Danmann
06-27-2004, 10:46 AM
Night came quietly to the small village of Homaly. Being only 20 miles from the fair city of Valladria, they had little to fear other than the odd bandit or rabid dog. The crippled moon shone brightly and the nearby Mana Fountain light cast a warm glow over the small valley.
The Stranger walked out of the hills that evening clothed in simple garments. A thick wool cloak covered his upper body, the loose threads dragging behind his measured footfalls. The watchmen paid him little mind as he crossed the small wooden bridge past the small gate that marked the edge of the town. His path took him straight to the lacal tavern with the broken sign known to the locals as the Wharf Pub.
Rusted lanterns were hung at intervals accross the main room of the Tavern and their hinges creaked as they swayed back and forth. The Stranger walked up to the bar and odered a strong malt. Johann, the jolly bartender studied him carefully before pouring the syrupy mix into a dirty mug.
"So...I have;nt seen you here before..Working down at the docks or bringin some goods to the Fountain?" He inquired
"You could say the Fountain brought me here." the Stranger chucked to himself
"Yep..Yep..I thought so" Johann smirked "It brings folks from all over Zephyr's fine land it does"
The Stranger grabbed his mug and headed towards a nearby table. As he turned Johann noticed a strange marking on the Strangers arm. It resembled a black circle with writing inside. He had heard of others who had worn that mark and his face turned a sickly shade of irovy. He motioned towards the rear of the room and the three men slowly rose towards their feet and moved towards the Stranger's table.
The largest of the three sat opposite the Stranger and the other two moved behind him. A few of the locals who still had their wits about them noticed this and quiclkly gathred up their meager belongings and stumbed toward the door.
"I have'nt seen you before Stranger" the large, brutish human began
"We make a point to know the people who come though with business at the Fountain" echoed the lean elven woman as she casually cleaned her quiver
The Stranger laughed darkly then replied "You won't have to worry about me soon enough"
"You may speak more of the truth than you know" the hooded Lutin giggled producing a thin knife dripping with viscous fluid.
"Let me see your arm Stranger" The large man demanded
With that the Stranger stood up causing the Elven woman to unsling her bow and notch an arrow within a heartbeat. The large man bristled but looked on as the Lutin edged closer all the while mumbling to himself. The Stranger pulled up the cloak covering his right arm revealing a well mucsled arm ,though bare of any marking
"Now the other" the woman said fingering the feathers of her notched arrow
The Stranger instead pulled back his hood to reveal a handsome human. The light from the creaking lanterns reflected off his shaven head.
"Do you interrogate all your patrons like this" he asked lightly, ingnoring the bloddlust reflected in the warriors' eyes.
"No, just the agents of Darkness" said a voice from the bar.
Johann cleared his throat and spoke again "I recognized your tattoo Stranger, It's the same as the one I saw on my wife's killer"
If the Stranger gave any concern, he did'nt show it. Instead he turned his icy stare towards the Lutin creeping ever closer "So you decided to have your thugs get your revenge Eh?"
The Lutin stopped dead in his tracks and his contant mumbling trailed off.
"Show us your other arm Stranger!" the woman repeated drawing back on the bowstring a fraction
"Very well" the Stranger conceded "If this will get this over with"
His right hand lifted the sleeve of his cloak revealing a large Dark Circle tattoo on his shoulder. Johann's eyes lit up with hatred
"that's the one alright" He bellowed "That accused Circle of Darkness are the ones who slaughtered my family at Nar Bel!"
All ot once several things happened: A peircing scream followed by sounds of battle cut the air outside the thin tavern door. The Elf cocked her head towards the door as if to determine the plight of those outside. The Stranger hand moved down into his cloak and produced a thowing knife and hurled it at the distracted archer. The blade buried itself hilt deep in her throat and her eyes turned shockingly towards the Stranger. She attempted to raise her bow, but a spasm of pain floored her and she fell to the floor like a felled oak. The large man's broadsword cut the air with unbridled fury and smashed one of the tables to splinters as the Stranger nimbly ducked aside at the last moment. A dart loaded with vile poisen sped from the hand of the Lutin to lodge itself in the Stranger's chest. Another swing of the massive blade caught the Stranger across the chest, tearing through the fabric and reavealing scale plates of the darkest ebony.
"Brigandine!" Yelled the Barbarain as the bent Lutin's dart dropped to the floor
The Stranger drew a curved slade from it's hidden sheath and slashed at the waist of the large man but only managing to sever his thick belt straps.
"By the Light, I'll crush your skull!!" The Man raged stepping forward to decapitate his opponent with a sweeping blow.
The loose belt strap slid down the warrior's lag as he moved, entangling his lags in mid-stride causing him to stumble foward clumsily. The Stranger stepped backward as the large warrior's bulk crashed into the Tavern wall, causing several lantern to crash to the fllor and spill burning oil across the floor. The Stranger ignored the flames and casually reached over amd slit the fallen man's thoat. He gasped and clawed backwards as his lifeblood mixed with the burning oil.
A bolt shot though the air embedding itself in the wall just to the right of the Stranger. Johann cursed and began to reload his crossbow as the Lutin launched hinself at the Stranger with reckless fury. The Stranger dodged aside and grabbed the creature around his fragile neck. A loud *pop* echoed across the Pub as the Lutin's neck gave way under the Strangers firm grasp.
The sounds of battle suddenly became clear as the Tavern door opened and another figure in Dark armor strode inside. He saw the Stranger and knelt, lowering his eyes from his leige.
"The town is all but secure my Master" he spoke quickly as the battle blood raced though him
"Excellent" the Stranger nodded "You took your time again I see, I nearly had to fight the entire town myself." He said guesturing to the carange inside the Pub
"My humblest apologies My Lord-" He began
"Forget it, Let's move on shall we?" The Stranger laughed
"What shall we do with him Master?" The acolyte asked looking towards the Innkeeper who was still trying to tighten the wench on his cumbersome weapon as the flames spread across the walls
"Leave him, we have business at the Mana Fountain remember?" The Darklord laughed as he walked from the burning Inn
[Edited on 27/6/2004 by Danmann]
[Edited on 27/6/2004 by Danmann]
The Stranger walked out of the hills that evening clothed in simple garments. A thick wool cloak covered his upper body, the loose threads dragging behind his measured footfalls. The watchmen paid him little mind as he crossed the small wooden bridge past the small gate that marked the edge of the town. His path took him straight to the lacal tavern with the broken sign known to the locals as the Wharf Pub.
Rusted lanterns were hung at intervals accross the main room of the Tavern and their hinges creaked as they swayed back and forth. The Stranger walked up to the bar and odered a strong malt. Johann, the jolly bartender studied him carefully before pouring the syrupy mix into a dirty mug.
"So...I have;nt seen you here before..Working down at the docks or bringin some goods to the Fountain?" He inquired
"You could say the Fountain brought me here." the Stranger chucked to himself
"Yep..Yep..I thought so" Johann smirked "It brings folks from all over Zephyr's fine land it does"
The Stranger grabbed his mug and headed towards a nearby table. As he turned Johann noticed a strange marking on the Strangers arm. It resembled a black circle with writing inside. He had heard of others who had worn that mark and his face turned a sickly shade of irovy. He motioned towards the rear of the room and the three men slowly rose towards their feet and moved towards the Stranger's table.
The largest of the three sat opposite the Stranger and the other two moved behind him. A few of the locals who still had their wits about them noticed this and quiclkly gathred up their meager belongings and stumbed toward the door.
"I have'nt seen you before Stranger" the large, brutish human began
"We make a point to know the people who come though with business at the Fountain" echoed the lean elven woman as she casually cleaned her quiver
The Stranger laughed darkly then replied "You won't have to worry about me soon enough"
"You may speak more of the truth than you know" the hooded Lutin giggled producing a thin knife dripping with viscous fluid.
"Let me see your arm Stranger" The large man demanded
With that the Stranger stood up causing the Elven woman to unsling her bow and notch an arrow within a heartbeat. The large man bristled but looked on as the Lutin edged closer all the while mumbling to himself. The Stranger pulled up the cloak covering his right arm revealing a well mucsled arm ,though bare of any marking
"Now the other" the woman said fingering the feathers of her notched arrow
The Stranger instead pulled back his hood to reveal a handsome human. The light from the creaking lanterns reflected off his shaven head.
"Do you interrogate all your patrons like this" he asked lightly, ingnoring the bloddlust reflected in the warriors' eyes.
"No, just the agents of Darkness" said a voice from the bar.
Johann cleared his throat and spoke again "I recognized your tattoo Stranger, It's the same as the one I saw on my wife's killer"
If the Stranger gave any concern, he did'nt show it. Instead he turned his icy stare towards the Lutin creeping ever closer "So you decided to have your thugs get your revenge Eh?"
The Lutin stopped dead in his tracks and his contant mumbling trailed off.
"Show us your other arm Stranger!" the woman repeated drawing back on the bowstring a fraction
"Very well" the Stranger conceded "If this will get this over with"
His right hand lifted the sleeve of his cloak revealing a large Dark Circle tattoo on his shoulder. Johann's eyes lit up with hatred
"that's the one alright" He bellowed "That accused Circle of Darkness are the ones who slaughtered my family at Nar Bel!"
All ot once several things happened: A peircing scream followed by sounds of battle cut the air outside the thin tavern door. The Elf cocked her head towards the door as if to determine the plight of those outside. The Stranger hand moved down into his cloak and produced a thowing knife and hurled it at the distracted archer. The blade buried itself hilt deep in her throat and her eyes turned shockingly towards the Stranger. She attempted to raise her bow, but a spasm of pain floored her and she fell to the floor like a felled oak. The large man's broadsword cut the air with unbridled fury and smashed one of the tables to splinters as the Stranger nimbly ducked aside at the last moment. A dart loaded with vile poisen sped from the hand of the Lutin to lodge itself in the Stranger's chest. Another swing of the massive blade caught the Stranger across the chest, tearing through the fabric and reavealing scale plates of the darkest ebony.
"Brigandine!" Yelled the Barbarain as the bent Lutin's dart dropped to the floor
The Stranger drew a curved slade from it's hidden sheath and slashed at the waist of the large man but only managing to sever his thick belt straps.
"By the Light, I'll crush your skull!!" The Man raged stepping forward to decapitate his opponent with a sweeping blow.
The loose belt strap slid down the warrior's lag as he moved, entangling his lags in mid-stride causing him to stumble foward clumsily. The Stranger stepped backward as the large warrior's bulk crashed into the Tavern wall, causing several lantern to crash to the fllor and spill burning oil across the floor. The Stranger ignored the flames and casually reached over amd slit the fallen man's thoat. He gasped and clawed backwards as his lifeblood mixed with the burning oil.
A bolt shot though the air embedding itself in the wall just to the right of the Stranger. Johann cursed and began to reload his crossbow as the Lutin launched hinself at the Stranger with reckless fury. The Stranger dodged aside and grabbed the creature around his fragile neck. A loud *pop* echoed across the Pub as the Lutin's neck gave way under the Strangers firm grasp.
The sounds of battle suddenly became clear as the Tavern door opened and another figure in Dark armor strode inside. He saw the Stranger and knelt, lowering his eyes from his leige.
"The town is all but secure my Master" he spoke quickly as the battle blood raced though him
"Excellent" the Stranger nodded "You took your time again I see, I nearly had to fight the entire town myself." He said guesturing to the carange inside the Pub
"My humblest apologies My Lord-" He began
"Forget it, Let's move on shall we?" The Stranger laughed
"What shall we do with him Master?" The acolyte asked looking towards the Innkeeper who was still trying to tighten the wench on his cumbersome weapon as the flames spread across the walls
"Leave him, we have business at the Mana Fountain remember?" The Darklord laughed as he walked from the burning Inn
[Edited on 27/6/2004 by Danmann]
[Edited on 27/6/2004 by Danmann]