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Post by LiquidChicagoTed on Dec 21, 2019 1:12:59 GMT
[Go to the library first]I feel that Abigail makes a good point. So, Kobald is gathering people for his own quest. How interesting, there seems to be more than one this chapter, but they might interconnect. Although, Kobald's group isn't made up of heroic characters and their motives aren't entirely selfless; their goal will be beneficial to everyone. There a group of rogues/antiheroes? By the way, I can't believe the story has already been out for a year. How time flies. Yeah, there are definitely going to be several groups in this chapter. The adventure the story is based on is a bit infamous for demanding one group to travel around a lot, meeting tons of different characters (such as Duke Waldemar or Jobdan Boswitz and more I cannot name yet), so while deciding on how to adapt this into a proper story, I decided to have several groups of characters going around and doing all that stuff, that should really help with keeping things as intense as they deserve to be for this chapter. And compared to Iiro's group, which even has a literal priest of Rondra among them (basically the shiniest of shiny knights in terms of morality, albeit Maximus has his rough edges), Kobold's group is way less heroic. I wouldn't say they are a group of rogues (though Kobold would likely not disagree), but our PoV in particular is definitely more of an antihero.
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Post by LiquidChicagoTed on Dec 21, 2019 1:30:29 GMT
[Go to the library first]The plot thickens and will be sure to grow even more... thick. In a good way, of course. Glad to see Abigale made it onto the small screen, but even gladder to see this very interesting party. They are definitely the less heroic of our protagonists so far (I consider Edmond as seeking to do good from an altruistic perspective) and it will be good to see more anti-heroes crop up, especially ones who are more interested in money. I do like all of the new characters introduced so far, of course, and it's good to see Jobdan again. Hehe, I cannot wait to delve into the true threat of this chapter, to give you hints and more about what is actually going on here. It's going to be a scary ride, hopefully, and the plot should be delightfully thick by the end of it. And you are right, not counting the darker parts of the Borbaradians (for example, Urdo is definitely not the slightest bit altruistic and has his own reasons for supporting Sulman and Edmond), this is the least heroic party that has assembled so far and Kobold is the least well-intentioned PoV character. While the setting itself has plenty of traditional heroes and we'll meet some of them in this chapter (though I hope to make them interesting and complex characters just as well), I always found the anti-heroic characters more interesting and will make sure to feature them prominently. Kobold's storyline in this chapter in a sneak peek of things to come. To give a little hint, two PoV's whom will both be introduced until Chapter 5 will include a thief (and not of the Robin Hood variety) and a proper black mage, whom I hope will be enjoyable PoV characters. Also, I am glad you like Abigale so far. I hope my plans for her in this chapter will be as enjoyable as I imagine them to be, expect a lot of her in Kobold's parts. Also, I am really curious whom you and InGen mistake for Jobdan ^^ Possibly Elbaran his enforcer or the other cattle baron, Gero of Hollbrinck, whom the group encountered briefly on their way to Drakesfield, both really minor characters with connections to Jobdan (who, to be fair, got a couple name drops in Chapter 1, probably more than either of these two).
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Post by LiquidChicagoTed on Dec 21, 2019 1:38:14 GMT
The Voting is closed!
Kobold is going to go to the library first! A long voting has come to an end and the choice I hoped to succeed actually won. Mostly because I like dropping exposition and hinting at things to come, which the library part will allow me to do in a very organic way. Pay attention to what Kobold and his companions (Ko and co.?) learn in the library, this is going to be important, even if they themselves might not be able to connect all the dots immediately. But definitely an important piece in the puzzle of this chapter. The next part is finished and will be out right now. It is once more a longer part, hopefully worth the wait, and I had a lot of fun writing it. It is also the penultimate part for this year and I can tease that the one after this one will introduce the fifth and final PoV character for this chapter. But yeah, this next part will be Yveshin's and it will pick up where his storyline left off. After the events in Drakesfield, Yveshin travelled around with Naeem, leaving even Thea behind eventually. Naeem had to leave, he wanted to head to Tobria to talk to the wisest members of his order. To protect Yveshin, he introduced him to Luzelin, an extraordinarily powerful witch who rules over the enchanted forest of Blue Firs. Together with Luzelin, Yveshin delved a little bit into what had happened to him in Drakesfield, where he got temporarily blinded in one eye, before having the same eye slowly turn red. In the last few months, this eye has turned into an eye-shaped ruby, though Yveshin can see through it just fine. This ruby is seemingly the home of a malevolent entity, which urges Yveshin to seek and kill a mysterious person named Assarbad, a name neither Yveshin nor Luzelin know anything of. Apparently, the ruby is connected to the ancient Tulamids, so Luzelin has encouraged him to seek a Tulamid scholar for help. Also, she informed him that Naeem has sent a message. He wants to meet Yveshin in the ruins of the Alackskeep, in north-western Meadows. To travel there, the elf has two possible choices, the more comfortable one over the roads and the faster and more dangerous one through the wilds. He has chosen the latter, though the next part will still feature a bit of civilization before that. Without further ado, here is the next part
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Post by LiquidChicagoTed on Dec 21, 2019 1:45:50 GMT
Yveshin His choice had been made and as soon as Yveshin left the snow-covered firs that gave the forest its name behind, he knew there was no turning back. Luzelin herself had remained in her cave, though the old witch had given him all he needed for the journey. Though resistant to the cold, he knew better than most that proper protection was necessary. Clad in thick furs, with gloves, a shawl to protect his lower face and a hooded cape to cover his ears, he felt almost comfortable. Where a human would have still shivered, the current climate reminded Yveshin of home. Luzelin's familiar, the cat Palliscratch, had led him through the forest in the witch's stead. The clever animal seemed to be even less bothered by the cold than the Rime Elf and the two traversed safely through the treacherous paths that led through Blue Firs. In his time here, the elf had rarely left Luzelin's grove, on her insistence and now he could see why. The forest was ancient and winding, with a mind of its own. Trees that whispered to each other as he passed through, in a language he could not understand. Branches that seemed to move on their own and a path that seemed to lead in circles. How many, Yveshin had to wonder, had gone missing in this place? Though Luzelin did not deserve her reputation, that much he knew by now, the forest itself seemed to be just as dangerous as the humans of Meadows thought it to be. “Thank you, little one”, Yveshin spoke as the cat stopped, just a foot away from the forest border. It looked at him out of large, golden-green eyes and the elf knelt down next to it, sighing under the weight of his equipment. With his chosen road, he knew he had to be prepared, so Luzelin had granted him all he needed. A tent, two sets of blankets, cooking equipment, a flask of fresh water from the spring that originated somewhere deep in this haunted forest. He himself had crafted makeshift snow boots for the worst parts of the journey and of course, he was armed with his elven bow, two dozen arrows, a pair of well-balanced knives and a freshly carved wooden spear that would also serve as a walking stick. Yes, he felt well-equipped for this perilous journey. Briefly, he scratched the cat behind its ears and Palliscratch let out a satisfied purr, before turning away in an instant. The elf glanced after the small animal, a smile on his face, before he got back on his feet. “Well...”, he mumbled to himself, as he glanced up at the first. They seemed to glance back and this sent a cold shiver down his spine, quite an unusual sensation for an elf like him. “It's time for an adventure...”, he added, trying to sound hopeful, before he took another step, out of the forest. The cold hit him unexpectedly hard, which meant he now felt it at all. Though there was a lot of snow in Blue Firs, the trees themselves seemed to keep the air from growing too cold. No longer protected by their strong aura, the elf had to wrap himself in his cloak to drown out every last bit of the freezing temperatures. Yes, it was just like home. Though no snow was falling right now, the grey clouds above were full of it and he was certain that in time, more snow would join the massive amount that had fallen already. His feet sunk into the soft, fresh snow and it was likely to get only worse the closer he'd get to the Alackskeep. According to Luzelin, the ruin was close to the mountain range that separated Meadows from the Orkland. With a sigh, he looked at the snowboots that were currently dangling from his belt. Yeah, he would definitely need them. But hardship aside, Yveshin actually looked forward for the journey. Roaming through a seemingly endless frozen landscape... he hadn't noticed before, but that was precisely what he had been missing. A smile formed on his face, as he walked down the soft hill, away from Blue Firs and towards the lonesome road that would lead him to his destination. Indeed, the road was empty. It was not just the season, but the area as well. While a decent road led right past Blue Firs, the people of Meadows seemed to avoid it unless they absolutely had to take it. Glancing over his shoulder, Yveshin couldn't understand why. Though the forest had its darker sides, it was not as if the road was leading right through it. His own path would lead him away from Blue Firs for now, however. Though he had chosen to avoid the roads and head directly to the Alackskeep, there was one last thing he needed to do with the humans before fully returning to the wilds he felt so familiar in. As such, he began his walk north, past wide, snow-covered fields, leaving the forest and its witch behind.
Wolfsgate was a tiny village by human standards, just barely more than a dozen sturdy houses alongside the road. Its northern end was fortified with a palisade and two wooden towers, but the southern end, where Yveshin was entering was lacking any fortifications. There were ruins there, just beyond the palisade and by now Yveshin knew enough of the Meadows and its history to deduce that this was orkish handiwork. He could only hope to never meet one of these black-furred savages. This village would be his first and, if things went according to plan, last human settlement before reaching the Alackskeep. It was around noon, but he had no intentions of staying here for the night. No, he would go where he belonged, to the wilds. There were a lot of forests in this region, surely he would find shelter from the cold in there. All he had to do was to get a few directions. Perhaps the local hunters would be able to help him out. That being said, the looks he received from people were anything but friendly as soon as he got near the village. With hood, scarf and the eyepatch to cover up most of his head, only a bit of his face was actually visible. None would recognize him as an elf, unless they would take a closer look at him. Maybe that way, he could avoid any trouble. Still, people looked at him with open distrust, even fear, and a few of them outright turned around and entered their homes the moment they saw him. The sole exception was a trio of men, wearing thick fur coats but nothing to protect their ears. One of them carried a sturdy stick as if he was holding a club and Yveshin immediately spotted a hunting knife on the belt of another. The third, walking in their midst, was unarmed. All three were middle-aged humans, as far as he was able to tell, unlikely to be any older than ninety. With dark hair and short, but unkempt beards, they sure were imposing figures and the looks on their faces was cold and almost hostile. “Oi, you there! One Eye!”, their leader spoke as soon as Yveshin had entered the village proper. He stopped at once and the trio approached him. Up close, he spotted the glances they were giving to each other. One was sweating, despite the cold and none were smiling. “Can I help you?”, he asked and the one in the middle, probably their leader, raised an eyebrow. “Mighty cold for a stranger to come around”, he spoke, as he mustered the elf from head to toe. “And you're armed. Not just some traveller, aye?” “I'm just passing through”, Yveshin spoke truthfully and to his surprise, this actually calmed the men down. Perhaps he was slowly figuring this whole persuasion thing out. “I don't plan on staying the night. Just want to talk to a hunter, someone who knows the area” Like this, their eyes narrowed again. “Why?”, the leader growled. “There's nothing around here. We don't like strangers running around our countryside. Hope you got a good reason” “Man...”, another of them hissed. “Look at his eye” He took a step back and Yveshin saw him gulping. The leader nodded slowly. “Oi, take off your mask, stranger”, he demanded. “Let us see your face” He crossed his arms, while the other two men tensed up. The one with the stick raised his weapon, while the other put a hand onto his knife, though he did not draw it yet. With a sigh, Yveshin complied with their order, removing his scarf and letting them see his elven features. “I knew it!”, their leader gasped. “You're a godsforsaken elf! You got some nerve, coming here after what your kind did!” Yveshin raised his hands, realizing too late that he still held the sharpened wooden spear in his right hand and the men nearly jumped at him. “I...”, he stuttered, as he looked past the northern gate. “I thought those were the orks?” The men exchanged a nervous glance. “Aye, but they had the decency to attack in broad daylight”, the leader then spoke up. “What your kind is doing though, I got no words for it. Sneaking around at night, stealing good men and women from their beds” He shook his head and without warning, he grabbed Yveshin by the shoulders, quite harshly at that. “Now tell me, elf...”, he spat. “What do you want in our village? Came to scout for your elf friends?” “I didn't do anything!”, Yveshin protested, though he knew that trying to break free would only lead to further violence. He had his spear in one hand and the man was unarmed. Overpowering him would be an easy thing to do, but he didn't want to provoke a fight with the man's friends. He had to talk to the village hunters and a fight wouldn't help anyone. All of a sudden, the man's eyes widened. “What the...”, he gasped, as he immediately let go of Yveshin. “What is that...?” He took a step back and he stared at the elf in pure horror, much to Yveshin's confusion. He raised his empty hand and the man staggered back. “What is that under your eyepatch?”, he stuttered and Yveshin understood at once. “Oh no...”, he mumbled, as he raised his hand to his face. He could clearly see the malevolent red light shining through the thin linen of the eyepatch and reflecting from the back of his hand. "Kill them all...", the voice whispered. “Just shut up!”, Yveshin barked in return, as he pressed his free hand onto the ruby. The three men all jumped back, their leader clearly horrified. “Listen, I want no trouble with a dark mage!”, he stuttered and Yveshin shook his head. “I am not...”, he began, but in this moment, he noticed the man with the knife, slowly drawing his weapon. “Ah, fuck it...”, the man growled. “I'm not afraid of some witch elf and his evil eye!” Before he could make his move, another voice called out from the side. “Wouldn't do that if I were you, Tom Weasel”, a man growled. He was notably older than the trio, his face already showing fine wrinkles, but no less imposing than them, with a mighty beard carefully tied into a knot and a mane of grey hair. Unlike them, he wore a cap to protect his head from the cold and he carried a weapon with him, a proper sword as Yveshin realized, apparently a rare thing for this part of the world. “But, Lugos, mate... boss, you saw what he just did!”, the leader of the trio protested and Yveshin slowly removed the hand from his eye, realizing that the glow had faded entirely. The older man shrugged. “I saw you nearly jumping an innocent traveller in broad daylight”, he growled. “Just what were you trying to do?” The leader sighed. “We were going to drive off the witch elf”, he stuttered and his tone had changed entirely. He didn't even manage to look this man in the eye. “The way I see it, you were going to make an ass of yourself”, the old man stated. “No, get out of my sight and let me deal with this one” None of the men even dared to talk back. They simply bowed in front of him, before hurrying away. Yveshin sighed. “Thank you...”, he mumbled as he gave the man a respectful nod. In return, he was given a dry smile. “Wasn't doing it for you, to be honest”, he spoke. “Three barely armed peasants against an elf? This village has seen too much blood as it is” As he approached Yveshin, the elf noticed he was walking with a pronounced limp, though it barely slowed him down. “What is your name?”, he asked and extended a hand. Though this greeting was still strange to Yveshin, he grabbed and shook it. “Yveshin”, he introduced himself and the man placed a hand on his heart. “I'm Lugos”, he said. “Headman of this sorry excuse for a village and, I guess, captain and sole member of its guard” He broke into a thin, but genuine smile. “Might be a bit too late, but welcome to Wolfsgate” Yveshin nodded. “Thank you”, he said once again. “Maybe you could help me? I want to speak to the local hunters” Lugos' smile faded and he let out a sigh. “You just did”, he replied. “These idiots you just met” He sighed. “Maybe I can still help though”, he offered. “I want this situation to be settled as soon as possible. You said you didn't want to stay for long. Care to discuss your matter over lunch?” His kind offer surprised the elf, who reluctantly nodded. It wouldn't be anything rare in the lands of his people, but the humans as a whole were rarely kind to each other and even less to those not like them. People such as Mother Linai, Luzelin or the Foxton family were exceptions when compared to all the cattle barons and bandits of this region. “I... yes, I would like to eat something”, he admitted. Lugos patted him onto the back. “Follow me then”, he said. “Wolfsgate doesn't have much in terms of comfort, but we got a somewhat decent inn and the woman who runs it makes a damn fine stew. We're pretty far off from everyone, so you should get yourself a proper meal before continuing. While you're eating, you can tell me what you wanted from my hunters” The inn was nothing special as far as human architecture went. Unlike almost every inn he had been in during his time with the humans, this one had only a single floor, with one large room meant for eating and drinking and a slightly smaller one outfitted with sheets and straw, for wanderers to sleep on. Perhaps it was the cold weather, or perhaps it was a human thing to gather in such a place during these months, but this inn was crowded despite the early hour. Lugos seemed to be a well-known man, as he had to stop every few feet to greet another human, whereas Yveshin was pretty sure that the only reason no one tried to stop him was that he was with the headman. Just a few minutes later, the two had found an empty table in one of the corners and Lugos placed a steaming bowl of soup in front of the elf. It did not smell bad, even though the milky water could certainly look better at least. The old man chuckled as the elf carefully eyed the soup. “I'm not going to poison you, elf”, he claimed. “While you eat, why don't you tell me what you want from my hunters” Lugos' kindness was refreshing and Yveshin found himself drawn to this man. Perhaps there were many more like him, people who were kind to others without expecting anything in return. And he had to admit, after he finally tried it, the stew was not too bad. “Thank you”, he said and the old man leant back. “Least I can do”, he mumbled. “Our hunters, they're not bad kids. They're just scared and a wee bit stupid. In times like these, when people don't know who's responsible for their misery, it's tempting to blame scary-looking strangers. Doesn't matter if you're the one behind this or not, you're an elf and obviously not from around here, so they try to hold you responsible, just to have someone they can yell at, someone they can be angry at in the face of such misery” Yveshin raised an eyebrow. “You're not like them”, he stated and the man chuckled. “Guess I used to be”, he growled. “But these people, the farthest most of them have ever been is Baliho. Unlike them, I've seen enough of the world” He reached for his leg and pulled the trouser up. To Yveshin's surprise, he did not show any flesh, instead he revealed dark wood, roughly in the shape of a human leg. “Served on Maraskan, under Helme Haffax”, Lugos explained. “Got this one from a poisoned arrow during the siege of Jergan. Healers barely saved my life. Honourably discharged and given a good pension for the loss of my leg, the High Marshall saw to it. After that, I decided to travel a bit. Saw Paavi in the north and Unau in the Khom desert. Met a lot of interesting people. One thing I learned, there's good and bad people everywhere. I don't claim to know a lot of how the world works, but I know you're not some fiend just because you have pointy ears and live in the forest” “Actually, there's not many forests where I come from”, Yveshin corrected him. “It's too cold. I come from the... the Brazen Sword, as you call it” Lugos raised an eyebrow. “Quite a journeyman yourself, aren't you?”, he remarked. “Indulge me, what leads you to my small village?” Yveshin leant back, as he glanced around. None of the humans in this room directly looked at them for long, but he felt their brief glances upon him. No, he could not tell Lugos why he made such a journey. “I have to travel to the Alackskeep”, Yveshin whispered and immediately, the room went dead. One stern glance from Lugos was enough for everyone to pick up their chats again, but Yveshin had the opinion that it was more quiet than before, that they were listening more carefully to his next words. The old man leant closer. “There's places you don't speak of in this duchy”, he whispered sternly. “That haunted ruin is one of them. I got friends in Realm's End, just an hour away from that place and they've confirmed all sorts of nasty rumours about that place. They say a monster dwells there, a nameless horror. Lately, people go missing all over the duchy, but in Realm's End, it's been happening for as long as anyone can remember” “People are disappearing?”, Yveshin asked and Lugos nodded grimly. “Aye, since autumn. Started a few weeks after that Drakesfield tragedy, you may have heard of it” Yveshin gulped. “Yes, I did”, he confirmed. Back then, he would have gladly told this human of his involvement in the events that had happened there, but he had given Naeem a vow not to speak of it to anyone who didn't have to know. And while that statement was as vague as any coming from the young druid, he was pretty certain that Lugos was one of these people who didn't have to know. “In any way, people started to disappear all over the duchy. Got two of our hunters over the span of several weeks, good folk who knew the forest well enough”, Lugos continued, before he sighed regretfully. “At least their families got closure, unlike all other cases I heard of. We found them when the first snow fell, a few miles to the north. No physical injuries, but it seems they died in great agony” Yveshin clenched his fists. Agony... he remembered Berosh the dwarf. He was a demon cultist, as Naeem had explained to him, someone who had sold his soul to Blakharaz, one of the Lords of the Nether Hells. Though the pain from his touch had faded months ago, the memory of this otherworldly agony would remain with him for the rest of his life. He had to wonder... “And no other bodies have been found?”, Yveshin asked, to which Lugos shook his head. “Not as far as I know, no”, he confirmed. “And it's gotten quite bad in other parts of the duchy. Here in Wolfsgate, tere's only one guy currently missing and truth be told, I wouldn't shed a tear if we were to find him dead in the wilds” He reached into his vest and revealed a small parchment. “Always carry one of these with me in case I run into a decent traveller”, he revealed, as he handed Yveshin the parchment. “I... cannot read your language”, the elf admitted after a moment, though he also saw a drawing on the parchment, depicting a man with a long, thin face and weasely features. There was a notable scar on his right cheek and his hair hung low into his face. “My bad”, Lugos admitted. “This is a wanted poster. I give them to any traveller, hoping they can spread the word in other villages here in the barony” He pointed at the drawing. “This is Ungolf the Rat”, he explained. “A highwayman, wanted for armed robbery and murder alongside his old gang, the Darkencrest Reavers” “And he is missing as well?”, Yveshin asked, to which Lugos nodded. “Ain't too sad for him, but I got a feeling the bastard got away with his life. See, we got into a small skirmish with his gang in late summer. Killed a few, drove most of them off. Ungolf here got injured and we took him alive. He was going to lose his head of course, but we are no savages, so I offered him a fair trial under the watchful eye of a priest of Praios. We have a holding cell in our meeting hall, so we were going to keep him there for a few weeks until the next priest would wander through our village” He paused for a moment, as he looked around. All of a sudden, a lot of people began to talk a bit louder again, as if they wanted to prove that they weren't eavesdropping on their headman. “I got reason to believe his old gang got him out. There's just... no other way”, he continued, before he sighed. “His door was... ripped open. I'm not saying it's impossible, it was made from old iron, might have gotten a bit rusty, but a single man cannot do that on his own” “When did that happen?”, Yveshin asked and Lugos shrugged. “Early autumn”, he stated. “Travia's month, before the first snow fell. Our hunters went missing before him and we found them pretty soon, but so far, no sign of Ungolf. By now, he could be anywhere” He shook his head, as he handed the poster to Yveshin. “If it's not too much to ask, since you're headed to Realm's End, could you give that to the headman over there?” “I sure will”, Yveshin promised, as he carefully placed the poster in his bag. “Now, I was hoping to speak to your hunters about shelter in the area. Caves or abandoned huts, anything I can use for shelter. It's hard for me to freeze to death, but the current cold... it's almost like home. Don't want to risk anything” Lugos chuckled. “Aye, I get that”, he stated. “Well... for tonight, there would be the Aro Grotto. It's a grotto in the forest to the north, a couple hours from here. With a bit of luck, you can reach it before it gets dark. It's a small cave system, one chamber holds a small shrine to Firun. Hunters often leave offerings there, trophies and arrows” He leant closer. “I found that in the current times, one should best sleep close to the gods” “Oh, I... I don't pray to gods”, Yveshin admitted and Lugos chuckled. “Another thing you should keep to yourself in these lands. People are still godly here in Meadows” He shrugged, as he leant closer. “I've heard of many strange gods on my journeys. The Novadi in their desert pray to the heavenly giant Rastullah, the Moha pray to a god with the head of a cat, the Nivesians literally pray to wolves and don't get me started on the lizardfolk. Someone who doesn't pray at all is hardly a strange sight for me”, he whispered. “But I know people who would burn you as a heretic for saying such words” Yveshin had to think back at his meeting with the priests of Praios. Ucurian Jago, that has been his name, the witch hunter. He remembered the vicious fire in the man's eyes. “I met them as well”, he mumbled, as he continued eating the soup. “Might be smart to avoid the villages in these days”, Lugos admitted. “Much as I hate to say it, our famous hospitality is pushed to its limits these days. People are scared and scared people do things they'd otherwise regret” For a moment, his expression darkened. “Hells, we've all done them” The elf sighed, as he thought back to Drakesfield. So many lives lost... briefly, he closed his eyes, before opening them again and looking right at Lugos, who seemed a dozen years older than before all of a sudden, his face showing visible sorrow. “What have you done that you regret?”, he asked and the old man shook his head. “That is a tale for another day”, he mumbled. “Hardly something to speak of when you have to get going” “The Aro Grotto it is then”, Yveshin declared, deciding not to push the matter any further. “I'll spend a night there, hopefully I'll find more on the way” He finished eating his soup and carefully placed the bowl in front of him, momentarily fascinated by the iron spoon. Without warning, Lugos grabbed his forearm, startling the elf. “I don't know what business it is that leads you to Realm's End and the cursed ruin that looms over it, nor do I care to know. It's better that way”, he whispered. “But when you're there, there might be someone who can help you” “Help, I gladly take all of it”, the elf stated and Lugos smiled, a strangely warm and seemingly genuine smile. “A friend of mine lives there. Used to live here in Wolfsgate for a few years, but he was one of those who did not return after the Blackfurs burned our village to the ground. He's a half-elf, so you might get along with him” Yveshin raised an eyebrow, not quite sure why this man's race had anything to do with how well he would get along with it. Some of his fiercest enemies were elves just as well. “His name is Sanurius, a mage trained in Thunderbrook”, Lugos continued, pausing as if he expected this name to mean anything to Yveshin. When the elf showed no signs of recognizing it, he sighed. “Means he's a healer, or so he told me. Damn talented and hard-working as well”, he continued. “If you need the aid of a trained mage when you're in Realm's End, or that of a healer, Sanurius is your man. Just tell him Lugos of Wolfsgate sent you and he'll help you out, I'm sure of it” Suddenly, Yveshin noticed movement in the corner of his eye, the red ruby hidden beneath the eyepatch. He tensed up, moving his head into the direction, further into the taproom. Lugos frowned at this and as he followed, he saw the same sight, half a dozen men who had gotten up from their seats. Yveshin recognized one of them, the leader of the trio of hunters from earlier. The other two were nowhere to be seen, but their replacements didn't look much friendlier either. “What is this now?”, Lugos growled and the leader took a step forward again. He looked at his headman, then gulped. “Me and the boys, we... we don't want this one here. The knife ear. The witch elf and his evil eye” Lugos raised an eyebrow. “Looks like he's got only one and it doesn't seem evil to me”, he remarked. “Since when are you the one calling the shots?” “Since when are you?”, the leader replied, now a bit bolder. “We called you back because we need someone to speak for us, someone with experience to rebuild our village. Doesn't mean you're our baron” Lugos nodded slightly. “Aye, that's right, I'm not calling the shots”, he admitted. “Where are you going with this? Hurry up, I don't have all day” The leader took a deep breath. “We want this one gone”, he spat. “His kind brings bad luck. We don't mingle with the knife ears” He clenched his fists and looked Lugos right in the eye. “Send him away, before he lures his demon friends to this place” As he spoke, some of his followers averted their gaze, mumbling something to themselves. Even for Yveshin, it was barely audible, but it sounded like... like Praios. It made sense that they would worship the same god as the Banray. “Yveshin won't stay the night”, Lugos offered, as he raised both hands. “Now, friends, I know you are scared because of what happened. We all are, but this is no reason to blame innocent strangers. The Duke and the Church of Praios will protect us, as they always do. Trust in the realm and the gods, but don't take out your anger and frustration on men like Yveshin” “Yveshin, eh?”, the leader spat. “You've been getting awfully chummy with a fucking elf who just screams trouble. What if he's in league with the Blackfurs? Saw the direction he came from? There's just one thing down there, it's that godsforsaken forest this Blue...” This time, he cut himself off and frightened like a dog amidst a thunderstorm, he gazed around, as if he expected a monster to jump him in this brightly lit tavern. “We want him gone now. There's no reason for trouble, alright, but if he doesn't leave now... we gotta defend ourselves” “He hasn't finished eating...”, Lugos began, but before he could continue, Yveshin slammed a hand down onto the table, drawing their attention towards him. “I'm done”, he proclaimed. “I got what I came for” He looked at the leader of the men, who stared at him not with hatred, but with naked, genuine fear. Yveshin couldn't even hate a man who was so afraid of him. “I won't come back. Is this acceptable?” Slowly, the leader nodded. “It is”, he agreed. “Just tell your knife ear friends what happened here. Your kind isn't welcome in Wolfsgate. Any of you trying to start trouble here, tell them we're ready. We couldn't defend our home against the Blackfurs, but we sure as hell are ready now” The elf sighed. “I'm sure of it”, he mumbled in frustration, before he gave Lugos a nod. “Thank you for the kind talk” “I'll escort you to the edge of the village”, Lugos spoke, as he gave his men a sharp glare. “Make sure you won't run into any trouble until there” As he approached the other humans, they parted, allowing Yveshin and Lugos to continue their walk. They passed the humans, all of them looking down on the ground, some of them even having their eyes closed. Their shame did little to console him, but in a way, it would have been worse had they felt nothing at all. “Give us back our people...”, a woman mumbled as Yveshin walked past her. He stopped briefly and glanced at her. Not a woman, no... this one had seen not enough winters to be called such. His gaze softened at the sight of this trembling girl. Why would she ever fear him? “If I could, I would”, he promised. “I have not taken your people, but if fate allows it, I'll make sure they return to you” She said nothing to this, only biting down onto her lower lip and Yveshin hurried to keep up with Lugos. For a man with one leg, he was walking quite fast and swiftly, they had left the tavern and continued through the main street. “I am sorry for that”, the old man mumbled and Yveshin gave him a nod, followed by a tired smile. “It's alright”, he replied. “I knew they were afraid of me. They don't seem like bad people” Lugos blinked briefly. “Strange you would say that”, he spoke. “I know some who would curse my people for driving them out like that. The famed hospitality of Meadows... my ass” Now, Yveshin raised an eyebrow. “What does your ass have to do with them being rude?”, he asked and this time, Lugos actually chuckled. “I like you boy. On better days, we could have become friends”, he admitted and Yveshin nodded. “May they come again”, the elf agreed. With these words, they had reached the edge of the small village. About a hundred feet to the north, there was a dense forest, the field between covered in fresh snow. “You can't see it now, but it should still be visible beneath the trees”, Lugos spoke. “There's a small trail that leads through the woods, ever north. It takes a human three days to get through the forest, but you might make it in two. Another two in that direction and you will reach a street. Realm's End is not far from there and the ruin you're looking for lies on a hill above the village” “And your friend Sanurius can help me”, Yveshin stated, to which Lugos nodded. “I am not a superstitious man. I'll even speak of the Blue Firs and Lake Lamprey by its name but that ruin... it deserves its reputation”, he warned the elf. “If you go there, beware of the monster. The Wraith of Alackskeep, they call it, but just what it is, I cannot say. The stories speak sometimes of a blood-crazed beast, sometimes of a charming nobleman with a black heart, sometimes of a cursed human and sometimes of a monster so utterly inhuman that words in our language cannot even begin to describe it. Whatever you do, don't go there on your own. Sanurius might not look the part, but he's a trained mage of the White Guild. If things go south, he might be the one to save your life” Once again, he extended a hand and Yveshin shook it, before the elf began to walk across the thick, freshly fallen snow. It was still soft and he had to wade through it, while more snow fell down, clouding his sight, at least on his good eye, his real eye. Truth be told, the other one was sharper, better and it was not clouded by trivial things such as an eyepatch or falling snow. It showed him the world as it was, not bothered by darkness, always doused in a light red hue. If not for the whispers, he would almost be willing to accept it. For now, he had decided to ignore the voice and after a while, it seemed to agree with this. However, when things were quiet, as they were right now, with Wolfsgate in his back and the forest shortly in front of him, he could still hear it in the back of his head. It was speaking in a language he did not understand, or perhaps he did not want to. Something dark, something that was not his own. He knew little of where the ruby came from, only that the black mage, Liscom the Fasarian, had worn it before him, that he had used it to tear a hole into this world, to cut a wound that would never truly heal. Yveshin was not one to be scared easily, but by himself, he had to admit that he was terrified. Naeem could not help him on his own, but perhaps a mage of greater power could. All he had to do was to find such a man.
The forest itself was drastically different from Blue Firs. Where Luzelin's home was ancient, occasionally even threatening place, this one was simply a gathering of trees. There was nothing mystical about it, nothing that was to be feared. And despite the thin layer of snow that covered the ground, he spotted signs of life. A lone rabbit here, the tracks of a wolf there. Once, a boar crossed his path, but the animal gave him one look and as he stopped, it simply continued on its own path. Following the hunter's trail was not hard. He had no doubt that a human's eyes would have trouble even finding it, all covered in snow, but he was not just a simple elf, he was an elven hunter. Paired with the superior sight his ruby eye granted him, he noticed even fine details, such as the lack of substantial plant life on this trail, owed to the numerous feet that crushed any attempt of the plants to thrive. Yveshin was different though and he strode more carefully, setting his foot only where he would not crush a single of the innocent plants. The distant cousins of his people, the elves in the woods of Sala Mandra, they were even more careful and to them, an outsider harming any of their scared trees was sacrilege. Though Yveshin did not follow their way of life, this was a matter of respect, one he would expect from any other elf towards his own customs. It was already getting dark when he finally reached a clearing. The path had grown more steep over the last hour, leading him past large rocks and for a brief portion of the way, he even had to climb. The stone was cold and slippery, but Yveshin was used to climbing the mountains of his homeland, so this was child's play to him. This rocky part of the forest did hint, however, that he was close to reaching his destination for the night, the Aro Grotto which Lugos had spoken of. As he reached the clearing, he stopped and briefly, he tensed up as he spotted the entrance of the grotto itself. It was only a thin opening in a hill, likely leading down into the earth itself. But what really drew his attention were the wagons in front of the grotto. Three large wagons, each with a single horse still in front of it. The animals seemed nervous, but not malnourished or injured and none of them panicked as the elf approached. The wagons were colourful and quite large, painted in red, green, yellow and blue and covered in ornate symbols of gold. He even recognized the style, for he had seen it in the first humans he had ever met. “Norbardians...”, he mumbled, remembering the northern wayfarers, the traders who braved the remote corners of the world, travelling even to his homeland to travel. They were found all over the Bornland, but they were not quite as common here in Meadows. “What... is someone there?”, a voice called out and a second later, a man glanced around one of the wagons. He was bald, safe for a sole braid of hair on the back of his head, as it was customary for Norbardian males, with a thick moustache and broad facial features, with his slightly narrowed eyes and the reddish touch of his hair hinting at some Nivesian ancestry. His cheeks were reddened, not just from the cold, but from the tears that still poured down his face. “Who... who are you?”, he gasped and Yveshin noticed the spear in his hands. It was an elegant weapon, with a red band tied to the blade, but as someone who knew quite a bit about fighting with such a weapon, he noticed at once that this man's posture was all wrong. “Please, easy, my friend”, he spoke and he raised his free hand to show that he was not a threat. “I am not an enemy. My name is Yveshin Ethimior, I seek only shelter for the night” Though the man narrowed his eyes, he quickly relaxed and a new set of tears streamed down his face. “Oh... oh thank Tsa, she sent a friendly face!”, he stuttered. “My name is Pjotr. I came here with some of my kin, my wife and some of my cousins. We wanted to trade with the humans to the south” He was alone, it was clear to see. The other wagons were dark and empty, their doors open. Footsteps led into the grotto, but only one pair, likely Pjotr's led out again. “Where is your family?”, Yveshin asked softly. “And why are you out here? Shouldn't you seek shelter from the cold?” He looked up, but before he could say anything, Pjotr gasped. “Please, you have to help me!”, he spoke swiftly. “Y... Yveshin, yes? You seek shelter for the night, but I fear you won't find any here. The humans to the north, they recommended this grotto. Said it was a shrine to Firun. My people worship his daughter, the Swan Maiden, but it still felt only right to leave an offering to her father for a safe journey. That was... that was just an hour ago” He closed his eyes and Yveshin saw how much he was shaking. Quickly, he approached the man and removed his own cloak, placing it around his stiff shoulders. He could face the cold for longer before he would even shiver, but Pjotr was freezing already. “You are rambling...”, he mumbled. “And cold and terrified” He narrowed his eyes, as he looked past Pjotr and towards the cave. A sudden feeling of dread crashed towards him as he stared into the darkness. For once, not even the ruby eye was capable of piercing through it. “What happened in there?”, he asked, now forcing himself to look away from the entrance and towards Pjotr, who had his eyes closed, wrapping the cloak around him tightly to stop the shivering. “We wanted to stay here for the night. Came down there to make our offerings. We already saw the room where the priests of Firun had placed the altar when... when...” He paused again and Yveshin felt him sobbing. “When the monster came...” The elf narrowed his eyes. “A monster?”, he growled, as he looked back at the entrance to the Aro Grotto. Reluctantly, the human nodded. “I couldn't see it clearly, but the noise it made... a shrill growl. It... it has to be a demon or a werewolf or something even worse! It was so fast. And the rats... there were rats everywhere. They did fear the light of our torches, but they were so many...” He bit down onto his lower lip. “They swarmed us. For each we crushed, three more took its place. The monster dragged my cousin Aleks into the darkness, I...”, he added, before he looked up at Yveshin. “Please, I do not know what happened to my wife. I wanted to go back in, but I had to gather my courage” Only now did the elf see the bandages around Pjotr's arms. They were not stained with blood, but there were a few red dots, possibly from where the rats had bitten him. “I can help you”, Yveshin offered at once. This man was desperate and no matter what, the elf could not leave innocent people at the mercy of a monster. Besides... Wolfsgate was just a day's journey to the south. Perhaps this monster had something to do with the disappearance of Ungolf the Rat and the death of Lugos' hunters. Though they had driven him off, he had given his word that, given the opportunity, he would find out what killed them. Pjotr's eyes widened. “You... you would do that?”, he asked in disbelief, before he gave Yveshin a sudden, tight hug. “Thank you!”, he spoke. “Thank you, oh thank you! If you save my wife, you will be a friend to our clan for all time” He straightened his back. “Take me with you”, he requested. This caused Yveshin to raise an eyebrow. “You with me?”, he asked, eyeing the Norbardian carefully. Pjotr was thin beneath his cloak, not quite tall and neither very muscular. Not a fighter, that much was for sure. “They are my family”, Pjotr stuttered. “Please, I want to help” Yveshin sighed. “This could get dangerous”, he remarked. “I don't know if your wife is still alive, but if you go down there, this might be your end as well. I can protect myself, I have faced worse than this strange monster, but you... you don't look like a fighter” Pjotr shook his head. “I am not”, he confirmed. “And I don't care. Please... I don't want to hold you back or endanger you, but I... I just don't want to sit here, doing nothing while a better man tries to save my family. Can I... can I convince you to take me along with you?” [Take Pjotr with you] [Leave Pjotr outside]
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Post by drdestroyer18 on Dec 21, 2019 12:51:57 GMT
[Take Pjotr with you]
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Post by Kentucky on Dec 21, 2019 18:51:35 GMT
[Take Pjotr with you]
Tough decision here. Pjotr could die either way, as leaving him alone could let the monster take him while Yveshin is away. However, going in on the rats and the beast to find his wife could lead to disastrous consequences for both Pjotr and our elf with a heart of gold trying to save him. However it goes, I'm very interested in just what is going on in that cave; dragging people away into darkness and swarming them with rats; very metal. Also good to see Yveshin making friends throughout Meadows as well as some not quite friends. Maybe he can put in a good word for elves if he gets rid of The Wraith? Good part.
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Post by diversegnu on Dec 22, 2019 8:14:00 GMT
[Leave Pjotr outside]
I think it's a bad idea to have a liability down there, hopefully this is the safer option for Pjotr.
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Post by InGenNateKenny on Dec 23, 2019 5:21:12 GMT
[Leave Pjotr outside] I am kind of neutral on this choice, but this seems reasonable.
I like this part - I like timeskips within parts, it's nice, and the snow imagery was good too. This monster sounds interesting - I did vote for this choice to see Yveshin fight some weird monsters and animals, so I'm glad we are getting our fill. It's also interesting that this little village is very anti-elf; and these disappearances seem to be all over the place, affecting different people and places in different ways. Also, super excited to see another POV! Right....
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Post by TheAPlegends on Dec 23, 2019 12:51:10 GMT
[Take Pjotr with you] Perfectly fine meat shield.
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Post by WildlingKing on Dec 23, 2019 14:18:18 GMT
[Leave Pjotr outside] Yeah, nah, he'd only be a liability. Excited to see what exactly this monster is.
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Post by GMS Freeman on Dec 24, 2019 7:51:09 GMT
[Take Pjotr with you]
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Post by Tales93 on Dec 25, 2019 1:43:00 GMT
[Leave Pjotr outside]
I agree with Wildling, I feel it would be safer if he stayed outside.
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Post by LiquidChicagoTed on Jan 22, 2020 1:37:38 GMT
[Take Pjotr with you]Tough decision here. Pjotr could die either way, as leaving him alone could let the monster take him while Yveshin is away. However, going in on the rats and the beast to find his wife could lead to disastrous consequences for both Pjotr and our elf with a heart of gold trying to save him. However it goes, I'm very interested in just what is going on in that cave; dragging people away into darkness and swarming them with rats; very metal. Also good to see Yveshin making friends throughout Meadows as well as some not quite friends. Maybe he can put in a good word for elves if he gets rid of The Wraith? Good part. Glad you enjoyed the part! I can say that Yveshin's next part will reveal more about this odd creature, might even give you a hint at its true nature. I am very confident that it will be interesting and I greatly look forward for this next Yveshin part. And well, if an elf gets rid of this dreaded Wraith, that would surely give his kind a far better reputation in Meadows. As it is, the people in these villages are really superstitious. These three hunters for example are so scared of elves that it doesn't seem too far fetched to them that Yveshin might even be in league with the Wraith or whatever else is behind the recent disappearances. All he can do in that situation is to either avoid them or go above and beyond to prove them wrong. Saving people, killing wraiths, that should be a good step in the right direction for that.
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Post by LiquidChicagoTed on Jan 22, 2020 1:37:42 GMT
[Leave Pjotr outside] I am kind of neutral on this choice, but this seems reasonable. I like this part - I like timeskips within parts, it's nice, and the snow imagery was good too. This monster sounds interesting - I did vote for this choice to see Yveshin fight some weird monsters and animals, so I'm glad we are getting our fill. It's also interesting that this little village is very anti-elf; and these disappearances seem to be all over the place, affecting different people and places in different ways. Also, super excited to see another POV! Right.... Ah, I am especially glad I got the timeskips right. That is something I still am not entirely confident with, but this chapter will include a lot of travelling around, so it will be absolutely necessary. Iiro's next part will also have timeskips in it, this much I can safely confirm and it won't be the last one. Also, aye, this current situation is a direct consequence of your earlier decision to avoid the main streets. The first half of the part would have been the same, as the village really lies on the way for both routes, but sticking to the roads would have led to a different encounter, quite possibly without forest caves, but hopefully not less engaging. The alternative choices will reveal more! And yes, this village is more anti-elf than any other settlement seen so far, though to be honest, it's more like anti-everything that isn't human. They had bad experiences with orks during the Orkenstorm and with the current disappearances, their distrust and fear of such outsiders has only increased. Other settlements could react in an entirely different way, as I hope to show in later parts.
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Post by LiquidChicagoTed on Jan 22, 2020 1:43:25 GMT
The Voting is closed!
Yveshin is going to take Pjotr with him
This was actually a tie, but to break it properly, the first vote is going to count twice. So, this one will have interesting consequences. Having another set of eyes and hands in that cave will come in handy, although Pjotr is not a warrior, but a simple merchant, he could also be more hindrance than help. In any way, I am glad to get back to the story and I hope to reach Yveshin's next part soon, because this is going to be a first little highlight for me, one of these parts I had all planned out weeks ago. The next part will be out right now. This is an odd one, as it was originally not planned to be written at all. It will be the first part for our new PoV, but her first part was originally set after the events depicted in this part. I wrote this part as I originally intended it, wrote almost all of it to be honest, before realizing that it is way too confusing to introduce a new PoV, put her into a weird situation and also explain the circumstances that placed her in it all in her first part. So, a more traditional start it shall be, with most of her original first part now being rewritten to fit into her second part, so that most of the effort I put into this original first part can still lead to something. I hope you will enjoy this new PoV!
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Post by LiquidChicagoTed on Jan 22, 2020 1:57:47 GMT
Menzhome, the Duchy of Meadows
The year 1016 after Bosparan's Fall
Luna
The cart moved slowly over the snow-covered road, through a small forest of leafless trees on both sides. It was a bumpy road, in bad condition despite nominally being an important trading route, with the snow and the occasional broken tree not making the journey any easier. Still, the single horse spanned in front of the cart bravely pulled it ever forward, with a rider flanking it from each side. It left the gloomy streets of Menzhome behind and as Luna looked over her shoulder, she sighed in relief at moving on. Soon, this town would be nothing but a dark memory. She shivered as she thought back at their brief stay in this gloomy place. The way these people lowered their voice whenever they spoke to strangers. The way they exchanged looks with each other. How none of them would speak of the castle, or lower their gaze when the baron was brought up. Something terribly wrong was going on in that town and just looking back at its bleak walls, still visible through the dead trees to her side, it made her shiver. All Luna could do was to send a brief, silent prayer to Praios and Travia, so that they would have mercy on the townsfolk. Of course, having to leave Menzhome meant having to face the cold once again. And no matter how well she covered herself, in thick clothes and blankets of fur, she was not prepared. She was used to harsh winters from her home in Tobria, near the shores of Lake Ysli, but this was something else entirely. It crept through the layers of her clothes, chilling her to the bone and she couldn't help but shiver. Up until now, she had thought herself resilient to the cold, a remnant of her ancestry perhaps, but facing the winter in Meadows, she realized just how much she had been mistaken. “You cold?”, Alfred asked from the coachman's seat. He was one of the senior farmhands working for her father, a man she had known for her entire life. While not particularly close, she knew he had a kind heart beneath a somewhat surly exterior. “Take another blanket before you get a cough, kid”, he mumbled. “You know how your father can get. Sure as hells, I'm not going to have that talk with him again” Luna gave him a gentle smile, before she shook her head. “I'm not cold”, she lied. They had somewhat of a shortage when it came to fresh furs and another one given to her would be one taken from the old man. She was young, exceptionally so when considering her heritage, whereas Alfred was in his late sixties, as his wild, white hair clearly proved. “Has to be something about knife-ear blood...”, Guthmund growled from the horse to her left and she took a moment to shoot him a mild glare. Not noticing the expression on her face, he continued, slowing his horse down so that he could keep up with the cart. “Once I saw one of them blasted pixies running around with nothing but a thin robe of silk on her body. Quite a sight, alright, but Praios have mercy, it's unnatural” He noticed Luna's displeased look and quickly rolled his eyes, while pulling the thick fur hat deeper into his face. “Nothing against you, Miss Luna”, he was quick to add and she spotted an embarrassed smirk beneath his black beard. “You're hardly one of them at all” “Right...”, she mumbled and one of her hands slightly moved to her ears, making sure the hood was still covering them. Guthmund was wrong about that one, as far as she knew, for the blood in her veins was as purely elven as possible. At least she thought so. Truth be told, there wasn't much she knew about her elven roots and it was good that way. Her parents shared none of her blood, but she was nonetheless their daughter. That's all there was to her. An elven child, growing up amongst humans, learning their language, their customs from her earliest memory and throughout the entire eighteen years of her life so far... she had heard that some elves struggled with human society, but she had never known anything else. She certainly felt human, no matter her appearance. Perhaps that was all that mattered. And right now, this suspiciously pointy-eared adopted human was undertaking what she felt to be the greatest journey of her life. Not that she had many great journeys until now. Her parents were good and caring and she loved them with all her heart. At the same time though, they were cautious with her and she could hardly blame them. There weren't exactly many elves in her Tobrian homeland and folk in the nearby village eyed each of them with suspicion. Not her, but she had to earn that trust over almost two decades. Even now there were some who gave her odd looks. As such, Luna had to admit that her knowledge of the outside world was limited to what she had heard from the village elders and the travelling merchants. It was almost fortunate, though she was still concerned for him, that her father had fallen ill with an autumn cold, just as he was about to head out for his bi-yearly trip to Thunderbrook, to the winter fair. It was the greatest of its kind in the northern realms, a gathering of merchants and farmers, some coming from as far as Darpatia or, in her case, Tobria. Her father had connections there, distant family, who had promised to help with them rebuild what the ogres had taken. She sighed, as she briefly had to think back at the destruction. She had been but a child back then, when the ogres devastated the Tobrian countryside. Her family farm, halfway between Ysilia and the great fortress city of Warunk, had been right in their way. And though her parents had spent the better part of a decade with rebuilding all of it, it had never been quite as she remembered from her early childhood. Her father hoped that his extended family up in Thunderbrook would finance these last efforts to restore her home. And with him unable to make the journey, he reluctantly sent his daughter in his stead. “Don't be like that, Guthmund”, the third man spoke up from her right. Will, the youngest of her father's farmhands, had come along as well. Where Guthmund was twenty, Alfred almost forty years her senior, Will was her age, a barely grown man with green eyes, unassuming brown hair and a lean build. He was a friend, the only one aside from her parents who never looked at her with fear or distrust. The older farmhand glanced over from his horse, before he rolled his eyes. “Like what?”, he then growled. Before Will could reply, Luna decided to intervene. The last thing she needed was an argument between the two of them. It was a long road and having studied Alfred's map, the hardest part of the journey was still ahead of them, having to cross the still war-torn duchy in the middle of winter. “It's alright, Will”, she spoke quickly and the boy raised an eyebrow. He shrugged as she smiled at him and was quick to look away, focussing on the bleak road ahead. “You know I meant no offence, Miss Luna”, Guthmund spoke and his tone was genuinely apologetic. She nodded at him, but without a smile. “I know”, she confirmed. “Say, you've made this tour before, haven't you?” He seemed surprised by her sudden change of topic, but went with it. “Sure have”, he replied. “With your father, two years ago. Me and Alfred both” She looked from him to the old cart driver. “How has it been?”, she asked. All she knew was that Thunderbrook was north of Meadows, north of Lake Lamprey and the Fog Moors, who long since had formed the northern border of the Middenrealm. Alfred was the first to answer. “It's a quaint city. The last true monument to human civilization before entering the Salamander Stones. There's lots of elves there” “Lot's of cunts as well”, Guthmund growled, before realizing how this had to sound. “Not elves, I mean. Rondrians. They rule over the whole city like kings” Luna raised an eyebrow, before looking at Alfred who nodded. “The Dominion of Thunderbrook, that's the official name”, he explained. “It's been granted to them by Rohal the Wise” He looked at Guthmund, with fatherly strictness. “They don't call him The Wise for nothing. Means you shouldn't doubt the decision” Guthmund rolled his eyes and mumbled something into his short, black beard. Luna leant closer towards him. “You don't like them very much, the Rondrians?”, she asked and he nodded at once. “Yeah, guess you can say so”, he stated firmly, not with aggression in his voice, but genuine bitterness. “They talk a big game about protecting the innocent, about being the shield of the Realm and all of that, but where were they when Ysilia burned? I surely saw not a single one of these armoured bastards when the ogres tore down our village. Them and the emperor, they can all go and fuck themselves” “They stopped the ogres eventually”, Will interjected from the side. Intervening like that when Guthmund had one of his moods was a brave thing to do. Luckily, the other man merely shook his head. “When those beasts threatened Darpatia, aye”, he mumbled. “Then, our dear Emperor Hal, Boron may guard his soul, couldn't wait to lead his army to the Trollgap” “Guthmund!”, Alfred hissed sharply. “That's no way to speak of the deceased, nor the gods” He shook his head. “You'll bring calamity over our journey if you continue like that” Guthmund shook his head. “Fine...”, he barked. “Where were we?” Luna smiled mildly. It was no use to argue with him when he was in such a mood and she never liked arguing to begin with. “You were going to tell me about Thunderbrook”, she reminded him. He was quiet for a moment. “If you don't mind some knightly assholes parading through the streets, it's actually quite beautiful”, he admitted. “Architectures' been inspired by the old high elves, but with a more human touch to it. You'll like it, I'm sure of it. And as Alfred said, lot's of elves there as well. Doubt anyone's going to give you any odd looks” “And if they do, we're here for you”, Will spoke quickly, which caused Alfred to chuckle. “You're not supposed to babysit her like you do for her father's sheep, young man”, he replied. “I'll negotiate with the merchants, all we need is Luna's signature beneath them. And if anyone looks at her in a funny way, you'll let it slide. Say what you want about the Church of Rondra, but they are almost as strict as Praios' inquisition. You start a fight and we're all going to be in deep trouble” They were still passing through the snow-covered forest, though by now, the sun was right above them. Didn't feel much like noon though, it was a cloudy, chilling day, with Praios' orb giving them just the bare minimum of light and warmth. And even though she was covered in a thick blanket, with fur clothing beneath, as well as finely-crafted gloves and a hood, Luna was shivering. It took her a moment, during Alfred's and Will's inevitable argument, that she realized her ill feeling came not just from the cold. There was a stinging pain in her head, barely notable, but still distracting. As soon as she focussed on it, Alfred's voice became muffled and she narrowed her eyes, as she stared at her own lap. It was not a sharp pain, but a constant one. “ Luna...”, someone whispered and she tensed up, as she quickly looked around. The voice sounded just as muffled as that of Alfred, who continued to speak to Will without even noticing her predicament. She could barely understand him, whereas that other voice... it was a whisper, soft but without gentleness, muffled, but nonetheless clear as day. “ Luna...”, she heard it again. “Luna!”, the voice of Guthmund finally called out to her and she felt his hand on her shoulder as he shook her, just once and with quite some force behind it. She blinked and the pain was gone, or perhaps just hidden within the depths of her mind again. The man's voice gained Will's attention as well and he stopped talking. Instead, she felt his worried gaze upon her. “Is everything alright?”, he asked. She was about to nod, when the pain returned. This time, it was sharper than before and much to her horror, she realized what it was... That noise in her head became louder and louder, until all of a sudden, she was able to make out a faint whisper. “ Luna...”, the voice whispered again and she frantically looked around. “Can you hear this?”, she asked, earning herself a confused look from Alfred and a thoroughly worried one from Will. “I... don't think I can...?”, Will replied and he narrowed his eyes. He looked around, as Luna tensed up. There it was again, the voice, first whispering something in a melodic, inhuman language. She clenched her fists, as she frantically stared at the trees. Something was there, whispering to her. Though the voice seemed polite, she felt a sting of mockery. Then, an audible sigh in her mind, as the voice continued. “ Your soul beckons me, oh Moon-Kissed One”, it whispered, now in her own language. “ Submit yourself, Princess of the First Blood” “Princess...”, Luna mumbled and her eyes widened. “Something's wrong...” By now, her companions had noted it as well. The air, already chilling to the bone before, had gotten downright freezing by now. A feeling of uneasiness had gripped the four travellers, as well as their horses. The three animals, one for the cart and one for Guthmund and Will each, grew visibly nervous. “Alfred, we have to get out of here” The old man looked at her with equal parts confusion and concern. “Out of these woods, or what?”, he asked. “Listen, girl, I'm driving as fast as I can...” She felt a hand on her shoulder and nearly jumped up, before realizing it was only Guthmund. “You sense something?”, he asked, before placing a finger on top of his ear. “Something elf-related?” She nodded impatiently. “Alfred, turn the cart around!”, she ordered him and the old man sighed. Out of her companions, he was by far the calmest. “You're nervous, I get that, but turning the cart around, that's no easy feat on this narrow road, not with all that snow and such. There's a fortified inn ten miles down the road. If we hurry, we reach it before nightfall” “ Submit yourself, by the destiny of the Marked Seven...”, the voice hissed again, louder now. Though she heard it in her head only, she had the impression that whomever spoke to her had gotten closer. “Do it and your friends shall be spared” This time, she rushed forwards, to Alfred on the coachman's seat. “We have to leave!”, she barked. Her obvious panic changed something in the old man's expression. He narrowed his eyes, as he slowed down the cart. “Alright, but you gotta help me. Calm that horse, it'll be difficult enough even without her scared like this” He glanced around and reached to the side of his seat, where a sturdy axe was tied to the cart. It was a woodman's tool, not meant for a fight, but not entirely useless either. “That'll bring us back to Menzhome...”, Will brought up, focussing solely at Luna, with caution and concern in his gaze. She shook her head. “Better than this...”, she replied. “There's... there's this voice. Trust me on this one, we're in terrible danger if we stay here” “That would be an understatement”, the voice replied, now no longer a whisper, but clear as day, no longer echoing in her head, but sounding from somewhere in front of them. Though soft, it was quite deep, mocking and devoid of warmth. Luna gasped, as she saw a figure stepping onto the road, from the nearby trees. Though not much taller than Guthmund or Alfred, the figure was willowy and just as black as the surrounding trees. In her horror, it took her a moment to realize that this figure was covered in black armour from head to toe. It was strangely crafted, the different plates fused together and overlapping seamlessly and yet, as heavy as it seemed, the figure didn't seem to have any issues with moving around. Though the armour was black for the most part, there were fine, shimmering patterns on it, made from silver, it seemed. The armour covered the body entirely, except for two fleetingly small openings for the eyes. From beyond these holes, Luna felt a dark gaze, fixated on her. Furthermore, the figure carried a long, black sword on its back, though it hadn't drawn the weapon yet. “What the fuck...”, Guthmund mumbled. “Is that... a knight? Listen, when I spoke of the Rondrians earlier, I was just talking, I didn't mean any...” The figure cut him off at once. “You talk too much, human”, it... no, he hissed. The voice was clearly male and in person, it lacked a bit of the ethereal softness it had in Luna's head. “Who are you?”, Alfred growled and behind him, Guthmund reached for the spear he had hidden in the cart. Briefly, the dark gaze wandered away from Luna, first at Guthmund, then Alfred, finally Will, who had his eyes narrowed. “A knight wouldn't be too far from the truth, but none of the kind you peasants like to worship”, the armoured man replied. “You have the honour of speaking to the Black Lion of Ometheon, first and most loyal of the Mother Queen's Shakagra” He placed a gloved hand on his chest. “I am Asch, Firstborn of the Nai Nartharil and I have come for the Marked Second” Though his words filled her with a sense of dread, Luna could not claim to understand any of it, aside from his name. Asch... the hairs on the back of her neck stood up. “We don't have what you're looking for”, Alfred growled in return. “We're simple farmers on our way north. Please, if this is an ambush, just take our valuables, but leave us with our lives” “I am not interested in anything you carry with you”, Asch barked and his voice gained sharpness. “I don't care much for your lives either. There's no joy to be found in slaughtering the weak and I have no orders concerning the three of you” He raised his finger and pointed right at Luna. “I have come for her. The only thing of value in your cart. Give her up without a struggle and I won't waste another thought on you” Will gave her a shocked look, but truth be told, Luna had expected this from the moment she first heard this voice. Though terrified beyond reason, she was frozen in place, just staring at this armoured knight. Something about his physique was off. He was too tall and too thin to be human. “You're an elf...”, she deduced. She had no proof for that, but just by speaking these words, she knew in her heart that she was wrong. Or at least not entirely right. He was as willowy as she imagined her kind to be, but something was wrong, about him, the way he stood and spoke. Asch chuckled. “You are quick to speak of elves, but you know nothing of them”, he replied coldly. “Not even their language... Trust me, you know nothing of me” He looked around. “Which of you did this to her? Who of you raised her, so far from her blood?” The way he spoke that last word made Luna's skin crawl. She couldn't look away, locked in frozen fear. No indeed... this man was no elf, but no human either. She doubted her companions even noticed it, but she sensed something fundamentally wrong about him. “Her father is not here”, Alfred explained. “Please, Sir, we are simple folk, we...” Asch cut him off with a dry chuckle. “I can see that, yes”, he interjected. “Simple, pathetic, cowardly, that's what she has been surrounded with for all her life” He shook his head and though she couldn't see his face, she felt the disgust in his voice. “It is unworthy of her”, he mumbled, before he extended a hand. “You heard my offer, child. Come with me and they shall live” “No chance!”, Will spat, but where Guthmund had his spear and Alfred at least a spiked club, the youngest of the three farmhands was armed with nothing but his fury. Asch didn't even look at him. “Alfred...”, Luna gasped behind the old man. “We have to do something, we have to get out of here...” Alfred hesitated a moment, before nodding. “Hang on there, this is going to suck”, he warned her. “Why do you wish to take her?”, Will demanded to know and this time, Asch looked at him, with the same callous anger as one would show towards an annoying insect. “I was ordered to”, he stated cryptically. “I don't expect you to understand it, but when the queen demands, it is wise to comply” He did not get to elaborate on his statement, as Alfred made his move in this moment. “Hiyah!”, the old man yelled and the horse started to rush forward, right towards the armoured knight. As he had told her, Luna hung onto the side of the cart. It began to move slowly, but over the course of the two dozen feet that separated them from Asch, it would undoubtedly become downright unstoppable for a single man. He had to jump to the side, or he would be crushed. Instead of doing just that, however, he remained right where he was standing, as Guthmund and Will spurred their horses to keep up with the cart. His dark eyes were staring at Luna once again. It was hard to say with not an inch of his skin visible, but he almost seemed amused. Then, less than a dozen feet remaining between them, the knight raised one hand. With a flick of his wrist, the horse collapsed, without as much as a sound. The cart nearly turned over and had they gone any faster, that likely would have happened. Still, Luna and Alfred nearly got knocked out, with the old man hanging on, while Luna falling forwards. Her oustretched hands heavily slammed against the wood of the coachman's seat and pain flared up in her arms. As her vision cleared, she got a good look at the horse. There was no physical injury as far as she could tell, but already a thin line of blood poured from its open mouth, its eyes wide and still. There was no terror in its final expression, more a mild surprise, as it had been killed faster than it could process. “Magic...”, she gasped, as Guthmund and Will next to her immediately struggled to keep their horses under control. The former did not manage to do so and his horse knocked him off. Encouraged by its fellow animal, Will's horse turned around, as much as the young shepherd tried to stop it. While Guthmund's horse began to dash back to where they came from, Will at least managed to keep his horse from rushing off with him on top. Calmly, Asch approached them, clearly not in a hurry. “I gave you a chance to surrender”, he spoke. “Not that it matters much, but you provoked this” He still hadn't drawn his sword, but after his display of magic, she realized he didn't even need the weapon. “Stay back!”, Guthmund barked, as he staggered back to his feet. “I said stay back, you fucker!” He raised his spear and point it at the slowly approaching knight. “I'm armed!” This time, Luna clearly heard a cold chuckle from beneath the heavy helmet. “Guthmund, don't!”, she yelled, but it was too late. “How quaint...”, Asch mumbled and with one hand on his sword, he began to charge. “So am I” Before he drew the weapon, he easily dodged beneath Guthmund's clumsy attack. The man was a farmhand, not a trained soldier, whereas Asch was something else entirely. She had seen armoured knights before and they were not supposed to move with such speed and grace. Asch reminded her of a dancer, at least until he finished his dodge and drew his sword. Then, in rapid succession, he took two swings at his opponent. The first cut the spear in half and the second, done before the tip of the broken weapon even reached the ground, cleanly severed Guthmund's head from his shoulders. All of this happened almost in an instant, giving Luna just enough time to jump up. Without even slowing down, Asch now charged at the cart. “Run!”, Alfred merely managed to say, as the knight jumped up. He shouldn't move like this... he shouldn't be able to move so fast, that was all Luna was able to think, as she staggered, then fell onto her back. With one apt move, Asch caught Alfred's wrist, stopping the blow of his club in an instant. “I was wrong!”, the knight admitted and his voice showed a sliver of excitement, right before he pushed his sword into the old man's neck as if it was nothing. “You are not cowardly, I must admit” He let go of Alfred, who pressed a hand on the lethal opening in his neck, before immediately turning his gaze to Luna. Up close, she was able to see through the small openings in his helmet. Beneath, she spotted his eyes and they were the most terrifying thing she had ever seen. There was no white within them, instead they were two fully black orbs, surrounded by pale flesh. She could see herself there, reflected by Asch's eyes, pale, raven-haired and with violet eyes full of fear. The knight reached out for her, but before she could stagger away, someone grabbed her by the neck, yanking her back and before she realized what happened, she was dragged from the cart. “Hang on!”, Will yelled, as he spurred his horse. For a moment, he dragged her along, until she managed to fully hang onto his arm. Together, they managed for her to get up on the horse and as Luna looked back, she saw Asch standing there, his blood-stained blade leaning on his shoulder. His other hand though... “Watch out!”, she yelled, but it was too late. She could feel the horse collapsing beneath her, its legs giving in, as both of its riders were thrown from the saddle. Luna's world started to spin, as she flew into the snow, head first. Though it somewhat lessened the impact, everything darkened around her for a moment, as she struggled to remain conscious. The heavy body of the dead horse collapsed right next to her, fortunately not crushing her with its weight. As she opened her eyes to look around, she immediately realized that Will hadn't been quite as lucky. Though the horse missed him as well, he had fallen onto a wooden branch, head first. Now, he was lying limp in the snow, the white ground quickly covered with red blood. Luna's eyes widened and for a moment, this was all that mattered, her friend injured on the ground. On all fours, she moved closer to him, carefully turning him around as she reached him. Will's eyes were closed, but she sighed in relief as she noticed the soft rise of his chest. He was still breathing, he was still alive, even though he had a deep gash on his forehead. Tears welled up in Luna's eyes, as she placed a hand on his chest. “Get up, please...”, she whispered, before she heard the footsteps behind her. Immediately, she spun around and as expected, there was Asch, still approaching her without haste. He didn't need any, after all. Carefully eyeing him, Luna stood up, but before doing so, she swiftly grabbed the knife from Will's belt. It was not particularly sharp, a simple tool meant to carve wood and it definitely wouldn't get through this odd armour of his. But she felt more confident with it in hand than without. The knight stopped as she pointed the weapon at him. In return, his long, slightly curved and unnaturally thin sword did the same, pointing at her in return. “Please”, he just said calmly. “Don't be like your friends. Foolishness is almost as great a weakness as cowardice. They have proven their bravery at least, but they died pathetic deaths nonetheless” Though his voice lacked any empathy for the two men he just killed, he sighed as he spoke these words. “I offered them a way out and yet they attacked me”, he mumbled. “Perhaps next time I should add spikes to my armour? Show them I'm bad news” He tilted his head. “What do you think?”, he asked. “Too impractical?” Luna did not reply. Instead, she grabbed the knife more firmly, almost mimicking his perfect stance with the sword. This earned her a dry chuckle. “Again with this!”, he exclaimed. “Lower this toothpick, girl! It is unworthy of the Marked Second to fight a hopeless battle” His words caught her off guard for once. “Again with that name. Or is it a title?”, Luna hissed, without lowering her knife. “I don't know what you are talking about!” This time, Asch actually seemed surprised. “So it means nothing to you?”, he replied. “The Al'Anfanian Prophecies, the Marked Seven, Borbarad and Rohal...” She paused again, before slowly shaking her head. The armoured man sighed, this time deeply so. “Mother Queen have mercy, what have they taught you among the humans? Well, it matters not. You are not the wrong girl, this I am decidedly sure of. Your lack of education won't spare you a meeting with the queen. Albeit where I come from, most would kill for such an honour” His blade moved slightly, now pointing at her abdomen. “And don't you assume I would hesitate to strike you. True, I need you alive, but I would simply heal you before you bleed out. If I stab you there, it would be long and agonizing and in the end, I would never allow you to die” He shook his head. “Again, this is unworthy of you” Luna hesitated. There was something in his words, something he wasn't supposed to reveal so easily. “You...”, she mumbled, as she indeed lowered her weapon. Asch did not do the same, but he gave her a nod. “Finally, you show...”, he started to say, before she cut him off by moving the knife to her own throat. Though he did not flinch, she knew he hadn't expected this, as he was quick to lower his sword. “Come on now...”, he said, decidedly unimpressed. “You don't have the guts for that, girl” She shook her head, as much as she dared with the cold metal so close to her throat. He was right... by the gods, he was right. She couldn't do that... but one look at Will was enough to dispel any thought of fear, yes, any thought at all, except concern for her friend and fury at the knight. “Try me”, she hissed, meeting his black gaze with her own unflinching glare. A moment passed. Then another. Finally, Asch lowered his sword. “This is becoming bothersome really fast”, he complained. “Fine, you're of no use for anyone if you off yourself here. You will come with me, this is not negotiable. Anything beyond that...” His words carried a malicious undertone to them and beneath his helmet, his unsettling eyes glared at her. “You said their lives don't matter to you”, Luna hissed, trying her best not to look back at the cart. Tears welled up in her eyes as her gaze fell upon it regardless. Alfred and Guthmund had been good men, despite their odds and flaws. They would have deserved better. But perhaps Will could still live. “Correct”, Asch confirmed. “Shall I sever pieces of your friend here until you comply?” “I want you to heal him!”, Luna demanded and it got a genuine chuckle from Asch in return. “I don't think you are in the position, girl”, he spoke, his voice showing a hint of amusement, but even more so a hint of annoyance. “My offer remains the same I gave you to begin with. Surrender yourself and I will spare your friend's life” Once more, Luna looked down at Will and it almost tore her apart to see him like this. He was bleeding badly and in this weather, it was unlikely she'd get him anywhere near a healer before his condition would get worse. “You will heal him!”, she demanded. While she tried her best to sound authoritative and confident, her voice was shrill and shaky as she spoke. And she knew, if she noticed this already, then Asch surely would as well. A dry chuckle came from beneath the heavy helmet. “You are persistent, I give you that”, he admitted. “As determined as any of my Shakagra'e. Weak in body, but your mind does not disappoint” He glanced down at the sword in his hands. “It would be simple to end your friends' life just now, to test if you are truly willing to go through with your threat”, he added. “And I could even bring you back from the Traitor Raven's shore” This odd choice of words... She knew the raven and his shore from the weekly sermon. That was Boron, whose halls were on the far shore of the Nowhere Sea. But no one had ever called the Divine Raven a traitor. Before she could reply, Asch slowly extended a hand towards her. “But it will be so much effort and all I'd gain for this is his death” He shook his head. “And I really couldn't care less about him, alive or dead”, he then stated. “I will heal him, just enough for him to survive. How he gets to the nearest settlement is none of my concern” Luna tried her best to suppress the sigh of relief that forced its way up her throat, but she didn't manage to do so entirely. “If I heal him, you will come with me”, Asch spoke. It was not a question or a plea, simply a statement. Reluctantly, she lowered the knife, but continued to cling onto it. “One wrong move and we have to do this the hard way”, she hissed, to which the armoured man actually laughed. It was dry, hollow and entirely joyless. “You have no idea what that even means”, he stated, before he paused again. “Another condition. Before I heal anyone, I want your toothpick. Can't have you breaking our deal now, can I?” Decidedly, she shook her head. “No chance”, she growled and Asch shrugged. “Then I'll just leave him here. He's out, maybe for good. Even if he wakes up again, the cold will get him before he gets any help”, he hissed, this time with an icy chill in his voice. Beneath his helmet, his dark eyes glared at her. There was something wolfish within them, something ancient and hungry. As easily as he had murdered Guthmund and Alfred, she was certain that this was nothing compared to what he was capable of. Her knife, pressed to her own throat, was the only thing standing between her and this beastly knight. As much as she knew that she was incapable of actually pushing it into her flesh, it was the only leverage she had over him. And even then, he was only mildly bothered by it. Tears welled up in her eyes. “Where would you take me?”, she demanded to know. “Before I agree to anything, I want to know what you want of me!” Asch sighed, as he looked down at the unconscious Will. “Not too far from here”, he told her. “The queen will speak to you, after you have been prepared sufficiently” Now, he looked straight at her again and his gaze had changed. “She is not your enemy and neither am I” He followed her gaze, to where Alfred was lying, his wound still bleeding warm. Another cold chuckle. “Those two?”, the knight growled. “They do not matter. I don't doubt they meant something to you, but all they did for your entire life was holding you back. The queen knows of your true destiny and believe me, it will be worth so much more than a few dead humans to get you there. Once you have seen the truth, you will agree” He looked down at Will. “I will even heal your favourite human, though I'm afraid you cannot keep him around”, he added. “All I want in return is for you to give me your knife. Submit to the inevitable and I promise, no, I vow by the Mother Queen that you will not regret it” [Give Asch the knife] [Refuse to give it up]
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Post by InGenNateKenny on Jan 22, 2020 4:21:17 GMT
[Refuse to give it up] Mmhm being defiant.
I like this Luna. Hmm. More non-human protagonists. I am interested to see where her story will go; right now it is not clear, although maybe people disappearing has to do with this queen? We shall see. We shall see...
The logic answer is like a dark elf or whatever, but allow me to propose what Asch is based on this line from Jaws:
Asch = Shark man confirmed.
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Post by drdestroyer18 on Jan 22, 2020 14:34:45 GMT
[Give Asch the knife]
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Post by TheAPlegends on Jan 22, 2020 17:29:21 GMT
[Refuse to give it up]
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Post by Tales93 on Jan 22, 2020 20:49:40 GMT
[Give Asch the knife]
Yay, Luna's story can finally begin! It's already off to an intriguing start. The best option is to give him the knife. It's already been determined that she can't do anything with it against Asch. Plus, this gives Will the best chance of survival. It's true that he might survive either way, but this gives him the best chance. If he survives he'll probably be able to get assistance to rescue Luna from her captor. He's more useful alive than dead, and he did nothing wrong, to warrant such a fate. There is really no point in refusing to give the knife to Asch; all that will do is possibly sentence her best friend to an unnecessary death.
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Post by GMS Freeman on Jan 23, 2020 10:09:51 GMT
[Give Asch the knife]
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Post by WildlingKing on Jan 24, 2020 20:17:49 GMT
[Give Asch the knife] He vowed by the "Mother Queen", which clearly seems to be a big deal to him.
I'm liking Luna so far, and her story certainly got an interesting start. No idea what this Asch is, but he gives me Wild Hunt vibes. Some sort of dark elf I'm guessing. Also, he implied that he can travel between the mortal world and afterlife, which is certainly intriguing.
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Post by diversegnu on Jan 25, 2020 18:20:14 GMT
[Give Asch the knife]
It's a easy deal in my eyes, she has to go with him regardless as there's no chance to escape. Being defiant will bring no gains whatsoever.
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Louk
New Member
Posts: 43
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Post by Louk on Jan 27, 2020 7:43:24 GMT
[Give Asch the knife] She can't do anything with that knife anyway, refusing to give it up would amount to nothing in the end. Besides, I don't think getting on Asch's bad side would do her any favors... while her situation is bad right now, I'm sure it could get a lot worse. Man oh man, what an introduction it was for both Asch and Luna! I gotta say I'm glad you decided to change Luna's first part in the last minute, I know I'm being biased here since I got to see Asch a lot sooner than I expected but I genuinely think this was for the best. I liked Luna from what we've seen in this part and I do wonder how her interactions with Asch will be going forward, definitely hostile no doubt but I think they should be pretty interesting to see. I gotta admit that I didn't expect Asch to pop up here at all, but boy am I glad he did! This introduction here was pretty much the definition of badass . I really have to give it to you though, you got Asch's personality, approach and overall character just as I had pictured it. Seriously, whenever Asch apperead as I was reading the part the first thought that would come to my head was always something like "damn, that's exactly what Asch would've done in that situation". I completely agree with Wildling here, Asch certainly gave me some strong Wild Hunt vibes and I loved it, from the cold he brings with him to how his armor looks to how he acts to the feeling of dread and talks of prophecies and whatnot. The way he handled this whole thing was just so awesome too, aside from showing off his skill with the sword (which, again, was so damn badass) the spell he used to kill those horses was really something else and I'm crossing my fingers here hoping we'll see Asch delve into that kind of magic again in the future, it definitely picked my interest. This storyline really got off to an amazing start and I can't wait to see what the future holds for it!
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Post by LiquidChicagoTed on Feb 23, 2020 3:46:46 GMT
[Refuse to give it up] Mmhm being defiant. I like this Luna. Hmm. More non-human protagonists. I am interested to see where her story will go; right now it is not clear, although maybe people disappearing has to do with this queen? We shall see. We shall see... The logic answer is like a dark elf or whatever, but allow me to propose what Asch is based on this line from Jaws: Asch = Shark man confirmed. Glad you like her! I really was curious how she would be received, as I have massively rewritten her first part (or more like, I pushed her original first part back, it will now be her second part) in the hopes that it would make for a better experience. And yes, more non-human protagonists are going to appear. Humans are the most numerous inhabitants of Aventuria, so they will also make up most of the PoV's (also, 90% of the submitted characters are humans ^^), but I have more planned. I can say, the next chapter will feature two new non-human PoV's, one of which comes from a character who was introduced already. As for Luna's story, I can say that she will be connected to the larger main plot and I am very excited to write more about her I mean, he did call himself a Shakagra, which kinda sounds like shark, so you might be onto something there! Jokes aside, those black, doll-like eyes are exactly what his look like. He may or may not be a shark man, but he's got shark eyes at the very least.
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Post by LiquidChicagoTed on Feb 23, 2020 3:49:34 GMT
[Give Asch the knife]Yay, Luna's story can finally begin! It's already off to an intriguing start. The best option is to give him the knife. It's already been determined that she can't do anything with it against Asch. Plus, this gives Will the best chance of survival. It's true that he might survive either way, but this gives him the best chance. If he survives he'll probably be able to get assistance to rescue Luna from her captor. He's more useful alive than dead, and he did nothing wrong, to warrant such a fate. There is really no point in refusing to give the knife to Asch; all that will do is possibly sentence her best friend to an unnecessary death. And it will be one hell of a ride for sure I'm glad you enjoyed her first part and I truly hope you will enjoy what's in store for her. If my plans for her all work out, her storyline should be a unique experience, with a viewpoint none of the other characters could really provide.
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Post by LiquidChicagoTed on Feb 23, 2020 3:57:46 GMT
[Give Asch the knife] He vowed by the "Mother Queen", which clearly seems to be a big deal to him. I'm liking Luna so far, and her story certainly got an interesting start. No idea what this Asch is, but he gives me Wild Hunt vibes. Some sort of dark elf I'm guessing. Also, he implied that he can travel between the mortal world and afterlife, which is certainly intriguing. Ah, while the Wild Hunt was not what I had in mind specifically when I wrote him here, I can see the similarities. Coincidentally, I recently restarted The Witcher 3, so that probably affected me while writing this part. I was trying to give him this strange, otherworldly and terrifying vibe which the Wild Hunt definitely has going on for them. Sort of like the Wild Hunt from european mythology, so the comparison is definitely fitting! As for him possibly being able to travel between the mortal world and the afterlife, I am afraid I have to disappoint slightly. He cannot physically travel between the mortal world and the afterlife, but he can bring Luna back if she tries to kill herself to avoid whatever fate he has in store for her. He meant to imply very powerful healing magic here, the kind that can literally bring a person back from death's door and perhaps from slightly beyond.
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Post by LiquidChicagoTed on Feb 23, 2020 4:07:11 GMT
[Give Asch the knife] She can't do anything with that knife anyway, refusing to give it up would amount to nothing in the end. Besides, I don't think getting on Asch's bad side would do her any favors... while her situation is bad right now, I'm sure it could get a lot worse. Man oh man, what an introduction it was for both Asch and Luna! I gotta say I'm glad you decided to change Luna's first part in the last minute, I know I'm being biased here since I got to see Asch a lot sooner than I expected but I genuinely think this was for the best. I liked Luna from what we've seen in this part and I do wonder how her interactions with Asch will be going forward, definitely hostile no doubt but I think they should be pretty interesting to see. I gotta admit that I didn't expect Asch to pop up here at all, but boy am I glad he did! This introduction here was pretty much the definition of badass . I really have to give it to you though, you got Asch's personality, approach and overall character just as I had pictured it. Seriously, whenever Asch apperead as I was reading the part the first thought that would come to my head was always something like "damn, that's exactly what Asch would've done in that situation". I completely agree with Wildling here, Asch certainly gave me some strong Wild Hunt vibes and I loved it, from the cold he brings with him to how his armor looks to how he acts to the feeling of dread and talks of prophecies and whatnot. The way he handled this whole thing was just so awesome too, aside from showing off his skill with the sword (which, again, was so damn badass) the spell he used to kill those horses was really something else and I'm crossing my fingers here hoping we'll see Asch delve into that kind of magic again in the future, it definitely picked my interest. This storyline really got off to an amazing start and I can't wait to see what the future holds for it! Ah, I can say that Luna's second part, the one originally intended to be her first one, would have also introduced Asch, his appearance in Luna's first part was always set in stone from the moment you submitted him. However, his involvement would have been drastically different. Without spoiling anything, it wouldn't have shown his fighting skills and it would have been an overall smaller role compared to the major presence he had in this part. That was also a reason why I changed Luna's first part, I wanted to get Asch's introduction right and reading the overall reactions, it seems I certainly did! I am especially glad you enjoyed him here, you know it's always important to me that the character's creator approves of how I write the character. As for his future, I got big things in store for him. We will definitely see more of his arcane skills, so I am happy you look forward for more of that, but in general, I have some interesting plans for him. Hearing how excited you are about his introduction is a big confidence boost and I am absolutely certain about my plans for his future
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Post by LiquidChicagoTed on Feb 23, 2020 4:42:53 GMT
The Voting is closed!
Luna is going to give Asch the knife Yeah, that was probably a good idea. What I can say is, Asch wouldn't have allowed Luna to die right here, so she had no basis on which she could have negotiated with him. Now it depends on wether or not he keeps his end of the bargain. But oh man, I am glad you all enjoyed this part! As I said before, I rewrote pretty much the entire thing in the hopes of giving Luna a better introduction. When you read her next part, keep in mind that it was originally planned to be her first part. You'll see why I had to make that decision and reading your reactions has proven to me that it was the right decision. The next part will be out right now. I apologize once more for the wait. As hyped as I am about writing this story, my exams got in the way. They were dreadful, they were harder than usual and they were most likely the second-to-last exams I ever had to write. I still got some next week, but they will be a lot easier. The worst is over by now. So, I can finally try to get a more frequent schedule going again. Between personal fucking tragedies and university work, I know my schedule slipped over the last year, but I feel ready as I'll ever be to get regular parts up and running again. Wish me luck, I'll try my best for this to work out The next part will be an Edmond part and it will feature a slight time skip. The last time we saw him, he was in Punin, in the Kingdom of Almada, the southernmost province of the Middenrealm. There, he was attending a meeting between the leaders of the most influential Borbaradian circles, where they discussed how to proceed, now that Borbarad has actually been freed of his prison. There, their next steps were decided upon. However, one key Borbaradian was missing, a certain Braken von Shreign, the leader of the Windhag circle, who is in contact with some of the darkest, yet also most knowledgeable and powerful beings in all Aventuria. His absence was as unusual as it was worrisome, especially since the gathered Borbaradians hoped for his input on how to deal with the current situation of their god, who is freed of his prison but also currently denied a fitting vessel to hold his divine energy. As such, Edmond was sent north to find a trace of Braken. He is accompanied by Asmodeus of Andergast, the bastard brother of the king of Andergast, as well as (reluctantly) Urdo of Gisholm and (way less reluctantly) the elven shapeshifter Azaril Crimsonleaf, the latter of whom will only accompany them for part of the way before heading to the city of Griffindsford, where she has to attend to other duties. The last known trace of Braken leads to the Duchy of Meadows, more specifically to the Rhodestone, the holy keep of the Church of Rondra. Braken had sent one of his disciples, a certain Alicent Bellet, to spy on the Church of Rondra shortly before he vanished. As such, Edmond hopes that Alicent can tell him more about Braken's whereabouts. The next part will start a few weeks after this meeting, after Edmond and his companions have already left the rest of the Borbaradians and it will be set close to the Rhodestone. As I said, it'll be out right now, so I hope you enjoy!
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Post by LiquidChicagoTed on Feb 23, 2020 4:44:14 GMT
Rhodestone, the Duchy of Meadows
The Year 1016 BF
Edmond Refreshing as his brief stay in the southern lands had been, Edmond soon had to prepare for his return to the grim north. Winter had gripped Meadows in the meantime, something he remembered only too well from his childhood. It wasn't the light snowfall and the slightly chilly temperatures the southern provinces experienced around this time of the year, but rather a biting cold, the kind that could kill a man without proper equipment. Edmond had grown up to these winters, had spent his childhood sinking into the snow, almost waist deep in his younger years. There wasn't less snow this year, but he himself had grown considerably since these early days. Now, the snow only reached halfway up his knees, as he and his companions dragged themselves through the snow. At least he and Asmodeus did the dragging, having to fight for every metre on this part of the road, with a heavy wind trying to push them back constantly. Usually a head shorter than Edmond, Urdo of Gisholm was now able to look him in the eye at the same level, an unusual and unwelcome experience. True to the nature of his pact, he had no problem with any road and in this environment, it meant wind and snow didn't slow him down in the slightest. The latter, though fresh and soft, carried his weight entirely, leaving barely a bootprint where he stood, not like the deep tracks Edmond and Asmodeus left. And Azaril... of course she preferred to just fly above, from branch to branch, looking down at them with owlish eyes. Though she lacked much of an expression in this form, Edmond swore he saw her winking at him with mischievous joy, something he could only roll his eyes at. “Nice journey”, Urdo remarked and this time, Edmond shot him a glare. The man clearly got a chuckle out of their misfortune and he merely raised an eyebrow at Edmond's expression. “Envious?”, he asked. “Not when I think of the price”, Edmond replied. “I prefer my soul free of such taint” Urdo shrugged. “I'll reclaim it”, he stated firmly. “Once the Master has triumphed” For once, Edmond actually had to agree with this man. “Our souls will be our own in Borbarad's world”, he mumbled. “No gods nor demons to claim it” He sighed and wrapped himself closer into his cloak. “I can only hope Braken has any idea how to grant the Master a fitting vessel” “He is our best bet”, Asmodeus yelled from ahead. His voice was muffled through the scarf he had wrapped around his neck and lower face and as he turned to face Edmond, the wind nearly blew his hood off. “Have faith, my friends!”, he continued, but the rest of his sentence was drowned out by the heavy wind that raged on around them. With both, wind and cold just further nagging at them, Edmond was glad when Azaril landed a few feet away. In the blink of an eye, she had transformed back into her elven form and with a grin, she plucked a feather from her hair. She had switched the form-fitting black and red dress for something a bit more suitable for the weather, an array of black and white furs, though no hood to hide her elven features, by choice as the mage suspected. “There's a tavern ahead”, she informed them. “Perhaps it's time for a rest?” Urdo raised an eyebrow. “Why?”, he replied. “You tired?” Azaril sighed, before she gave him a slight nod. “It might surprise you, but my kind actually does get tired, yes”, she sighed. “But I'm more concerned for you three” She glanced skywards. “It'll get dark soon. Two hours at most, then we have to stop unless you wish to stumble around in the dark of the night” Briefly, she narrowed her eyes. “And we should not linger after sunset” “Scared of wolves?”, Urdo hissed, though Edmond could see that it was only pointless bravado with him. Though he would never claim to understand a man who sold his soul to a demon as vile as Lolgramoth, moments like this showed that Urdo's mind was still that of a mortal. His fists were clenched and he looked around carefully, as if he expected something worse jumping at them through the underbrush. Azaril shook her head and by now, Asmodeus had gotten close enough to speak up as well. “I heard some... concerning rumours in the last village”, he explained. “Lately, people tend to disappear here in Meadows, taken by some horror. The villagers would not discuss this any further, not even name the beast they believe responsible, but this time, I fear it might be more than the usual peasant nonsense. Given the number of disappearances, it could be a threat even to the four of us” “Exactly”, Azaril confirmed. “While I don't doubt your abilities, I'd rather not risk anything. We need to get to the Rhodestone, swiftly and safely” Urdo chuckled. “Probably just bandits”, he speculated, to which Asmodeus shook his head. “It happens all over the duchy, frankly at an alarming rate”, he clarified. “And it's not just the usual suspects who disappear, not just hunters and drifters. They are taken from their homes just as easily as they are taken on the road and among the victims, there's even seasoned knights. I take you as a man with some experience in common banditry, so I ask you... does that sound like the work of simple highwaymen?” Surprisingly, Urdo was quiet for a moment, before shaking his head. “Not quite”, he admitted and all of a sudden, he too seemed less eager to camp out in the open. “Fine then. Tavern it is” He clenched his fists and briefly, he glanced around, especially to the forest that seamed the path to their right. As soon as they had spoken, Edmond felt an odd shiver running down his spine. He was a mage, a learned man, trained in the most prestigious school in all Aventuria, but in moments like this, a part of him was still in touch with his roots. Though he had long outgrown childish superstitions, such sentiments were common in his old home. In the mind of a Meadows farmer, the world was a terrifying and dangerous place, filled with ghouls and vampires, with witches and demons behind everything even remotely inexplicable. Of course, no one would ever speak these words aloud around here. Frankly, it was hard to truly abandon the only worldview he had known for the first sixteen years of his life. As such, he was glad that they soon reached the tavern. It was, like many roadside inns so close to the Orklands, a fortified building, with a small wall and even two wooden watchtowers. Though the sun was setting already in the distance, the gates were still open, even if Edmond suspected it wouldn't stay that way for much longer. Two stablehands, both young men under the age of twenty, were the first to see the four travellers, as they entered the courtyard. The building itself had two stories, with a medium-sized stable directly adjacent to it on the one side and a barn on the other. Friendly chatter from inside the tavern promised a warm place for the night and a hot meal to drive away the cold. One of the stablehands, already old enough to grow a half-decent beard, had a friendly smile on his face, though it faded the moment he saw Azaril's pointy ears. The other gulped and took a step back, closer to the stables, especially as Asmodeus approached them. “Well met, young men!”, he greeted them. “We seek shelter for the night and a warm meal” The bearded stablehand briefly narrowed his eyes, glancing from Azaril, briefly over Edmond, then a bit longer to Urdo, before looking back at Azaril. “Dunno if we got the space for the likes of you”, he mumbled and his tone was slightly shaky. “Pa doesn't want too many strangers around” Asmodeus raised an eyebrow. “Strangers bring coin, especially in your father's line of work”, he reasoned, before slightly shifting, to reveal the full purse on his belt, equal parts Middenrealm silver and Andergastian thalers. Finally, the young man sighed. “Take it to Pa then”, he mumbled. “But if he says we don't got the space, you have to move on. We don't want any trouble around here” Asmodeus nodded and Azaril flashed them a bright smile. It would have been charming, if not for the sharp canine teeth that were common for her race and though Edmond hardly minded, he suspected she did this precisely to throw the two men off guard. “Thank you, good Sers”, Asmodeus spoke and with a nod, he turned around. “Apologies for these two, mylady”, Edmond spoke and Azaril chuckled sweetly. “Because they almost turned us down?”, she asked in a gentle tone. “I don't think that got much to do with me. They were afraid not because my ears and fangs are a bit longer than theirs, but because we are strangers” She briefly glanced at Urdo, who visibly wore two long knives on his belt. “And armed ones at that”, she added in a stern tone. “As much as I hate a prejudiced mind, I can forgive plain fear” Together, they were the first to enter the taproom. For a remote roadside inn in this part of the world, it was remarkably full. Edmond could only suspect that none dared to brave the cold in these dark times. A few heads turned as they entered, a few gazes lingered a bit longer, but most quickly turned away. Azaril made no effort to hide her elven features and though the people here were hardly educated, he and Asmodeus carried their staffs with them and even a peasant from the Meadows knew enough of the world to recognize them as mages. The kind nobody wanted around, especially in this place, but also the kind nobody in their right mind would ever start trouble with. In general, the taproom, was almost uncomfortably hot. Too many people had gathered in it and three hearths did the rest. It was even more jarring now that they just came from outside. Worse, the room stank in the way only an overcrowded and badly aerated room could. Azaril outright winced and Edmond could only imagine how much worse the mixture of sweat, cheap ale and pressing heat had to be for her overly sensitive elven nose. “One moment...”, she mumbled through clenched teeth, as she made a hasty, almost impatient gesture with her hand. A second later, the air shifted around her. Where the rest of the room was still the sweat-drenched, overcrowded mess, the space around her smelled better all of a sudden. Edmond raised an eyebrow as he noticed the pleasant combination of frankincense and lilac, paired with something that reminded him of a gentle autumn breeze. “Far better!”, Azaril chirped, before she sat down at one of the few empty tables. Edmond hesitated a moment, before a thin smile found its way onto his face and he sat down next to her. “Sometimes its easy to forget”, he admitted. “That there's a simpler side to magic. That it's not all about destroying things, about curses and death” He sighed and clasped his hands, as memories of Drakesfield threatened to force themselves back into his mind. What had happened there... a necessary sacrifice, but glorious as the Master's world will be, he still found it hard not to feel pity for the lives lost in that cursed land. Azaril's expression darkened briefly as she noticed his sudden drop of mood, before she gave him a mild smile. “If it would be, I'd be the first to agree with the Church of Praios”, she revealed. “The guild mages say magic is a gift, but it is so much more than that. All of these people here, they are being denied something that should be rightfully theirs. A sense as natural as sight and smell. No one has the right to deny them this. No one has the right to deny them their freedom” “Well said...”, Urdo mumbled from behind them and Edmond tensed up at how quiet the man had approached them. He glanced over his shoulder and far behind Urdo, he noticed Asmodeus arguing with the innkeep. “Can see why Liscom liked you” As he spoke that name, he made sure to look Edmond right in the eye, slightly smirking as he noticed the young mage's discomfort. “Drink's on me tonight” He turned around just as Azaril raised an eyebrow. “Now, Urdo, hold on!”, she called after him. “I never drink...” Edmond was not sure if he hadn't heard her or was actually ignoring her. “Wine!”, the short man growled towards the nearest barmaid, a red-haired lass who cowered under his command. “Three casks. Water for the elf” He actually followed her closer to the counter and to Asmodeus, who still was locked in a lively discussion with the innkeep. A few silver coins seemed to soften the burly man's attitude, but his body language made it clear he was still not too fond of the newcomers. Edmond clenched his fists at the thought of having to face the cold night after all. “Sometimes I wonder why Liscom kept him around”, he mumbled and Azaril smiled sweetly. “I'm sure he's got his good sides as well”, she claimed, to which Edmond decidedly shook his head. “Trust me, he really doesn't”, he replied. “He's a quick and reliable messenger, but so is a trained bird” He narrowed his eyes just as Urdo had reached the counter. “At least with a bird we wouldn't have to worry about anyone getting stabbed” “Sometimes a man like that is exactly what we need”, Azaril spoke. “And you cannot deny he'd fit right in with the Uthari” Edmond chuckled, before he gave her a nod. “Him and ak'Taran, two birds of a feather”, he mumbled and she flashed him a grin. “Menchal would have your head for that”, she warned him playfully. “Though I'd argue being compared to Urdo is still too kind for him” As quick as it had come, her warm smile faded again. The pleasant smell of frankincense and lilac increased as she leant closer. “Plus, he was there when Borbarad revealed himself to this world. That has to count for something” Edmond shook his head. “I think it was just circumstance”, he argued. “The Master had to reveal himself to someone and we were his only servants in the area” “How was it?”, Azaril whispered and Edmond raised an eyebrow. “I told you already...”, he began, put she cut him off. “That is not what I meant”, she interjected. “You told me about your experience with the Master and though I could listen to it over and over, I would like to use this chance to ask about something else” She glanced at Urdo and Asmodeus. The former had placed an arm around the latter's back by now, his free hand gesturing towards the innkeep, who had his arms crossed. “As long as it's just the two of us. Who knows when we'll get another chance to talk about this” It wasn't too hard to realize what she wanted to discuss, at least not for a man of Edmond's intelligence. “You want to talk about Drakesfield”, he deduced and he couldn't suppress a sigh. “Not the most pleasant topic, I know”, Azaril admitted. “But I have to know. The only two people alive to tell me about it are you and Korobar and I'd rather join the clergy of Rondra before I trust a word out of that man's mouth” “It would be a sight to behold, mylady”, Edmond jested, though he failed to lift his own spirits. She rolled her eyes. “You are probably the last person who talked to Liscom, you know that, right?”, she stirred the conversation back to the topic at hand. “How... how was he?” Briefly, she avoided his gaze and focussed onto a stain on the table. “I mourned for him. We all did and when it turned out that he has... returned from death for such a long time...”, she mumbled, before looking back at Edmond. “I felt hurt by his lack of trust” “So did I”, Edmond confined in her. “Liscom had his reasons, I'm sure of it. But to answer your question... I am not sure if he was truly the man I knew. Death had changed him” She raised an eyebrow, before she gave him a slight nod. “Go on, please”, she whispered and despite the noise around them, he had no trouble understanding her. “As if it had stripped away all what he used to be...”, Edmond mumbled. “There was none of his brilliance, none of his warmth. All that remained was a singular goal, his fierce dedication to freeing our master. I fear in the process he had lost most of what made him such a natural leader” Azaril noticed his sullen expression and gently placed a hand on his back. “Remember him as he used to be”, she advised him. “His journey to break Borbarad's chains cost him dearly and we will make sure to honour his sacrifice. But don't be too hard on him for what he became. In our lifetime, he might very well be the only man who went beyond Uthar's Gate and returned. We may never know what he saw in the vast emptiness of the Nowhere Sea, what was waiting for him on Boron's Shore, but we can presume it changed him. I dread to imagine what he found beyond death if it strengthened his resolve to such a terrifying degree” “Drakesfield was a massacre”, Edmond admitted. “Liscom didn't just sacrifice the men and women of this village... he destroyed the land itself. It was necessary, I know that much, but it doesn't make it any less horrifying. What's worst is that it was him doing it. Urdo, I would have expected it. Ak'Taran, always. But Liscom?” He smiled thinly and utterly without joy. “Do you know of his first plan to resurrect Borbarad?” Azaril gave him a nod. “Mindorium, wasn't it? A body made of arcane rock to hold the soul of a god”, she remembered. “He even had this mine in the middle of nowhere” Edmond chuckled. “The Gorian desert”, he told her. “He said it would be the kindest way to free Borbarad, a victory without casualties” His chuckle died in his throat. “Sometimes I wonder how different things could have been, had he succeeded on that day. If not for Delian of Plainsbridge...” He paused and gave Azaril a brief glance. “Do you know him from your work? Plainsbridge, I mean” The elf sighed. “I know him well enough”, she admitted. “We even worked together from time to time. A tenacious man, so very stubborn. He's just like Nemrod when it comes to that” Edmond gave her a slightly concerned look. “You will meet up with Nemrod, right?”, he asked and Azaril nodded at once. “He'll wait for me in Griffinsford”, she revealed and as Edmond frowned, she chuckled brightly. “Oh, relax. I've been working under him for almost a decade, earned his unwavering trust. He might be the High Spymaster, but he's not omniscient. Trust me, he doesn't suspect a thing” “And if he does, he'll have your head...”, Edmond sighed and Azaril smirked. “Stark of you to presume that would kill me”, she jested. “But he wouldn't call me to Griffinsford to execute me. There's real trouble going on over there. Rumour among the agents has it that a wanted criminal has shown his face there, a high profile target. Nemrod needs me over there” She noticed that he still wasn't convinced, but instead of further detailing her duties, she merely shrugged. “Back to Plainsbridge, yes?”, she remarked and Edmond sighed, nodding for her to continue. “If you are worried about him getting away with killing Liscom, don't be. Delian is a Middenrealm patriot. Sooner or later in the war to come, he will meet the gods he so ardently worships. He will never bow to Borbarad” Edmond clenched his fists. “Good...”, he growled. “We could have avoided all this if not for him. This... is not how things should be. Borbarad without a body, Liscom dead beyond saving, Sulman had to enter a pact and we have to deal with men such as Korobar and Braken von Shreign” He only noticed he had raised his voice a bit as Azaril gave him a sharp glare. The barmaid had returned, carrying a tablet with four mugs on it. From her confused, slightly worried expression, it was clear she had heard him, though Edmond knew she couldn't possibly understand the meaning of his words. “Three wine, one water”, she spoke, her voice slightly shivering in confusion and Azaril gave her a kind smile. “Thank you, dear”, she spoke, as the barmaid wordlessly placed the cups on the table. The moment she was gone, the elf looked back at Edmond. She didn't mention his outburst, but he felt reprimanded nonetheless. “I'll have you know, Braken is nothing like Korobar”, she explained. “His devotion to Borbarad is without equal. With Liscom gone, I mean” Edmond raised an eyebrow. “According to Harun, he converses with servants of the Nameless One”, he remarked and Azaril shrugged. “As long as he doesn't join them”, she replied. “Perhaps their knowledge will be crucial in the days to come” He sighed, before he gave her a hesitant nod. “Truth be told, I'm not even sure if Liscom would have declined their help”, he revealed. “At least not after his resurrection” He paused for a moment, uncertain if he should continue. “There was something I meant to ask...”, he mumbled and Azaril straightened her back, giving him an attentive smile. “What troubles you?”, she asked. He sighed. “When I met Liscom again, I... I had the impression he wasn't alone”, Edmond revealed. He hadn't spoken about this to anyone. Korobar had been there, but he was hardly someone to confine in. And Edmond wasn't too sure how Sulman would react to this. He had kept Liscom's resurrection a secret from him, so why would he be open about this detail. “He had lost an eye in his struggle with Plainsbridge. By the time I met him again, he had replaced it with a red gemstone. A ruby, I think” Azaril's smirk faded and he realized he had her full attention. “I think there was a presence within, something ancient and malevolent”, he continued. “Something that helped him with cursing Drakesfield and freeing the Master” The elf was quiet for a moment and she even closed her eyes. “Then, the first of the Marked Seven shall appear”, she began. “And his sign shall be the almandine and the knowledge of HIS name” “Excuse me?”, Edmond asked, as she said this. Her words sounded vaguely familiar, but he couldn't quite place them. “You said it was a ruby, but could it be an almandine instead?”, she replied and slowly, he nodded. “What was that about seven marks?”, he tried again and she shook her head. “Marked Seven”, she corrected him. “It's from the Oracles of Fasar, I'm sure you heard of them” “Heard? I had to read through them back in Punin”, Edmond confirmed. “They were dreadfully stale” Azaril sighed. “They are two and a half thousand years old”, she reminded him. “And they are surely not intended to be joyful. We should talk to Harun about this when next we meet him, he studied them quite extensively in his youth, if I remember correctly” “Noted”, Edmond agreed. “So, what's with these Marked Seven? What are they?” Azaril shrugged. “Who, more like”, she corrected him again. “And that I don't know. There's seven, as the name implies. Great heroes perhaps, or harbingers of the times to come. The Lone Prophet of the Almandine Eye is the first of them, but that's just about all I know. Now you tell me Liscom had such an eye” “And he was a hero”, Edmond mumbled. Despite how torn he was over Liscom's final actions, he spoke from the bottom of his heart there. He owed the man more than he could ever repay. To him, Liscom would always be a hero. Azaril nodded in agreement. “I'll have to find a copy of the Oracles once I return to Gareth”, she spoke. “They are prophecies, so I don't expect them to be straightforward, but perhaps we can learn of the things to come” She was interrupted by a loud commotion behind them. Expecting the worst, Edmond turned around and indeed, he saw Urdo, having grabbed the innkeep by the collar of his shirt. The other man, though burly and a good head taller than Urdo, looked at him with genuine fear. Asmodeus stood next to him, looking genuinely overwhelmed by the situation. “Oh, come on...”, Azaril cursed beneath her breath. “Can't leave him alone for five minutes” As she looked back at Edmond, her radiant smile returned. “Stay here, will you?”, she chirped, before she rose from her chair. “Make sure we can keep our table while I defuse the situation” She gave him a wink and turned to approach Urdo, while Edmond reluctantly followed her request. With a deep frown, he turned to his wine, ignoring the rest of the tavern, with many patrons quite fascinated at the argument between Urdo and the innkeep. The Marked Seven... he couldn't help but think back on that term. It was important, he could feel it in his bones. And that almandine eye, he could almost feel it's gaze upon him. Liscom was dead, for good this time, struck down by a group of self-proclaimed heroes. But somehow, he doubted that was the end for the powerful presence within the eye. “Uh... excuse me?”, a thin voice called out to him, yanking him away from such thoughts. As he opened his eyes, he noticed the barmaid who had brought them the wine. “I... uh, I couldn't help but overhear what you and the elf spoke about”, she stuttered, giving him a small smile. It was the first time Edmond wasted a second thought on her. She was tall, thin and not much older than him, with dark red hair and fair skin. Her green eyes looked at him and though her voice was meek, her gaze was anything but. It was confident, intelligent and not at all how she looked like, in that peasant garb and with unkempt hair. “Is that so?”, he mumbled, hoping for her own sake that she wouldn't push the topic. The last he needed was some peasant girl too clever for her own good. She gave him an enthusiastic nod, before she sat down. “Can't say I understood much of it”, she admitted. “But you mentioned a Braken, so I just have to ask. Are you companions of Braken von Shreign?” Edmond raised an eyebrow. “And you're not just some barmaid, are you?” he deduced, to which she gave him a nod. “I work with Braken. For him, I mean. He told me to look out for companions of his, but he failed to describe you properly, so I wasn't sure” Edmond slightly tilted his head. “Alicent Bellet, I presume?”, he asked and this time, her smile faded. “Who?”, she asked. “I mean, that's not me. So, there's another in the area?” Before Edmond could say anything, she extended her hand. “I'm Viselis”, she introduced herself and he shook her outstretched hand. “Edmond”, he replied. “We were supposed to meet with one of Braken's disciples in Rhodestone, a certain Alicent. Didn't expect him to leave someone else here in the middle of nowhere” Viselis chuckled. “Ah, what can I say, he planned for this”, she told him. “He knew someone would come and don't ask me how, but he knew you would come through here. Left me a message for you” Something was off... Edmond couldn't quite say what it was, but her chipper nature didn't quite fit with the view he had of Braken and his disciples. The man himself was, by all accounts, a strict, dour-faced fanatic. And this was quite the coincidence, even for a man as cautious as him. “What does it say?”, he asked and Viselis shrugged. “It's a scroll”, she told him. “Haven't opened it, I know better than to pry in Braken's secrets” Viselis' smile grew a bit thinner. “To be honest, I fear someone's watching me”, she admitted. “I haven't heard from Braken in a while and I think someone is following me. Donned this garb and started as the new barmaid here, hoping no one would recognize me” She reached out and touched his hand. “You and your friends... your arrival here is truly fortunate”, she whispered. “If you can take the scroll of me at least, you'll take a big target away from me” That made sense, in a way. “Can I see the scroll?”, Edmond asked. He had no intention of opening it right now, but if Viselis was honest with him, then at least taking it before someone else could sounded important. “Got it in my room, just upstairs”, Viselis replied. “Come with me, I'll give it to you. Might mean I can leave this place sooner rather than later” Edmond glanced over his shoulder to Azaril, who just pushed Urdo away from the innkeep. Even from afar, he felt the fiery anger in her gaze, though he couldn't understand a word of what she was saying over the general noise in this room. “Let me just wait for my friend”, he told her. “She'll be quite interested in this” Viselis frowned. “We should really go right now”, she told him. “Someone might see me talking to you. I held onto that thing for long enough, I really can't wait to get rid of it” She smiled hesitantly. “Do me a favour, pretty please”, she urged him and Edmond paused. Something was really not right here... but at the same time, if she had an ulterior motive, he was still a trained mage. This girl couldn't harm him even if she tried. And yet, he was not sure if he should truly go with her right now. Perhaps it was for the best to wait for Azaril, to have at least someone he trusted by his side. [Go with her] [Wait for Azaril]
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