Lord of the Forgotten once again. It was his curiosity of the world
beyond the tree line that brought him to Eagleview, and the posters and rumors that brought him to the tavern. His noble
blood once again got the best of him as he felt the pain of injustice. The paradox of duality once again touched the
innocent with the tip of it's black tongue. The world is full of beauty and pain. It's the dance of forever light and
darkness.
Across the bar he could see the Guardsman who posted the posters hoping for highwaymen and sellswords to lend a hand. It
was the elf woman that gave Loto reason to sit in the corner and just watch. She was beautiful beyond the spectrum of even
the elves. Nothing in this world sang of allure more than she did. Her hair fell like heavy golden rain around her delicate
face, and her eyes scintillated like deep cerulean pools of mystery. She could only be Dessana warrior maiden of the Woodland
elves. The black Hood had a special code name for her, The Wandering Shrew. She was a fierce fighter and her heart was as
black as the deepest part of the forest where no man dare to go, well no man except for Loto. They were giving one order
when it came to dealing with The Wandering Shrew...RUN. So, it was this reason Loto chose to observe before making himself
known.
It was not long before the Dwarven Bard that everyone had been speaking about joined Dessana at the table. The Dwarf was
younger that Loto had thought, but there was no doubt that he had walked the earth longer that Loto himself. His style was
impressive and his aura was full of life. Music was the sound that moved the heart of creation, and Loto could tell the
dwarf knew music. All creatures had their place in the dance, and why not this dwarf.
Loto pulled a pipe from his bag and filled it with the good herb of the forest floors. He needed to think. He lit the pipe
and took a long pull of it's smoke. He witnessed a small kinderling sit at a table closest to the growing party. Hopefully
he would join their cause. His small size could provide a strange advantage on and off the battlefield. "An entire forest
exists within one acorn" he thought.
It wasn't long before the hustle of the tavern was broken by a loud smash of the doors. In walked a man slightly smaller,
but stalker than Loto. He was boisterous and smelled of blood. His burst of interruption was followed by his belligerent
demands of wine and women. He through his large sack on the bar with carelessness. "This man is like an ignorant bull
in a small pottery shop knocking over everything in a path of destruction." Loto thought.
Loto saw him walk up to Dessana and whisper something that was most likely provocative. "This stupid man is indubitably
ignorant. Why, he's most likely to get his head..." Sure enough before Loto could finish his thought a blade was at the
moron's throat. Loto felt the entire tavern respond to the action.
"This again, huh? Is everyone on edge here, or is it customary to greet another by threatening their life?"
"Stupid man, it's also not customary to greet another with loud demands and sensual whispers." Loto thought.
"How about we start over, yes? I am Severin Ward, known throughout Tane as The Collector. I am here looking for the ones
called Andulin and Dessana, I was told that these are the people to speak to about a quest. Am I right in assuming you
are the ones I speak of?"
Now things made more sense. Sev the collector was who the Black Hood called the Brainless Beast of Battle. His hammers
were strong, and his mind was just as blunt. Their orders for dealing with the fool were to taunt him and dodge his blows
until his armor and hammers exhausted the man, and then go in for a swift kill. The eye slots in his mask also made good
targets for arrows. However, they would need him on their side. "He would make a good berserker that's for sure" the
thought of battle tactics brought Loto back to his days in the military.
Loto listened as the party discussed the mission at hand. Dessana was sure magic was involved, but the young Dwarf was open
to other possibilities. It did not matter to Loto what happened, or how it was done, but WHY was it done. What was the point?
They continued to banter which only seemed like a waste of time to Loto. The longer they talked, the further the enemy could
get. The Kinderling revealed himself to be Gareth Tenderfoot of the Thanet Woods which brought a smile to Loto's face.
Any friend of the forest was a friend of Loto's. He looked forward to sharing spirits with the small but courageous rouge.
Loto saw Dessana cross the tavern and sit at the bar as the guard rambled on about gold and rewards. Loto had no use for
these things. He followed only the laws of nature, and the wind never whispered and words of ownership, or riches as it
danced through the forest canopy. Loto knew that it was the connection that every living thing shared within that would hold
the party together, not gold.
It was Dessana's inner spirit that would be the hardest to connect with. Loto knew that he must gain her trust quickly, and in
return gain the trust of the whole party. He must tame the shrew. He withdrew the victory blade that was given to him for
being best combatant in basic training. It was the last thing connecting him to the outside world. The rest of his belongings
were provided by the forest. He hated to see it part, but he knew he needed Dessana more than he needed a blade. Hands and
arrows were his weapon of choice anyway.
He got up and moved across the tavern giving a slight smirk in Sev's direction, "Ill show him how to properly approach a woman of
such grace." He sat beside her at the bar, and did not look at her. He just withdrew the blade and placed it on the bar
before him with the hilt facing the Elvan beauty.
He felt a strange fear begging to burn in his chest. It was a fear he felt only once when Misara held him in her loving arms.
He did not know why the elf affected him in this way, but he knew victory without her was impassable.
"Diessyanya daughter of Asuran, I present this gift to you as a token of my trust and loyalty to your cause. May your enemies
be paralyzed by your beauty, and may your fists guide them further into the light of Misara where they will be reborn into riotousness.
He left the blade at the bar, and got up to join the rest of the party at the table, while still avoiding her gaze.
His hair had grown long after two years alone in the forest. His brothers in the Black Hood were nowhere to be seen these days.
Perhaps they had abandoned their forest mission or were all dead. It did not matter. He was a deserter, and if they found
him he would be the dead one.
The Wood had called to him to be her protector, but that did not stop him from feeling useless. He felt once again
like the bastard boy that longed for meaning to his existence. Loto, Lord of the Forgotten once again. It was his curiosity of the world
beyond the tree line that brought him to Eagleview, and the posters and rumors that brought him to the tavern. His noble
blood once again got the best of him as he felt the pain of injustice. The paradox of duality once again touched the
innocent with the tip of it's black tongue. The world is full of beauty and pain. It's the dance of forever light and
darkness.
Across the bar he could see the Guardsman who posted the posters hoping for highwaymen and sellswords to lend a hand. It
was the elf woman that gave Loto reason to sit in the corner and just watch. She was beautiful beyond the spectrum of even
the elves. Nothing in this world sang of allure more than she did. Her hair fell like heavy golden rain around her delicate
face, and her eyes scintillated like deep cerulean pools of mystery. She could only be Dessana warrior maiden of the Woodland
elves. The black Hood had a special code name for her, The Wandering Shrew. She was a fierce fighter and her heart was as
black as the deepest part of the forest where no man dare to go, well no man except for Loto. They were giving one order
when it came to dealing with The Wandering Shrew...RUN. So, it was this reason Loto chose to observe before making himself
known.
It was not long before the Dwarven Bard that everyone had been speaking about joined Dessana at the table. The Dwarf was
younger that Loto had thought, but there was no doubt that he had walked the earth longer that Loto himself. His style was
impressive and his aura was full of life. Music was the sound that moved the heart of creation, and Loto could tell the
dwarf knew music. All creatures had their place in the dance, and why not this dwarf.
Loto pulled a pipe from his bag and filled it with the good herb of the forest floors. He needed to think. He lit the pipe
and took a long pull of it's smoke. He witnessed a small kinderling sit at a table closest to the growing party. Hopefully
he would join their cause. His small size could provide a strange advantage on and off the battlefield. "An entire forest
exists within one acorn" he thought.
It wasn't long before the hustle of the tavern was broken by a loud smash of the doors. In walked a man slightly smaller,
but stalker than Loto. He was boisterous and smelled of blood. His burst of interruption was followed by his belligerent
demands of wine and women. He through his large sack on the bar with carelessness. "This man is like an ignorant bull
in a small pottery shop knocking over everything in a path of destruction." Loto thought.
Loto saw him walk up to Dessana and whisper something that was most likely provocative. "This stupid man is indubitably
ignorant. Why, he's most likely to get his head..." Sure enough before Loto could finish his thought a blade was at the
moron's throat. Loto felt the entire tavern respond to the action.
"This again, huh? Is everyone on edge here, or is it customary to greet another by threatening their life?"
"Stupid man, it's also not customary to greet another with loud demands and sensual whispers." Loto thought.
"How about we start over, yes? I am Severin Ward, known throughout Tane as The Collector. I am here looking for the ones
called Andulin and Dessana, I was told that these are the people to speak to about a quest. Am I right in assuming you
are the ones I speak of?"
Now things made more sense. Sev the collector was who the Black Hood called the Brainless Beast of Battle. His hammers
were strong, and his mind was just as blunt. Their orders for dealing with the fool were to taunt him and dodge his blows
until his armor and hammers exhausted the man, and then go in for a swift kill. The eye slots in his mask also made good
targets for arrows. However, they would need him on their side. "He would make a good berserker that's for sure" the
thought of battle tactics brought Loto back to his days in the military.
Loto listened as the party discussed the mission at hand. Dessana was sure magic was involved, but the young Dwarf was open
to other possibilities. It did not matter to Loto what happened, or how it was done, but WHY was it done. What was the point?
They continued to banter which only seemed like a waste of time to Loto. The longer they talked, the further the enemy could
get. The Kinderling revealed himself to be Gareth Tenderfoot of the Thanet Woods which brought a smile to Loto's face.
Any friend of the forest was a friend of Loto's. He looked forward to sharing spirits with the small but courageous rouge.
Loto saw Dessana cross the tavern and sit at the bar as the guard rambled on about gold and rewards. Loto had no use for
these things. He followed only the laws of nature, and the wind never whispered and words of ownership, or riches as it
danced through the forest canopy. Loto knew that it was the connection that every living thing shared within that would hold
the party together, not gold.
It was Dessana's inner spirit that would be the hardest to connect with. Loto knew that he must gain her trust quickly, and in
return gain the trust of the whole party. He must tame the shrew. He withdrew the victory blade that was given to him for
being best combatant in basic training. It was the last thing connecting him to the outside world. The rest of his belongings
were provided by the forest. He hated to see it part, but he knew he needed Dessana more than he needed a blade. Hands and
arrows were his weapon of choice anyway.
He got up and moved across the tavern giving a slight smirk in Sev's direction, "Ill show him how to properly approach a woman of
such grace." He sat beside her at the bar, and did not look at her. He just withdrew the blade and placed it on the bar
before him with the hilt facing the Elvan beauty.
He felt a strange fear begging to burn in his chest. It was a fear he felt only once when Misara held him in her loving arms.
He did not know why the elf affected him in this way, but he knew victory without her was impassable.
"Diessyanya daughter of Asuran, I present this gift to you as a token of my trust and loyalty to your cause. May your enemies
be paralyzed by your beauty, and may your fists guide them further into the light of Misara where they will be reborn into riotousness.
He left the blade at the bar, and got up to join the rest of the party at the table, while still avoiding her gaze.
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Izhak eyed the smaller fellow who spoke up, Gareth apparently his name was, and watched him sit next to Dessana. The dwarf waited for some sort of blood to be spilled, expecting the rumours of the elven maiden to be true, yet she remained stoic and went over to the counter. Probably ordered wine though Izhak considered wine to be sour...
Perhaps she is not as unapproachable as the rumours led it to be.
With that, the bard turned back to Andulin, who currently briefed the group about money. The dwarf himself was not concerned about money, considering the fact that he was losing money from all the mead a tavern has to offer, it was his father that he was more concerned about. With a smile on his face the dwarve glanced at the kinderling that had answered his quiestion earlier.
"Right, I forgot to introduce myself, Gareth, Sev, my name is-" He paused tilting his head towards Dessana and the new victim that had approached him.
"He he, victim number two." Izhak snickered as he watched Loto's attempt to woo her. He pulled out a dagger from his pocket, though he had looked confident, he had a tell tale sign of fear. His foot was shaking, though it would be hard for Dessana herself to see or know Izhak could see it.
The dwarf nodded his head in respect for the fact that he overheard his speeh and took a glance towards Sev, then Loto, then Sev again and back to Loto as he approached the table.
"Nice to see ya didn't bleed." Izhak commented to the new human that had now approached the table.
"Good to meet ya, the name's Izhak." The bard said, waiting for the new addition to the group to introduce himself.
Perhaps she is not as unapproachable as the rumours led it to be.
With that, the bard turned back to Andulin, who currently briefed the group about money. The dwarf himself was not concerned about money, considering the fact that he was losing money from all the mead a tavern has to offer, it was his father that he was more concerned about. With a smile on his face the dwarve glanced at the kinderling that had answered his quiestion earlier.
"Right, I forgot to introduce myself, Gareth, Sev, my name is-" He paused tilting his head towards Dessana and the new victim that had approached him.
"He he, victim number two." Izhak snickered as he watched Loto's attempt to woo her. He pulled out a dagger from his pocket, though he had looked confident, he had a tell tale sign of fear. His foot was shaking, though it would be hard for Dessana herself to see or know Izhak could see it.
The dwarf nodded his head in respect for the fact that he overheard his speeh and took a glance towards Sev, then Loto, then Sev again and back to Loto as he approached the table.
"Nice to see ya didn't bleed." Izhak commented to the new human that had now approached the table.
"Good to meet ya, the name's Izhak." The bard said, waiting for the new addition to the group to introduce himself.
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Dessana was sitting in silence at the bar, sipping at her tankard. She would never have expected someone to approach her. That was simply something that one did not do. She was black-hearted, untouchable. No man could advance upon her. So when the druid first approached her, she could not believe what he was doing.
He was a strange creature to look at, as all humans were to her eyes. He looked tall, and very strong, with black hair and dark brown eyes. He looked like a fighter, but not the sort which she was used to. His eyes glittered with intelligence; cleverness, even. He seemed to be thinking with every movement, his mind moving a thousand miles faster than his body. There was a flash of fear in his eyes, of course, but that was to be expected from any intelligent man who was daft enough to approach her.
It was the cloak he wore that really gave her pause, caused her to hesitate, and so gave him his life. It resembled quite closely the cloaks of her own people; a perfect modeling of greens to better blend in with the background of a forest. It was that which told her this man was a druid; only a druid would wear such garb.
Only a druid would approach her, already knowing who she was.
She watched him through unfaltering eyes as he took a seat beside her, drawing his blade and laying it gently on the table beside her, hilt facing towards her hands. She could not quite fathom his actions, until he spoke.
"Diessyanya daughter of Asuran, I present this gift to you as a token of my trust and loyalty to your cause. May your enemies
be paralyzed by your beauty, and may your fists guide them further into the light of Misara where they will be reborn into riotousness."
Without another word; without so much as looking at Dessana; the man slid out of his seat and walked away once more, towards the table full of her soon-to-be-comrades. She remained still and silent, uncomprehending.
That man; that human man; had used her full name. Her true name.
_______________
Andulin watched the people who surrounded him almost anxiously. He prayed that they would soon band together. The bonds would be important; if they were not strong enough, the heroes were likely to perish.
It was then that Loto, the druid, approached the table. Andulin had been watching him out of the corner of his eye; as he had been watching Dessana. He was shocked by the man's actions; even more-so that he was still alive. And Dessana did not seem particularly bothered by it.
"Welcome, stranger," Andulin greeted him, still watching Dessana warily. "What, may I ask, did you do to survive?"
He was a strange creature to look at, as all humans were to her eyes. He looked tall, and very strong, with black hair and dark brown eyes. He looked like a fighter, but not the sort which she was used to. His eyes glittered with intelligence; cleverness, even. He seemed to be thinking with every movement, his mind moving a thousand miles faster than his body. There was a flash of fear in his eyes, of course, but that was to be expected from any intelligent man who was daft enough to approach her.
It was the cloak he wore that really gave her pause, caused her to hesitate, and so gave him his life. It resembled quite closely the cloaks of her own people; a perfect modeling of greens to better blend in with the background of a forest. It was that which told her this man was a druid; only a druid would wear such garb.
Only a druid would approach her, already knowing who she was.
She watched him through unfaltering eyes as he took a seat beside her, drawing his blade and laying it gently on the table beside her, hilt facing towards her hands. She could not quite fathom his actions, until he spoke.
"Diessyanya daughter of Asuran, I present this gift to you as a token of my trust and loyalty to your cause. May your enemies
be paralyzed by your beauty, and may your fists guide them further into the light of Misara where they will be reborn into riotousness."
Without another word; without so much as looking at Dessana; the man slid out of his seat and walked away once more, towards the table full of her soon-to-be-comrades. She remained still and silent, uncomprehending.
That man; that human man; had used her full name. Her true name.
_______________
Andulin watched the people who surrounded him almost anxiously. He prayed that they would soon band together. The bonds would be important; if they were not strong enough, the heroes were likely to perish.
It was then that Loto, the druid, approached the table. Andulin had been watching him out of the corner of his eye; as he had been watching Dessana. He was shocked by the man's actions; even more-so that he was still alive. And Dessana did not seem particularly bothered by it.
"Welcome, stranger," Andulin greeted him, still watching Dessana warily. "What, may I ask, did you do to survive?"
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"Good to meet ya, the name's Izhak."
"I am Loto." He gave the Dwarf an approving smile before taking a seat beside him. "Just Loto for now." He dare not give any
other name information. He was still a wanted deserter and it was wise to assume any of these men would turn him in for a
handsome reward.
"Welcome Stranger. What, may I ask, did you do to survive?"
"A fear of Death is simply as foolish as a fear of Birth." Loto gave the guard a hard stare. "If Dessana were going to kill me
I would rather she do it now and save herself the guilt of watching me die on the battlefield because she couldn't trust me.
I gave her a weapon to do it with, and my back as a perfect target, and yet here I stand. Fear will cut you deeper than any blade
and trust will guard you better than any shield."
"To understand Dessana you must understand the laws of nature. The butterfly sports bright colors as a warning to
preditors of it's poison within, just as her beauty should be a warning of her strong spirit. Imagine if you were
the most beautiful thing in all of Thane. Everywhere you go you have people staring and asking things of you. Is it
easier to swat a fly or let it crawl upon your skin, licking the sweat from your body in it's delight?" He smerked at the guard.
"She shines like the sun who's gravity pulls all things toward it only to burn them to dust when they get too close." He gave Sev a disapproving scowl.
Ignorance was what he hated most. The burly man was that and predictable.
"I wish I had gifts for you all, but I am a man of few possessions. I do, however, have wisdom to offer this one here." He pointed
an accusing finger at Sev. "You sir have allowed yourself to become as blunt as the weapons you wield. If I were you I would take a long look
at your reflection and realize that you are not a hammer, and everything you see is not a nail." He smiled at the young dwarf
beside him. "In combat I learned that it is not about how hard you punch someone, but rather punching them in the correct spot.
A hard punch will lead to a broken hand, but a well aimed punch will lead to a broken skull." He winked at Sev before turning his eyes
to the guard Capitan.
"Now lets us address the one thing that is and will kill us all, TIME! Time is the destroyer and creator of all things, and right now
time is in the hand of our enemies. Time for them to flee, time for them to set traps, time for them to plan, time for them to
torcher, and kill their captives. We must be on our way if we want to get time back on our side."
"I am Loto." He gave the Dwarf an approving smile before taking a seat beside him. "Just Loto for now." He dare not give any
other name information. He was still a wanted deserter and it was wise to assume any of these men would turn him in for a
handsome reward.
"Welcome Stranger. What, may I ask, did you do to survive?"
"A fear of Death is simply as foolish as a fear of Birth." Loto gave the guard a hard stare. "If Dessana were going to kill me
I would rather she do it now and save herself the guilt of watching me die on the battlefield because she couldn't trust me.
I gave her a weapon to do it with, and my back as a perfect target, and yet here I stand. Fear will cut you deeper than any blade
and trust will guard you better than any shield."
"To understand Dessana you must understand the laws of nature. The butterfly sports bright colors as a warning to
preditors of it's poison within, just as her beauty should be a warning of her strong spirit. Imagine if you were
the most beautiful thing in all of Thane. Everywhere you go you have people staring and asking things of you. Is it
easier to swat a fly or let it crawl upon your skin, licking the sweat from your body in it's delight?" He smerked at the guard.
"She shines like the sun who's gravity pulls all things toward it only to burn them to dust when they get too close." He gave Sev a disapproving scowl.
Ignorance was what he hated most. The burly man was that and predictable.
"I wish I had gifts for you all, but I am a man of few possessions. I do, however, have wisdom to offer this one here." He pointed
an accusing finger at Sev. "You sir have allowed yourself to become as blunt as the weapons you wield. If I were you I would take a long look
at your reflection and realize that you are not a hammer, and everything you see is not a nail." He smiled at the young dwarf
beside him. "In combat I learned that it is not about how hard you punch someone, but rather punching them in the correct spot.
A hard punch will lead to a broken hand, but a well aimed punch will lead to a broken skull." He winked at Sev before turning his eyes
to the guard Capitan.
"Now lets us address the one thing that is and will kill us all, TIME! Time is the destroyer and creator of all things, and right now
time is in the hand of our enemies. Time for them to flee, time for them to set traps, time for them to plan, time for them to
torcher, and kill their captives. We must be on our way if we want to get time back on our side."
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Eagleview
Black Hat Inn
Severin Ward, The Collector
Black Hat Inn
Severin Ward, The Collector
In fact, Sev would have left ages ago, but it seemed this would be a group effort. If he was going to do this quest, he would have to do it on their terms and that meant working with others. Words couldn't describe how happy he was about this. It's not that Sev didn't like people; he had just been taught to be a solo act. Because in the end, you are all you have. Everything else is just dead weight, encumbering you on your journey through life. The Sand Disciples had taught him how to free himself of such burdens, how to survive, how to be an army of one. So Sev would travel with them, but he will be a separate entity.
At least he had the gold to look forward to... Two hundred gold coins, plus fifty for every kill; he would need a wagon to carry his fortune. Sev wasn't called The Collector just for his knack at fetching; he also had a deep, passionate love for collecting. Throughout his travels, he has amassed quite the dragon's hoard. This was being kept safe in a very secure location back home in the Sheffindai Desert. His spirits were lifted at the thought of returning to it. One day, if he did not die a warrior's death, he would retire with it all...
"And what are you smiling at?" Sev mumbled.
Sev's thoughts had been momentarily interrupted by a strange man, smirking at him. It was slight and probably not intended, but Sev couldn't help but think there was a meaning behind. It was as if the man were saying, "Naive child, watch a man at work." Yes, it was a bit much, regardless, this stranger had earned Sev's attention, and so he would see just how deserving of it he was.
Sev lips parted in a chesire grin, one of which could probably be seen through his mask. Such joy was brought on when Sev figured out what the stranger had planned to do. The fool had approached the elven maiden, no doubt planning to gain her affection. His mind raced with the many thoughts of what the ill-tempered wench would do.
"Slap him? No, too subtle. Stab him? No, she wouldn't use the same threat twice. Oh, maybe she will pound him into the floor! Damn... Hopefully she won't get too much of his blood on my belongings."
Sev sat in delighted disgust as he watched the stranger sit next to Dessana, spewing his well rehearsed lines. His anticipation only grew as he saw the man remove a dagger. "So he has provided his executioner with a weapon, how nice of him." But, to his dismay, the stranger walked away unscathed. He nearly jumped out of his chair in disapproval, but he wouldn't give the stranger the satisfaction. Instead he sat coolly as this stranger joined them. It was now obvious what he was after. He didn't want her affection, no; he was after something more valuable, more deceptive: her trust. His stomach turned over at the thought of this.
"Tell me, is your tongue in pain from that entire boot licking? If so, I have the perfect salve."
There was no smirk or chuckle that followed his words, the phrase was meant to cut. Sev then continued to listen as Loto spoke and returned an equal insult. There were brief thoughts of attacking the man, but some of what he said held truth. The bit about them leaving, anyway. So Sev simply nodded and left the table. He then returned his sack to his hand, before throwing it over his shoulder. Whether everyone else was ready or not, he would wait outside. And if nobody should follow, he would get a head start and make camp on the road.
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Loto's eyes followed Sev as he walked out the door. "Well it looks like one of us has the right Idea." He got up and pushed
his chair in."Perhaps he isn't ignorant after all. I'll see you both on the other side." Loto gave his new comrades a friendly
nod."Peace be with you Capitan."
Loto picked up his sack and exited the tavern to join Sev in his walk. He knew that he would need Sev's great strength in
these unsure times, and he would not allow any of his new friends to feel alone before facing passable death. "Hello their"
He called after the metal man. "I'm glad to see you understood what I said about time." Loto was hoping he could catch up to
Sev and walk with him before any of the others caught up.
"Look my friend, I hope I didn't offend you back there. Don't think that I find you useless or completely dimwitted." Loto
smiled hoping to lighten the mood."These are dark and confusing times and we both need to be at our best. Why you have great
strength and I bet wearing that armor all day has boosted your endurance tenfold. If you took it off I bet you would be
so fast that I would have no chance dodging your hammers." Loto could have kissed the clansman's ass even more if they
hadn't been stopped by a city tramp.
"Scuze me sirs, but do you happen to have any spare gold to offer a lonely man on a cold night." the tramp said.L
Loto looked the dirty man up and down. His boots were finer than any tramp Loto had meet. He also looked to well fed
to be a starving beggar. Loto withdrew his bow and placed a simple arrow on it's string. "Sorry Jimmy, but you don't
look very down on your luck to me."
"Eh ta hell with you both" said the man while removing the club that he hid behind his leg. "spose I just takes it from
yahs then."
"Well your about the stupidest bandit I've ever seen. Why would you threaten two men, one in full armor, with your child's
club." He pulled back his bow and aimed his arrow between the bandit's eyes. "Me and this guy, we're a team, and we own the
night."
Loto finished his soliloquie in time to spot several other bandit's approach from other directions in the alleyway. Approximately
Twenty thugs, and over half with armor and Iron weapons. This gang of thieves must have been at work for a while.
"Nothing like a battle to bring two brothers together. Fifty gold pieces each, and I'm sure the fabled "Collector" is not going
to let some unknown druid out score him." Loto let his arrow fly with a smile on his face.
his chair in."Perhaps he isn't ignorant after all. I'll see you both on the other side." Loto gave his new comrades a friendly
nod."Peace be with you Capitan."
Loto picked up his sack and exited the tavern to join Sev in his walk. He knew that he would need Sev's great strength in
these unsure times, and he would not allow any of his new friends to feel alone before facing passable death. "Hello their"
He called after the metal man. "I'm glad to see you understood what I said about time." Loto was hoping he could catch up to
Sev and walk with him before any of the others caught up.
"Look my friend, I hope I didn't offend you back there. Don't think that I find you useless or completely dimwitted." Loto
smiled hoping to lighten the mood."These are dark and confusing times and we both need to be at our best. Why you have great
strength and I bet wearing that armor all day has boosted your endurance tenfold. If you took it off I bet you would be
so fast that I would have no chance dodging your hammers." Loto could have kissed the clansman's ass even more if they
hadn't been stopped by a city tramp.
"Scuze me sirs, but do you happen to have any spare gold to offer a lonely man on a cold night." the tramp said.L
Loto looked the dirty man up and down. His boots were finer than any tramp Loto had meet. He also looked to well fed
to be a starving beggar. Loto withdrew his bow and placed a simple arrow on it's string. "Sorry Jimmy, but you don't
look very down on your luck to me."
"Eh ta hell with you both" said the man while removing the club that he hid behind his leg. "spose I just takes it from
yahs then."
"Well your about the stupidest bandit I've ever seen. Why would you threaten two men, one in full armor, with your child's
club." He pulled back his bow and aimed his arrow between the bandit's eyes. "Me and this guy, we're a team, and we own the
night."
Loto finished his soliloquie in time to spot several other bandit's approach from other directions in the alleyway. Approximately
Twenty thugs, and over half with armor and Iron weapons. This gang of thieves must have been at work for a while.
"Nothing like a battle to bring two brothers together. Fifty gold pieces each, and I'm sure the fabled "Collector" is not going
to let some unknown druid out score him." Loto let his arrow fly with a smile on his face.
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Dessana saw Loto and Sev leave from where she sat at the bar. She placed her empty goblet down, alongside several copper coins, and came easily to her feet. She hesitated before taking the blade that Loto had left on the bar beside her, sliding it into one of the belts which blended so seamlessly with her elven chain that many would not have known that there was a belt there. She made no move to acknowledge Gareth or Andulin, who still sat at the table, as she turned and strode across the bar. Wary eyes followed her until she walked out the door; she was well known in this city for the speed and force of her gauntlet-clad fists.
She had barely made it out of the door before she recognized the situation. Bandits. They were not uncommon around Eagleview, though they did not generally gather in such great numbers within the city itself. They were really not a concern to any experienced traveler. Weaklings who wielded clubs and terror as though they owned th world; they were almost as easy to knock down as their egos. There was no danger to Loto or Dessana, perhaps even less to the Collector. She would not have even bothered with acting, except that they were pressed for time.
As the first of the bandits started to charge, Dessana narrowed her eyes, lifting one hand to the amulet of Misara which hung at her throat.
"Their noise annoys me," she called in a quiet voice that nontheless carried. "Misara, make them still!"
The noise which rent the air then was deafening. The buildings around them; even the street itself; seemed to tremble with the immensity of it, as Misara aided in the casting of her spell. Thunderclap. A useful spell, especially on creatures as weak as them. The noise blasted their minds as much as their ears, stunning them, and they stopped dead, shaking their heads like confused dogs. The spell was expertly cast, with Loto and Sev just out of range.
It was her signature spell, after all. Naturally, she would know how to place it.
"We don't have time for games," she called in a voice which could only be described as bored. "Play when we're on the trail. Not in the city."
Without another word, Dessana strode past them up the street, heading for the city gates.
_____________
Andulin jumped sharply as thunder sounded, quite literally just outside of the Black Hat Inn. He sighed quietly, relieved that Dessana would soon be leaving. The city became undeniably quieter when she wasn't around.
"Go ahead, Gareth," he murmured, rubbing at his brow. "Join your comrades. I'm afraid I will not be accompanying you on this mission."
She had barely made it out of the door before she recognized the situation. Bandits. They were not uncommon around Eagleview, though they did not generally gather in such great numbers within the city itself. They were really not a concern to any experienced traveler. Weaklings who wielded clubs and terror as though they owned th world; they were almost as easy to knock down as their egos. There was no danger to Loto or Dessana, perhaps even less to the Collector. She would not have even bothered with acting, except that they were pressed for time.
As the first of the bandits started to charge, Dessana narrowed her eyes, lifting one hand to the amulet of Misara which hung at her throat.
"Their noise annoys me," she called in a quiet voice that nontheless carried. "Misara, make them still!"
The noise which rent the air then was deafening. The buildings around them; even the street itself; seemed to tremble with the immensity of it, as Misara aided in the casting of her spell. Thunderclap. A useful spell, especially on creatures as weak as them. The noise blasted their minds as much as their ears, stunning them, and they stopped dead, shaking their heads like confused dogs. The spell was expertly cast, with Loto and Sev just out of range.
It was her signature spell, after all. Naturally, she would know how to place it.
"We don't have time for games," she called in a voice which could only be described as bored. "Play when we're on the trail. Not in the city."
Without another word, Dessana strode past them up the street, heading for the city gates.
_____________
Andulin jumped sharply as thunder sounded, quite literally just outside of the Black Hat Inn. He sighed quietly, relieved that Dessana would soon be leaving. The city became undeniably quieter when she wasn't around.
"Go ahead, Gareth," he murmured, rubbing at his brow. "Join your comrades. I'm afraid I will not be accompanying you on this mission."
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Loto's arrow found it's target in the eye of a bandit several yards away. He dropped his bow and caught a club with one hand
before it kissed his face. He yanked the club from the man's grasp and swung it back around breaking the man's jaw.
"I suppose that's what you meant to do." He dropped the club at the mans feet as he sprawled about in agony.
Quickly Loto threw his bow over his back, and began to make his way to the outer edge of the gang. He pounced on a bandit
and rained fists on his face, but his rage was interrupted by and earth shattering sound behind him.
Dessana had used one of her spells to stun the surrounding mob. Loto knew she wouldn't be too far behind, but he was hoping to
see the legendary elf in action.
"We don't have time for games. Play when we're on the trail. Not in the city." Loto felt like a child being taught a lesson by his
mother.
Loto removed the arrow from the dead bandit's eyeball as he watched Dessana head towards the gate. He took a seat on the
bandit's back and looked at Sev. "Better be after her brother. I'll wait here for the others." Loto wasn't sure of Sev or
Dessana's opinion of him, and he was eager to get to know his smaller companions. "This time don't anger her with your whispers."
before it kissed his face. He yanked the club from the man's grasp and swung it back around breaking the man's jaw.
"I suppose that's what you meant to do." He dropped the club at the mans feet as he sprawled about in agony.
Quickly Loto threw his bow over his back, and began to make his way to the outer edge of the gang. He pounced on a bandit
and rained fists on his face, but his rage was interrupted by and earth shattering sound behind him.
Dessana had used one of her spells to stun the surrounding mob. Loto knew she wouldn't be too far behind, but he was hoping to
see the legendary elf in action.
"We don't have time for games. Play when we're on the trail. Not in the city." Loto felt like a child being taught a lesson by his
mother.
Loto removed the arrow from the dead bandit's eyeball as he watched Dessana head towards the gate. He took a seat on the
bandit's back and looked at Sev. "Better be after her brother. I'll wait here for the others." Loto wasn't sure of Sev or
Dessana's opinion of him, and he was eager to get to know his smaller companions. "This time don't anger her with your whispers."
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Izhak listened to Loto's words of wisdom, surprised that such a human was blessed by the gods with such wisdom, silently agreeing with his statement about moving out into battle. Though he first feined the thought for the first few seconds he knew he had to leave sometime and now was as good a time as any other. Though Sev had went outside, Izhak checked himself for the weapons that he had.
Flute. Held within his own hands,
warhammer Still hidden under the cloth that draped his chest.
The dwarf took a sigh as he started to think about sleeping in the wild and going through different obstacles. Since he had silently escaped from Shakere, from an age of only 38 it was probably considered an unlawful act, where Izhak must be swiftly punished. Till then the dwarf only slept inside the caves that littered the mountains, something that was only second nature to him, and when he went down from the mountains he always spent the nights in inn's or tavern's passed out. He'd never spent a night outside, let alone the times in the mountains. The very though of it made his stomach churn a bit but was abruptly brung back to reality at the sound of lightning that made the dwarf fall to the ground in surprise right off his chair.
"Ahh son of a-" Izhak swore as he got back up and started to walk outside. He needed to cheer up and he knew it; after all it was only the morning and all of a sudden an idea popped into his head as he walked with the bone flute in his hands.
♪ "Tis the journey of five adventurers ♪
Off to claim
♫ Those who are missed, ♫
One's a bard
♪ Another's a thief, ♪
One's wise human
♫ What a first! ♫
A brute with hammers
♪ And a femme fatale ♪
Who's fists are death and
♫ The whole world against them." ♫
The dwarf made it outside as he sang the song, now in front of Loto, who for some reason, sat on the back of a bandit. A small ball of light, about the size of his thumb circled around his head, till he grabbed it with his empty palm. It was something that had just happened when he made music, whether singing, playing, or even whistling, though the light they emittted always started to dim down as soon as silence ensued.
"Having fun I see, aint you?" Izhak grinned as he opened his palm but kept still of the ball of light with his index finger and thumb as it started to slowly die out.
Flute. Held within his own hands,
The dwarf took a sigh as he started to think about sleeping in the wild and going through different obstacles. Since he had silently escaped from Shakere, from an age of only 38 it was probably considered an unlawful act, where Izhak must be swiftly punished. Till then the dwarf only slept inside the caves that littered the mountains, something that was only second nature to him, and when he went down from the mountains he always spent the nights in inn's or tavern's passed out. He'd never spent a night outside, let alone the times in the mountains. The very though of it made his stomach churn a bit but was abruptly brung back to reality at the sound of lightning that made the dwarf fall to the ground in surprise right off his chair.
"Ahh son of a-" Izhak swore as he got back up and started to walk outside. He needed to cheer up and he knew it; after all it was only the morning and all of a sudden an idea popped into his head as he walked with the bone flute in his hands.
♪ "Tis the journey of five adventurers ♪
Off to claim
♫ Those who are missed, ♫
One's a bard
♪ Another's a thief, ♪
One's wise human
♫ What a first! ♫
A brute with hammers
♪ And a femme fatale ♪
Who's fists are death and
♫ The whole world against them." ♫
The dwarf made it outside as he sang the song, now in front of Loto, who for some reason, sat on the back of a bandit. A small ball of light, about the size of his thumb circled around his head, till he grabbed it with his empty palm. It was something that had just happened when he made music, whether singing, playing, or even whistling, though the light they emittted always started to dim down as soon as silence ensued.
"Having fun I see, aint you?" Izhak grinned as he opened his palm but kept still of the ball of light with his index finger and thumb as it started to slowly die out.
The busy common room had not done much good for Gareth’s aching head, but the pain had subsided slightly by the time the Elven maiden had departed from the table, thankfully it also signaled the end of the loud one’s tirade, something that HAD been rather bad for his headache. While he was dozing slightly, pondering over his new comrades and the quest he was about to take, a strange human began to approach Diessyanya who was seated at the counter. What the man might want was particularly obvious, but his approach was somewhat different for a human, he even went so far as to introduce himself in the traditional Elven manner, and Gareth knew this man was a lick-spittle. The one type of person he despised more than a slacker was a suck-up, and this man’s whole demeanor screamed of its worst qualities, he even went so far as to introduce himself to the rest of the party members, “complementing” them as a large, sickly grin was planted on his face.
Not caring much for the following events Gareth left before bothering with another introduction, he hated repeating himself even under these kinds of circumstances, and soon found himself hobbling towards his cramped quarters. Rummaging around for several minutes the Kinderling soon gather all of his belongings, which at this time was not much more than the clothes on his back, and strapped his rapier and dagger to his waist. Taking a very deep breath the rogue stepped towards the room’s window that faced the outlying street, just in time to see the other adventurers surrounded by a rather large group of bandits, why they were en masse this early, or even in the middle of the street now that he thought about it, was a mystery, but without even lifting a finger in thought he leaned against the side of the windowsill, wanting to gauge his new companions before he set out.
Unfortunately the fight was halted by a rather loud thunderclap that burst from the clear-blue sky, and at the same time he spotted the Elf, of course this was her doing, and it was a wise thing to know what she was capable of accomplishing. He didn’t know what was in store for the future, but he knew that someday they might meet and their relationship would not be the friendliest, so it would be best to know what these others could do. The small group obviously wanted to set out on their quest, why so early he had no earthly idea, daytime was just not his cup of tea, but seeing as he was outnumbered, and outsized, then it was prudent to acquiesce to their wishes for the moment, but he didn’t have to do it EXACTLY like they wanted. What damage could possibly be done?
Without a second thought the half-drunk rogue began to stretch, turning his exhaustion into sprightliness at a whim, and began popping his knuckles and neck ritualistically, it was a bad habit but he didn’t plan on living long enough to see the side effects. As he exited his room a sharp left turn brought him to the staircase leading upstairs, and fortunately a well-placed window over-looked the building’s roof, and the rooftops of the rest of the city. Steeling himself for his upcoming stunt the Kinderling ran towards the end of the hallway, catapulting himself three feet from the window, and rolling into a ball to crash through the glass, sure it was unnecessary but a good show none-the-less. Not waiting for a second’s reprieve always seemed to work best in some situations, and this was one of those moments when complete absorption was necessary.
Each step he took propelled him closer towards the city gates, mainly traversing the steep rooftops, but being slightly bored with the monotony he switched to the short balconies that littered the second floors of every building, running across the handrails like a high-wire expert. Looking forward he saw a long rope stretched across two buildings, used for decorations whenever the town had a celebration, and decided to lunge towards the line dangling in mid-air. The tips of his tiny hands barely grasped the thread, just strong enough to support his diminutive figure, and a two-legged kick was acted out to add to his momentum, propelling the small figure over the gates and into a lonesome tree outside the gates, using the branches to break his rapid descent to the ground. Smiling brightly with his well-performed acrobatics, he did love to show off when he could, Gareth turned to face the city already behind him, and his fellow adventurers.
“What are ya waitin’ for? Time IS against us ya know?”
Not caring much for the following events Gareth left before bothering with another introduction, he hated repeating himself even under these kinds of circumstances, and soon found himself hobbling towards his cramped quarters. Rummaging around for several minutes the Kinderling soon gather all of his belongings, which at this time was not much more than the clothes on his back, and strapped his rapier and dagger to his waist. Taking a very deep breath the rogue stepped towards the room’s window that faced the outlying street, just in time to see the other adventurers surrounded by a rather large group of bandits, why they were en masse this early, or even in the middle of the street now that he thought about it, was a mystery, but without even lifting a finger in thought he leaned against the side of the windowsill, wanting to gauge his new companions before he set out.
Unfortunately the fight was halted by a rather loud thunderclap that burst from the clear-blue sky, and at the same time he spotted the Elf, of course this was her doing, and it was a wise thing to know what she was capable of accomplishing. He didn’t know what was in store for the future, but he knew that someday they might meet and their relationship would not be the friendliest, so it would be best to know what these others could do. The small group obviously wanted to set out on their quest, why so early he had no earthly idea, daytime was just not his cup of tea, but seeing as he was outnumbered, and outsized, then it was prudent to acquiesce to their wishes for the moment, but he didn’t have to do it EXACTLY like they wanted. What damage could possibly be done?
Without a second thought the half-drunk rogue began to stretch, turning his exhaustion into sprightliness at a whim, and began popping his knuckles and neck ritualistically, it was a bad habit but he didn’t plan on living long enough to see the side effects. As he exited his room a sharp left turn brought him to the staircase leading upstairs, and fortunately a well-placed window over-looked the building’s roof, and the rooftops of the rest of the city. Steeling himself for his upcoming stunt the Kinderling ran towards the end of the hallway, catapulting himself three feet from the window, and rolling into a ball to crash through the glass, sure it was unnecessary but a good show none-the-less. Not waiting for a second’s reprieve always seemed to work best in some situations, and this was one of those moments when complete absorption was necessary.
Each step he took propelled him closer towards the city gates, mainly traversing the steep rooftops, but being slightly bored with the monotony he switched to the short balconies that littered the second floors of every building, running across the handrails like a high-wire expert. Looking forward he saw a long rope stretched across two buildings, used for decorations whenever the town had a celebration, and decided to lunge towards the line dangling in mid-air. The tips of his tiny hands barely grasped the thread, just strong enough to support his diminutive figure, and a two-legged kick was acted out to add to his momentum, propelling the small figure over the gates and into a lonesome tree outside the gates, using the branches to break his rapid descent to the ground. Smiling brightly with his well-performed acrobatics, he did love to show off when he could, Gareth turned to face the city already behind him, and his fellow adventurers.
“What are ya waitin’ for? Time IS against us ya know?”
Setting
0.00 INK
Eagleview
Outside of Black Hat Inn
Severin Ward, The Collector
Outside of Black Hat Inn
Severin Ward, The Collector
"Always out to ruin a man's good time." He added disappointedly, slightly shaking his head.
His grip then loosened from around the hips of his women companions, letting them return to their respective resting place -- they were upset and didn't feel like being bothered. This was understandable... Witness another woman doing your job, and you would be angry too. Sev surveyed the scene, thinking back to what had happened. A few words from her mouth had caused this... Humph! Once Sev had time mull over it, he came to the conclusion he could do much better.
"Don't worry girls, there will be plenty of time for dancing later." Sev smiled sweetly, as he gently rubbed the top of Charon's head. He then turned as he heard someone speaking.
"Better be after her brother. This time don't anger her with your whispers." Loto said, taking a seat on top of an unconscious bandit.
"So ya saying, I should be more aggressive? How about a slap on the bottom?" Chuckling loudly, Sev hit his new friend in the shoulder.
The two had gotten to a rocky start, but they were on good terms now. Besides, how could he be mad at anyone who gave him such great compliments, even if they were all bullshit. It takes a man to recognize another as an equal and even greater one to say the other is better.
Once more, Sev secured his belongings and was off. He aimed to catch up with Dessana. Sev still wasn't sure of what he would say or do, but he felt some sort of word exchange needed to take place. It wasn't long till he was on her heels, then at her side, the next. She was a warrior, so he made noise as he approached and stayed well out of reach. He turned to face her and opened his mouth to speak.
"You know," His speech was cut short by the sound of breaking glass. Instinctively, he stopped, and moved his hand to his weapon. There was something moving across the building tops. It was a small... man? "That little..." The cause of the disturbance was one of his party members, whose name escaped Sev.
Oh well, Sev thought.
He pressed forward, the moment now passed, he decided his mouth had done enough talking; he would let his hammers do the rest for the remainder of the quest.
Setting
0.00 INK
Loto cleaned off his arrow as he watched his new friend depart. Why is he talking to his hammers as if they are women? Does he love women so much that he would rather be delusional than be without one, or do they have some magical properties? Loto could feel the gears turning in his head.
He then looked around at the few thugs left unconscious as the city guard scooped them up. I wonder what they were doing? Loto had never seen a gang this large. Perhaps they heard The Collector was here and gathered their full force with the hope of robbing him of his shiny possessions. Gareth Tenderfoot obviously looked a thief, so maybe he tipped them off.
Loto sighed, "Misara why have you guided me here to meet with these strange people?" An elf with a withered heart, a delusional man with the maturity of a child, a mysterious thief, a Dwarf barely old enough to shave, and him. A noble bastard who lived in a forest and was wanted for deserting his force. He tried to remember the day he found the glowing tree. He touched his bow which was made from the wood of the tree. "One acorn contains an entire forest." He remembered. One even contains the shadow of events past and yet to come. His new friends may be strange, but he knew they were all made of the same tiny dots that build everything. They were all made of the same notes, but just different songs.
Just the his reality was confirmed by the happy tune of the bard's new song, "Having fun I see, aint you?" The dwarf said with a smile as the light in his palm faded.
Loto smiled back, "Life itself is an adventure." He liked the happy dwarf, and was glad to have him as a friend. "Speaking of adventure, we should get moving. have you seen Gareth?
Once again his reality was confirmed as the voice of the swift kinderling called from the rooftops. “What are ya waitin’ for? Time IS against us ya know?”
"Were waiting for you Jackass." Loto called back at the thief.
Loto pulled the bandanna from his pocket and tied it around his face. "Join me my friend." He said to the Dwarf as he turned to catch up with Dessana and Sev.
He then looked around at the few thugs left unconscious as the city guard scooped them up. I wonder what they were doing? Loto had never seen a gang this large. Perhaps they heard The Collector was here and gathered their full force with the hope of robbing him of his shiny possessions. Gareth Tenderfoot obviously looked a thief, so maybe he tipped them off.
Loto sighed, "Misara why have you guided me here to meet with these strange people?" An elf with a withered heart, a delusional man with the maturity of a child, a mysterious thief, a Dwarf barely old enough to shave, and him. A noble bastard who lived in a forest and was wanted for deserting his force. He tried to remember the day he found the glowing tree. He touched his bow which was made from the wood of the tree. "One acorn contains an entire forest." He remembered. One even contains the shadow of events past and yet to come. His new friends may be strange, but he knew they were all made of the same tiny dots that build everything. They were all made of the same notes, but just different songs.
Just the his reality was confirmed by the happy tune of the bard's new song, "Having fun I see, aint you?" The dwarf said with a smile as the light in his palm faded.
Loto smiled back, "Life itself is an adventure." He liked the happy dwarf, and was glad to have him as a friend. "Speaking of adventure, we should get moving. have you seen Gareth?
Once again his reality was confirmed as the voice of the swift kinderling called from the rooftops. “What are ya waitin’ for? Time IS against us ya know?”
"Were waiting for you Jackass." Loto called back at the thief.
Loto pulled the bandanna from his pocket and tied it around his face. "Join me my friend." He said to the Dwarf as he turned to catch up with Dessana and Sev.
Setting
0.00 INK
Dessana kept walking, paying no mind to the others as they caught up with her. There were few people in this party who interested her; Loto, certainly, and that little kinderling, Gareth. The others could wander off and die, for all she cared. She would much rather have taken this quest on her own, than have to deal with all these fools. She was strong enough; she could already have been there by now, if she hadn't had to wait until a party gathered.
But things were as they were. Andulin had demanded that she wait for a party, and that wouldn't have bothered her, except her superiors in Elfingrove agreed with him. She'd had no choice but to do as she was told and wait.
She was done waiting now. They would have to keep up all on their own.
In spite of it all, she did listen to the dwarf's song, as he played it. She wouldn't say she enjoyed it, exactly. She had no time for music, dance and song. They were frivolous things, and in a world where frivolity could get her killed, she frowned upon them. But if the dwarf felt he had the time and protection to play around with notes, let him have his entertainment. Someday it would get him killed, and that would be the end of it.
Ahead, the great gates of Eagleview blossomed out of the city. The great stone walls stood as a tribute to the combined efforts of dwarves and humans. Great strength, practically unbreakable. And horribly ugly, on top of it all. She would have been a fool to try and pretend that she did not dearly miss the twisting trunks and arching branches of her home in Elfingrove. The beautiful Tree of Life, with all of its blessings and all of its trials, was the only real home she had ever known. She hoped deeply that this quest would somehow bring them to her home.
And then she realized that would mean bringing these blood-hungry fools into the sheltered grove of the Tree of Life, and decided she really did not hope for such a thing.
She did not slow her pace in the slightest as she approached the gates, so she had to stop suddenly when the guards did not open them. She paused, gazing at the thick wooden things, with their broad braces of iron, and then she rounded on the guadrs.
"Excuse me, human," she called with false politeness.
The guard glanced at her, raising his eyebrows.
"What do you want, elf?"
Dessana bristled at that.
"I am trying to leave the city."
"That's too bad," the guard observed. "No one goes in or out. Captain's orders."
Dessana's eyes narrowed dangerously.
But things were as they were. Andulin had demanded that she wait for a party, and that wouldn't have bothered her, except her superiors in Elfingrove agreed with him. She'd had no choice but to do as she was told and wait.
She was done waiting now. They would have to keep up all on their own.
In spite of it all, she did listen to the dwarf's song, as he played it. She wouldn't say she enjoyed it, exactly. She had no time for music, dance and song. They were frivolous things, and in a world where frivolity could get her killed, she frowned upon them. But if the dwarf felt he had the time and protection to play around with notes, let him have his entertainment. Someday it would get him killed, and that would be the end of it.
Ahead, the great gates of Eagleview blossomed out of the city. The great stone walls stood as a tribute to the combined efforts of dwarves and humans. Great strength, practically unbreakable. And horribly ugly, on top of it all. She would have been a fool to try and pretend that she did not dearly miss the twisting trunks and arching branches of her home in Elfingrove. The beautiful Tree of Life, with all of its blessings and all of its trials, was the only real home she had ever known. She hoped deeply that this quest would somehow bring them to her home.
And then she realized that would mean bringing these blood-hungry fools into the sheltered grove of the Tree of Life, and decided she really did not hope for such a thing.
She did not slow her pace in the slightest as she approached the gates, so she had to stop suddenly when the guards did not open them. She paused, gazing at the thick wooden things, with their broad braces of iron, and then she rounded on the guadrs.
"Excuse me, human," she called with false politeness.
The guard glanced at her, raising his eyebrows.
"What do you want, elf?"
Dessana bristled at that.
"I am trying to leave the city."
"That's too bad," the guard observed. "No one goes in or out. Captain's orders."
Dessana's eyes narrowed dangerously.
- 49 posts here • Page 1 of 2 • 1, 2
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View All » Add Character » 6 Characters to follow in this universe
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Loto
"One acorn contains an entire forest"
Izhak Rosat
"Ain't you ever seen a bard?"
Ravazahana
No one should ever have to be alone.
Diessyanya
Don't crowd me.
Sev, The Collector
"Those that come in second, are just the first ones to lose."
Trending
Sev, The Collector
"Those that come in second, are just the first ones to lose."
Ravazahana
No one should ever have to be alone.
Izhak Rosat
"Ain't you ever seen a bard?"
Diessyanya
Don't crowd me.
Loto
"One acorn contains an entire forest"
Most Followed
Loto
"One acorn contains an entire forest"
Sev, The Collector
"Those that come in second, are just the first ones to lose."
Ravazahana
No one should ever have to be alone.
Diessyanya
Don't crowd me.
Izhak Rosat
"Ain't you ever seen a bard?"
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Granting Wishes
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Granting Wishes
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Spell Suggestions
by Everscale on Wed Jun 15, 2011 4:27 pm
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Spell Suggestions
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