Onwards I wandered, through forests of towering greens, past babbling brooks of saphire blue, towards the land of Thar Shaddin. The sky seemed different here, as if the sun was filtered through some light fog, never shining as clear as it did in my home village. The trees seemed to be deformed, aged too quickly, never growing to the gnarled large oaks that I had come to love. The fields stretched into farmland as far as I could see, standing on the bank of a river.
Towards me faced the village of Shim, the first stop on my journey. There I would stay the night, gathering information on the city of Marn, on what it's people were like. If fate was kind to me, I might even recieve an inkling on what to do next. With that in mind though, I had a bad feeling around my journey, like something terrible was going to happen if I continued upon my way. This fought with another, even greater feeling, that I would miss out on something fantastic, that would give my life meaning and excitement, if I turned back now. So, I breathed in deeply, and continued forward, towards the shallows of the river, where I could cross into the village's outskirts.
I arrived there a few moments later, skipping on the mossy stones with the ease only a country child can accomplish. The water bubbled pleasantly underfoot as my foot rolled over each smooth stone, then found firmness in the harder rock of the bank. I smiled, adjusting my pack to fit comfortably on my shoulders. Even away from my hometown, I was still as familiar with nature here as nature there. I carried onwards, following a small, dusty path towards the town.
The town consisted of a few houses clustered together, some farmland thrown in behind that, and a handful of stalls. In the middle of this was a solidly constructed wooden building, looking suspiciously new, as if it had suffered a fire or similar catastrophe. It simply breathed the part of an inn, looking warm and inviting, bringing to mind thoughts of hot meals and cold drinks. Overlooking this all from a scenic hill was a large stone manor, presenting the entire town with a somewhat mysterious air to it. Apart from maybe one or two other small structures, the manor seemed to be the only stone building in the town. In through this all trailed a wide, sturdy stone road, going straight through the town as if on a mission. It continued into the distance, where it presumably met up with the large city just barely visible. That would be Marn, I imagined.
My steps echoed loudly to my ears, for as I walked towards the inn the sun lowered onto the horizon, sending it's rays in brilliant oranges across the town. I was alone on the road, but the nearer I gathered to the inn, the less lonely I percieved myself, for the sounds of music and fellowship wafted out, carried on the odour of roasting meat. My mouth watering, I breathed the scents of this town in deeply, then opened the door to the inn, blinking my eyes to the bright light from the fires inside.
The inn's innards were smaller then they looked on the outside, but this was no affront to the establishment. It poured from every beam a sense of coziness, of the comfort one found in your very home on a cold winter night, when the fire was lit and the family close by. Sets of tables were closer to the fire on this cold day, and a large roast's distinct smell drifted out from the back of the kitchen. A trio of barmaids bustled around the crowded establishment, serving drinks and taking orders at every table, a smile on their face for each customer. Surely, this place was as homely one could get outside of home. The occupants of the Red Chalice were of a different manner, though.
For the most part they were the standard village inn residents, the group of travellers here, the minstrels playing in their corner, and the groups of individuals set out in between them, sometimes engaged in conversation with each other. But the most interesting were the locals. They had all gathered into one corner, talking low amongst themselves, almost conspiratorially. They seemed to be a brutish sort, with skins and furs covering their bodies in place of the usual cloth and wool that most townspeople favored. Perhaps a bad crowd had wandered in, scaring off the rest of the villagers for the night. It was rather late to be staying at an inn, I supposed. Any later, and one might suppose they slept here as well.
I lowered my hood as a barmaid motioned me to a table, close to the fire. She seemed surpised as she came closer, causing me to furrow my brow quizically. Luckily, the relief for my curiosity was delivered, as she smiled then tilted her head towards the men near the back.
"I can tell by your appearance that you're not pure human, so a word of warning. Those men over there aren't known to be friendliest to any but their own kind, so watch yourself."
I graced her with a smile, then nodded. She spoke with an odd accent, something just a little off. In addition, her words were odd, the flow of them wrong somehow. I couldn't put my finger on it, but something in how she spoke was different then me. I mentally shrugged, must be a dialect thing, I supposed. I turned my thoughts back on the moment at hand, a blink having gone by since the end of her sentence.
"I'll keep that close to heart, thank you. Also, It's been a long journey, so could I get a hot meal and bath, in that order? You'd have my thanks."
She nodded, her eyes sharpening a touch as she pierced through what to her must be a completely different accent, and on top of that a different dialect. I think I pronounced my consonants a little smoother then her, like a bard would while singing a tale, and carried the whole phrase together like a song. Still, for her part she did admirable and quick job, dispensing with the fees in short order. I smiled and assented, deigning that the few Bishani I had would be able to stand another hit before I went stone broke. She smiled again, bidding me thanks, then went on her way towards the kitchen again. I sighed, then pulled closer to the fire, warming my chill bones.
I recieved a few more looks from folks in the room, and one menacing stare from one of the men in the back, before my food had arrived. Thanking her sincerely, I settled down further into my chair, fork in hand. No self-cooked meal tonight, this was real food. I bit down with a passion, and had soon devoured the plate of it's meat, greens, and potatoes. With that done, I reclined back into my chair, closing my eyes with a contented sigh. Today had been good, and the moon hadn't even risen fully yet! I opened a single eyelid to survey the room around me, noticing that more people seemed to have retired to either bathe or sleep, or something wholly more active, in the time it had taken me to eat. In contrast, the group in the back had seemed to grow larger, their talking growing more furious and constant, a few looks thrown in my direction.
I purposely kept my gaze from meeting with theirs, and looked instead for my barmaid. I'd see about what security they had for their rooms, perhaps. With her everpresent smile she seemingly appeared out of thin air beside me, to announce that my bath had been heated. I thanked her, thinking to wait until after the bath to ask about what security they offered. She led me up the stairs towards the rooms, where she found mine and unlocked it for me with a key. Good, thought I, they locked. She motioned me inside, where the heat from the steam was sending goosebumps up the back of my body. I thanked her once more, and shut the door behind her.
Turning towards the tub, I quickly undressed and slipped in, laying back into the warm water. I always did my best planning while hot, I found, and this water was conducive to planning for tomorrow's journey. I would have to see if there was a way to earn a few Bishani before I headed into the city, to afford another meal like this there....I drifted off to sleep sometime after that.
Save the Princess! Errr, wait....
-
Bran Llwyd
- Outsider
- Posts: 19
- Joined: Mon Jan 23, 2012 7:31 pm
- Name: Bran Llwyd
- Race: Human-Fae
-
Vector
- Outsider
- Posts: 3
- Joined: Sun Jan 29, 2012 4:18 pm
- Name: Vector Ash-down
- Race: Half elf [human mix]
Re: Save the Princess! Errr, wait....
The cool breeze of the farmlands hit me as I stepped out of the forest clearing. well this must be the village with the Red Chalice inn, I thought to myself as i saw the beginning of the village marked by a stone walkway that presumably ran through the village itself. As i walked through the lush farmlands using my naginata as a walking stick, my armor clanking softly against my sides as the loose fit usually did. I began to wonder how father and how his soldiers are faring without me.
Even though i had only been gone about two days i could remember my father’s proud grin as he handed me the bashini pouch and sent me off with a bag packed with the necessities.
" Aye my boy I’ve been waiting for this day when you become a man!"
"A word of advice to ya lad, id start with Marn it has plenty of work for a strapping lad like yourself"."
My father said as he put is arm around me and embraced me tightly and slapping his belly so his beard jiggled along with his pudge.When he said that I realized something, that i was taking a rite of passage, I would come home a man! After I embraced my father and thanked him, I adjusting the backpack on my shoulders and headed of to my fathers suggested starting point, Marn.
I shook myself out of my daydream long enough to feel the impact of running into, what looked like a fur trader. With the glance i got from him he was middle aged , about thirty covered with animal fur unlike the cloth wearing workers that dotted the farmland .The blow made me staggered awkwardly and turn around to apologize for my transgression.
" Watch were the hell your going runt, you don’t want any problems with me."
With that he gave me a shove that unbalanced the heavy load in my bag and landed me on my back, with my naginata laying a few feet ahead. Before I could slowly pull myself and my belongings up the fur trader was gone. I cursed the arrogant jerk under my breath and walked on.
After gazing at the various shops and houses and taking in the fresh smell of cooked meet and general buzz of the streets, i found a friendly looking inn named the Red Chalice, it had the usually wooden structure of any inn adorned with a dark heavy looking door. But once i pushed, it opened with surprising ease.
Once inside the inn was homey and welcoming with the tables pulled close to the fire and the sweet smell of recently devowered goodies still fresh in the air. I saw a group of men in one corner of the room laughing and cackling, each nodded their head once in a while like they all agreed on something. With that I diverted my attention to look for the barmaid among the scattered empty seats, since it was late I understood the high number of absent body’s but hey more room for me.
As luck would have it I found the barmaid behind the table stacking cups and bowls, presumably the "to-be-washed" pile.
"Excuse me miss how much for a hot bath?"
" That would be three bashini for a hot one sir"
She said with a cocked neck and clean smile. I looked into my money pouch which was on my hip and found ten bishini, yes enough for a shower! Forget the meal i already ate before i broke the forest clearing.
"I'll take it!"
I said with eager excitement. She flashed me another smile then wiped her hands to start on a new task. Now satisfied with my request i sat down in a chair just as soon as the last patron, besides the hollering gang took his leave. Being the curious type that i am i tried to listen to their conversation from the opposite end of the room, the words i heard were:
"hurt, grab, and fae"
Not a very good combination of words but then again traveling could have jumbled my brain up, I shrugged it off. Waiting for a few more minutes the barmaid tapped me on the shoulder and said
"Excuse me sir, your bath is ready"
I handed her the bishini and carried my belongings up the stairs to the first available door, dumping my belongings along the side of the room. I quickly undressed and eased into the warm water, thankful for this little delight.
After setting there for some time I heard heavy footsteps creak the wooden steps to the bath floor. I dismissed it as the barmaid until the loud thumps in the other room started.
" Some of us want to relax in here, geez!
I yelled, then louder bangs and muffled voices filled my ear. I quickly dressed to see what the uproar was. I open the door to see nothing and went to the bathroom next to mine. I saw the tub flipped over with water seeping out of the door frame. I grabbed my naginata and ran down the stairs.
Once down I saw a bewildered barmaid with chairs and tables alike scattered across the room, what a site.
Even though i had only been gone about two days i could remember my father’s proud grin as he handed me the bashini pouch and sent me off with a bag packed with the necessities.
" Aye my boy I’ve been waiting for this day when you become a man!"
"A word of advice to ya lad, id start with Marn it has plenty of work for a strapping lad like yourself"."
My father said as he put is arm around me and embraced me tightly and slapping his belly so his beard jiggled along with his pudge.When he said that I realized something, that i was taking a rite of passage, I would come home a man! After I embraced my father and thanked him, I adjusting the backpack on my shoulders and headed of to my fathers suggested starting point, Marn.
I shook myself out of my daydream long enough to feel the impact of running into, what looked like a fur trader. With the glance i got from him he was middle aged , about thirty covered with animal fur unlike the cloth wearing workers that dotted the farmland .The blow made me staggered awkwardly and turn around to apologize for my transgression.
" Watch were the hell your going runt, you don’t want any problems with me."
With that he gave me a shove that unbalanced the heavy load in my bag and landed me on my back, with my naginata laying a few feet ahead. Before I could slowly pull myself and my belongings up the fur trader was gone. I cursed the arrogant jerk under my breath and walked on.
After gazing at the various shops and houses and taking in the fresh smell of cooked meet and general buzz of the streets, i found a friendly looking inn named the Red Chalice, it had the usually wooden structure of any inn adorned with a dark heavy looking door. But once i pushed, it opened with surprising ease.
Once inside the inn was homey and welcoming with the tables pulled close to the fire and the sweet smell of recently devowered goodies still fresh in the air. I saw a group of men in one corner of the room laughing and cackling, each nodded their head once in a while like they all agreed on something. With that I diverted my attention to look for the barmaid among the scattered empty seats, since it was late I understood the high number of absent body’s but hey more room for me.
As luck would have it I found the barmaid behind the table stacking cups and bowls, presumably the "to-be-washed" pile.
"Excuse me miss how much for a hot bath?"
" That would be three bashini for a hot one sir"
She said with a cocked neck and clean smile. I looked into my money pouch which was on my hip and found ten bishini, yes enough for a shower! Forget the meal i already ate before i broke the forest clearing.
"I'll take it!"
I said with eager excitement. She flashed me another smile then wiped her hands to start on a new task. Now satisfied with my request i sat down in a chair just as soon as the last patron, besides the hollering gang took his leave. Being the curious type that i am i tried to listen to their conversation from the opposite end of the room, the words i heard were:
"hurt, grab, and fae"
Not a very good combination of words but then again traveling could have jumbled my brain up, I shrugged it off. Waiting for a few more minutes the barmaid tapped me on the shoulder and said
"Excuse me sir, your bath is ready"
I handed her the bishini and carried my belongings up the stairs to the first available door, dumping my belongings along the side of the room. I quickly undressed and eased into the warm water, thankful for this little delight.
After setting there for some time I heard heavy footsteps creak the wooden steps to the bath floor. I dismissed it as the barmaid until the loud thumps in the other room started.
" Some of us want to relax in here, geez!
I yelled, then louder bangs and muffled voices filled my ear. I quickly dressed to see what the uproar was. I open the door to see nothing and went to the bathroom next to mine. I saw the tub flipped over with water seeping out of the door frame. I grabbed my naginata and ran down the stairs.
Once down I saw a bewildered barmaid with chairs and tables alike scattered across the room, what a site.
-
Bran Llwyd
- Outsider
- Posts: 19
- Joined: Mon Jan 23, 2012 7:31 pm
- Name: Bran Llwyd
- Race: Human-Fae
Re: Save the Princess! Errr, wait....
Bran's bathroom dreams carried him far from this world, to a land of myth and legend, where the stories of old lived and breathed with each other. Every wood was home to a wealth of mystical creatures, every dark corner the lair of a breathless horror. Where battles were fought with might and skill, not just swords and magic. Here, Good and Evil were powerful forces, that shaped the hearts and minds of men as much as they shaped the lands around them. He immersed himself in this land, where his spirit ran free, limited only by his boundless imagination.
While Bran was submerged in this trancelike state, others were planning more sinister ideas. Below, ruffians of thugs, their hearts full of hatred, conspired to bring about the Fae boy's ruin, plotting and scheming. Their savage minds leapt on to this purpose above all else, for they hated the Fae, and the Elves, and the Gnomes, and all others but themselves. They determined they would have their satisfaction, through blood or through fire, on this boy tonight.
They snuck up the stairs, hiding from the wary barmaids and barkeep, who were busy plying their trade to the few patrons left. They drew close to each door on the bath floor, listening intently for their prey, and moving away when satisfied. Six doors down, they scried the silence that Bran's inner dream broughtt his physical body, and were suspicious. All others they had heard the raucous noise of a bath with more then one body, but this one they heard silence.
The leader of this pack, a large, fur-covered man, with powerful muscles and an unkept beard of red, took out a key, cunningly stolen from the barmaid that serviced both him and the Fae boy. With nary a sound, he inserted the key, twisting it round to the dull "clink" of it's opening. His right hand on his dagger, he pushed the door in, wherein the surveyed the room.
In the center was Bran, nude as the day he was born, male features apparent to all who had eyes. He was waking slightly from his slumber, awakened by the heavy mens' loud steps in the quiet room. As one, they drew their blades, and Bran's eyes widened. Scurrying, he lept out of the tub, making for his clothes and satchel. The red-headed man intercepted the elegant boy, his blade flashing to Bran's tender throat.
"One sound, and I'll gut you like a pig and leave your sodden corpse here, for all to see." The man growled.
Bran tensed up, fearing that his life was just about to end. The red-headed man smiled as he saw the fear set into the young man's eyes, then kicked him towards his satchel.
"Put on yer things, and then we'll walk out of here, calmly, with not a word or action suggesting you might be in a wort, now. Come on, hurry up!" The man intoned, as the other drew up behind him like a pack of wolves.
Bran slowly did as the man said, eyes averted, shame flushing his cheeks. When he went to pick up his dagger, another man, this one having a shiny, bald head, snatched it away from him, drawing a trickle of blood from the tips of Bran's fingers carelessly. Bran snatched his hand back, sucking the cut in his mouth. At the sight of this, the savages laughed, then motioned for him to walk to the door.
Walk he did, and when he passed the barmaid, the fear he had was so great that his thinking clouded, instead of asking for help, he just walked onwards, praying someone saw his fear and helped. They led him out, past the tavern, down the brick road, and over more, as the sun started to set. They eventually got on a dirt trail, where a knife in the back kept the Fae boy going too quickly, stumbling and tripping over branches and stones. At each fall they smirked, then motioned for him to hurry up, clearly enjoying his plight.
Eventually, the moon full in the sky, they approached wrought Iron gates, elegantly formed. Bran's very soul screamed at him as he approached, slowing and slowing more and more. This proved to be unpopular, and he was punched forward, past the iron. The leader chuckled, then brushed his beard at Bran's terrified look.
"We heard you Fae boys and girls don't like this place. You may have heard of it. It's the Graveyard of Shim. Thought it might be nice." He smiled, then Bran was hit over the head, and the world went black.
While Bran was submerged in this trancelike state, others were planning more sinister ideas. Below, ruffians of thugs, their hearts full of hatred, conspired to bring about the Fae boy's ruin, plotting and scheming. Their savage minds leapt on to this purpose above all else, for they hated the Fae, and the Elves, and the Gnomes, and all others but themselves. They determined they would have their satisfaction, through blood or through fire, on this boy tonight.
They snuck up the stairs, hiding from the wary barmaids and barkeep, who were busy plying their trade to the few patrons left. They drew close to each door on the bath floor, listening intently for their prey, and moving away when satisfied. Six doors down, they scried the silence that Bran's inner dream broughtt his physical body, and were suspicious. All others they had heard the raucous noise of a bath with more then one body, but this one they heard silence.
The leader of this pack, a large, fur-covered man, with powerful muscles and an unkept beard of red, took out a key, cunningly stolen from the barmaid that serviced both him and the Fae boy. With nary a sound, he inserted the key, twisting it round to the dull "clink" of it's opening. His right hand on his dagger, he pushed the door in, wherein the surveyed the room.
In the center was Bran, nude as the day he was born, male features apparent to all who had eyes. He was waking slightly from his slumber, awakened by the heavy mens' loud steps in the quiet room. As one, they drew their blades, and Bran's eyes widened. Scurrying, he lept out of the tub, making for his clothes and satchel. The red-headed man intercepted the elegant boy, his blade flashing to Bran's tender throat.
"One sound, and I'll gut you like a pig and leave your sodden corpse here, for all to see." The man growled.
Bran tensed up, fearing that his life was just about to end. The red-headed man smiled as he saw the fear set into the young man's eyes, then kicked him towards his satchel.
"Put on yer things, and then we'll walk out of here, calmly, with not a word or action suggesting you might be in a wort, now. Come on, hurry up!" The man intoned, as the other drew up behind him like a pack of wolves.
Bran slowly did as the man said, eyes averted, shame flushing his cheeks. When he went to pick up his dagger, another man, this one having a shiny, bald head, snatched it away from him, drawing a trickle of blood from the tips of Bran's fingers carelessly. Bran snatched his hand back, sucking the cut in his mouth. At the sight of this, the savages laughed, then motioned for him to walk to the door.
Walk he did, and when he passed the barmaid, the fear he had was so great that his thinking clouded, instead of asking for help, he just walked onwards, praying someone saw his fear and helped. They led him out, past the tavern, down the brick road, and over more, as the sun started to set. They eventually got on a dirt trail, where a knife in the back kept the Fae boy going too quickly, stumbling and tripping over branches and stones. At each fall they smirked, then motioned for him to hurry up, clearly enjoying his plight.
Eventually, the moon full in the sky, they approached wrought Iron gates, elegantly formed. Bran's very soul screamed at him as he approached, slowing and slowing more and more. This proved to be unpopular, and he was punched forward, past the iron. The leader chuckled, then brushed his beard at Bran's terrified look.
"We heard you Fae boys and girls don't like this place. You may have heard of it. It's the Graveyard of Shim. Thought it might be nice." He smiled, then Bran was hit over the head, and the world went black.
-
Vector
- Outsider
- Posts: 3
- Joined: Sun Jan 29, 2012 4:18 pm
- Name: Vector Ash-down
- Race: Half elf [human mix]
Re: Save the Princess! Errr, wait....
As Vector surveyed the situation he saw the barmaid going about her regular tasks.
"Excuse me miss, did someone just leave here a second ago?"
She replied with,
" Yes sir, a fae boy along with the normal ruffians. He looked very scared, i was just about to send word to the city."
Vector hastily asked,
"Do you know what direction they were headed?"
"Yes"
She replied
“After they left I poked my head out the door and saw them heading towards the old graveyard I believe."
Vector thanked her for her information and collected the rest of his belongings in the washroom. Then headed towards the forest where the cemetery lay. As Vector entered the tree line, swatting away stray branches and falling over rotted logs. He used his naginata as a walking stick to navigate the maze of clustered nature.
Every once in a while he heard the occasional mumble in the distance, but other than that the low click of various insects and the shine of the moon were his only companions. Minutes passed and the labyrinth of a forest lead into a brick road where he presumed lead to the graveyard.
Peering into the graveyard through its iron bars revealed the decaying gravestones clustered in the area. Also he saw a hint of fur at the corner of his eye, following the movement he soon found his mark just as he had suspected. The fur traders were huddled around a boy, a fae to be specific that looked like he was dead or out cold, i hoped the second option. I quickly crept around the scean and hid behind a crumbled headstone and waited for the situation to come to a head.
"Excuse me miss, did someone just leave here a second ago?"
She replied with,
" Yes sir, a fae boy along with the normal ruffians. He looked very scared, i was just about to send word to the city."
Vector hastily asked,
"Do you know what direction they were headed?"
"Yes"
She replied
“After they left I poked my head out the door and saw them heading towards the old graveyard I believe."
Vector thanked her for her information and collected the rest of his belongings in the washroom. Then headed towards the forest where the cemetery lay. As Vector entered the tree line, swatting away stray branches and falling over rotted logs. He used his naginata as a walking stick to navigate the maze of clustered nature.
Every once in a while he heard the occasional mumble in the distance, but other than that the low click of various insects and the shine of the moon were his only companions. Minutes passed and the labyrinth of a forest lead into a brick road where he presumed lead to the graveyard.
Peering into the graveyard through its iron bars revealed the decaying gravestones clustered in the area. Also he saw a hint of fur at the corner of his eye, following the movement he soon found his mark just as he had suspected. The fur traders were huddled around a boy, a fae to be specific that looked like he was dead or out cold, i hoped the second option. I quickly crept around the scean and hid behind a crumbled headstone and waited for the situation to come to a head.