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qarajhcreations · 6 years

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Redwoods at Nightfall, Part Two: That’s going to leave a mark

4:42 am, Mission Row Police Station, Mission Row, Los Santos

I grabbed another coffee for the ride, and a lid to put on it in the rain, asked if Jim wanted something as well, but he already had a bottle of water with protein in it. Some cops took to drinking massive amounts of coffee, others took to alcohol. I remember my wife, rest her soul, had tried to get me to eat healthier. Protein was good for building muscle mass or something like that, but the only thing I’d really need muscles for, was for the occasional fist fight or tackle with a suspect, and those were few and far between these days. The Washington rumbled into action, and it made me think of my old car. I used to have an Albany Emperor, a classic box-shaped car with a soft suspension, old girl had to call the quits after I stopped a fleeing bank-robber’s muscle car with it. A damn shame, I liked that car. I had gotten the Washington on offer, from the county no less. Some booser in a suit had fucked up an order for the FIB, added an extra zero, so they suddenly stood with way too many cars for their agents. Looks like your average sleek sedan, but it’s got a good acceleration and turns like a dream too. I could have coughed up another 80.000 dollars, and gotten the federal agent version, tinted glass, reinforced tires, enhanced engine performance, but why would I ever want that? Back in my younger days it might have interested me, but I saw no point in sprucing cars up like that. If it could drive, had a roof and functional air-condition, that was pretty much all I needed in a car.

I had met Jim a couple of days prior this case, he and some other young officers had all passed the academy. Turns out his instructor was none other than my old partner, Johnathan Chesterfield, so Jim knew a lot about me, well he knew whatever nonsense John had stuffed his ears full off. As I told him, when he began to ask about the numbers of case that I had worked on, “Son, I don’t give a crap about how many, I’m here to do my job and that’s it.” Jim understood, it seems, and began to ask about more technical stuff, I told him what I could remember. As I turned the car off of Mission Row, looking for service entries to the river along the Little Bighorn Avenue, I calmly asked him, “So, have you heard of Carlos? Or did John skip that part?” Jim looked puzzled, no wonder, John had never been keen on seeing dead bodies, but in a gang-town like Los Santos, you’d get used to it pretty quick. “Well, Carlos is Mission Row’s forensic expert, perhaps the best in Los Santos, he’s a fucking lunatic with bodies, but he knows his stuff. He likes to creep out greenhorns, just a heads up. You don’t have to get close to the body though, if you don’t want to. If you do want to see, don’t touch anything unless Carlos says you can. I finally found the chain-link fence with a gate. “Ah shucks, figures Carlos would have an assistant close this again,” I tucked my coat up around my neck, “hey, check the glove compartment, there should be a set of service keys in there.” Jim reached in, past my service 9 millimeter, and found the set of mostly green keys. I nodded as he showed them, “Alright, they should be labeled, one that says “river access” will be the one you need, I’ll drive the car through when you’ve open the gate, and will wait for you to close it up again.”

Jim tucked his raincoat over him, no complaints about going out in the rain. The gate was narrow, and as civilians weren’t really meant to be running around along the river, it wasn’t an obvious entrance. The light from the front-lights helped Jim find the padlock and open it, he pushed one side of the doors open, then the other, for me to slowly pull the car through. Behind me, Jim closed and locked the gate once more, and rushed to get into the car. The narrow concrete entrance was steep, but soon we reached the river, dark and close to the secondary plateau, if this weather carried on much longer, the entire river would be full. The dim purple lights under the bridge to Mission Row mixed together with a brighter white light coming from some standing spotlights. We could see two small yellow canvas-tents. I parked under the bridge, no need to get it wetter than it already was. An unmarked white van, a Vapid Speedo, was parked near the furthest of the two tents. Yellow and black tape on the entrance to the closest one, told me that the body was in there. Carlos could be in either tent, preparing the body or waiting with his assistants in the other.

The dry warmth of the car was switched out for a drenched, eerie cold, I had the cigarette in my mouth and lit it. The fabric of the tents was thick, waterproof and it wasn’t possible to see if anyone was inside of them or not. Jim was on my heels, a big kid, 6′2″ or so, back in my days as a greenhorn, big guys like that usually didn’t end up in homicide. I had noticed a small notes-block and a pen in one of his pockets, so he wasn’t for taking notes on his phone then. While walking towards the non-taped tent, I spoke, loudly enough to penetrate the rain, and presumably for Carlos and his team to hear me, “So, you want to look at the body first or after we’ve talked to Carlos?” Jim shrugged, “I don’t know, sir, but shouldn’t we hear the forensics first, before starting the investigation?” Just as we approached, a person stuck their head out. “This is a murder... Oh, hey Graham, do come in. New assistant?” As always, Carlos was not one to care much for grade, rank or anything, as he once said; “if you end up on my table, you’re going to be a corpse either way.” Carlos opened the tent’s zipper-door for us to enter.

Inside the tent was cramped. Carlos, and his two assistants, had two tables and a miniature version of a whiteboard set up inside, from what I could tell, they had scribbled down what they had gathered so far, and the personal belongings was placed on one of the tables. The two assistants, both young-looking, a man and a woman, both stood up from the table. It seems all they had been waiting for, was for a detective to call the shots, and tell them to haul the body back to the station. Carlos looked Jim over shortly, then turned to me, “So, Bulldog’s got you to take it? I can tell you this much straight away; there’s not a whole lot to go on. But, you’re used to that by now. Alright, Ted and Ellen, move the van closer, prepare the boxes for belongings, and get the stretcher out. Ted, make sure the camera is protected from this weather, don’t want to lose the photos or have them damaged.” The assistants both moved out of the tent, and Carlos signalled for me and Jim to follow. Carlos had some blue latex gloves on his hands, as per usual really. I sighed, just having gotten used to the dryness of the tent, oh well it was part of the job.

We looked at the body, Carlos and his team had cleared up nicely, but it was still not a pretty sight. The man was Caucasian, relatively average in build with brownish hair. He had a blue designer polo-shirt tucked in his fitted cream coloured pants and a pair of white running shoes with reddish accents. His body was lying face down in a washed out puddle of blood. The rain had made the blood slowly trickle towards the river, but the main source of the blood wouldn’t be emptied that easy. Carlos grinned in his own creepy way, “That’s just his back, his face isn’t exactly pretty now.” Without further warning, Carlos latched a hand onto the corpse’s polo, and lifted him up by the shoulder. As his face left the concrete, we could see the smashed remains of his face, an open fracture had his cheekbone visible. “Jesus Christ!” Jim instinctively took a step back. Carlos chuckled his raspy laugh, “I should think not, he certainly didn’t fly coming off of the bridge. That, or someone hit his face really hard, with something really heavy.” Despite Carlos’ laugh, he wasn’t joking, never did. Jim regained his composure, fishing his note-block out of the pocket, “So, do you think he was pushed or fell off of the bridge? The fall would have been lethal with a fall like that, I presume.” Carlos dusted himself off slightly, but kept sitting by the corpse, “The fall probably would have killed with that landing yes, but I have my doubts to it being the cause of death,” with that, Carlos turned the man over on his side, “it’s more likely this, of course it’s too early to say for sure.” Carlos pointed towards a a darkened crimson slit in the light-blue polo; the head-wound was not what had caused the blood. This man had been stabbed. “There is only a single entry wound, but it’s very close to his heart, once I’ve gotten him on the slab in the lab, I’ll know if it was lethal.” Our small-talk about the body was interrupted as the beeping of the Speedo backing up, cleared through the rain. With that, Carlos let the man slump back down to the concrete, “Well, I’ll call you once I have the autopsy done. The personal items should be available within a few hours.”

#GTA V #Los Santos #Noir #Detective #Thriller #first person narrative #crime #homicide

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qarajhcreations · 6 years

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I’ve got Nothing Blues

Since I left home, Oh I’ve been a drifter

Yes, since I left home, darling you know, I’ve been a drifter

I’ve got nothing to do, I’ve got nothing to say

Oh I ain’t got nothing

When I was looking for my baby, my baby blue

When I was looking for love, and looking for someone true

I ain’t got the right clothes, and I ain’t got the words

I ain’t got nothing

Well my friends come on by, say

“What’s up, you fool?”

I just shrug and stare

My friends have better lives than I do

So I reply with, what I

Said before;

I ain’t got nothing

Now I’m staring at this graveyard, alone and cold

Yes, I’m looking over the graveyard, being all sad and old

I’m dying I know my fame, but in this graveyard, ain’t a stone with my name

I ain’t got nothing

Yea, ain’t had the clothes and I

Ain’t never had the dime

Ain’t had the right words to

Say at the right time

And now I’m leaving this place

And I won’t leave a trace

Cause I’ve got nothing

#blues #lyrics #melancholy #loneliness

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qarajhcreations · 6 years

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I Do Not Sleep

I toss and I turn

Yet no spot, no pose satisfy

A gentle hum or the complete silence of a hot summer night

It matters little to me

I repress the weather, the heat, the flies

But still

I do not sleep

The promise of a productive day ahead

Amounting creative thoughts

Will all vanish if I’m unable to make my body rest completely

I’ve been here before

Waking up, covered in sweat, half-way strangled in my pillow

But still

I do not sleep

The morning hours draw close

I know why, but I can’t stop

My eyelids are heavy, my body slow and sore, but I think too many thoughts

I lay still

Letting it all sweep over me, letting time pass

But again

I did not sleep

#poetry #night #nocturnal #writing #insomnia #poem

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qarajhcreations · 6 years

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A D&D 5e character backstory, Maewhynn Copperquill

After more than 80 years as a teacher of Evocation, a student asked Maewhynn "What would happen if this spell was used on a live subject?" Torn between Dwarven sense of morale and the quest for knowledge, she sided with knowledge, and took her three students on an excursion to a tomb for clan-less Dwarves. Here Maewhynn raised a corpse for each of the students to test their skills on, but alas, wind of her deed reached the archmage. After a brief conversation, Maewhynn's persuit of knowledge was acknowledged, but to commit necromancy within a Dwarven stronghold was unforgivable, and Maewhynn had to leave for the overworld.

Here, there were plenty of test subjects. Though a few times, her magic caused the townspeople to claim that she was raising the dead, which, to be fair, she was, but only for the sake of seeking knowledge on the effects of evocation spells on bodies. "I don't care for these folk's proof-less claims, that I should be raising the dead in order to turn them on the living. I have no such plans or interests, and unless you get between my spells and their target, you will be fine."

Through her travels, Maewhynn had had to pay off her fines several times, as it turns out; most people aren't happy, when you bring their dead relatives back, only to hurl fire balls at them from a distance. "Of course I'll follow the laws, as long as these laws do not prevent me from obtaining knowledge. If you can provide me with specimens, and a place to perform my craft, I'll be more than happy to oblige."

#Mountain Dwarf #DnD 5e #dnd character #backstory #Wizard #Necromancer #Evocation #One-shot #dungeon crawl

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qarajhcreations · 6 years

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A Tal’Dorei Misadventure, part 8: Blood on the Beach

This story is told from a first-person perspective, of the character Tenarhik-ga-Rovhtark, better known as Tena Barkfang. As such, things that happens might not be described, as Tena didn’t experience all of them.

I had found the crow’s nest to be secluded and nice, I was as far from the actual ship, while still being transported by it. I couldn’t exactly explain what I felt was wrong about the ship, and Vali seemed so happy about it, so I couldn’t just convince the others. Maybe I was wrong, and nothing was wrong with the ship. If that proves to be the case, I’ll just have to make a word about it at that time. But until then, I think staying on edge and being prepared for things turning sour, is not the worst idea.

I had been scouting the coast, partially with interest, partially to break my worry on the ship’s innate magic. Suddenly, way inland, amongst a small group of trees, I saw something that seemed like a small horse, maybe? It was hard to tell, as the whatever it was moved fast, and the distance to it was probably too great for me to hit it with an arrow. I was halfway inclined to not letting my friends know, why should they care? It didn’t look human, and it didn’t at all seem interesting to investigate. It could just have been a deer for all I know. But, I’d hate to be the cause of missed treasure that both Lorna and Vali seemed fond of. Aurum didn’t strike me as the loot-hungry character, his devoting was impressive, I’d almost invited him up here, but there wouldn’t be much other than peace, privacy would be close to zero, given the size of the crow’s nest. Him and I would have to get very intimate, if we both were to be up here. I guess, now that I think about it, that I wouldn’t mind that.

I yelled down to them, I had noticed them going in and out of that strange room, but I couldn’t tell what they were doing. “I have spotted something or someone moving in along the bushes!” I pointed in towards land. Vali yelled back if I could be more specific, but alas I could not. As we finished yelling to each other, a smaller boat had already appeared, as if, as Vali said, if he thought it, the ship would obey. I couldn’t help but get worried, what would happen if the one controlling the boat for example went far away. Was the boat controlled by emotions, I wouldn’t want to be on an angry, magical boat. They asked if I wanted to come along, but thoughts of worry and concern had me out of commission, I felt miserable. But, best to not let them know. I will tell them how I feel in due time. “No err... I’ll just stay and... watch the boat!”

They didn’t try to convince me further, which did somewhat surprise me, should I be concerned that they were ready to just... leave me? I mean, I could handle myself in a tight situation, sure, but... I had grown fond of these people, almost like a new family, though I am not sure I could bring them with me to Stillben to right the wrongs of my actual family. Little glory, possibly even less gold, and awkward meetings with a large part of my family... my past. They would come back for the boat, I mean, Vali would have to, he couldn’t just leave it here. Or could he?

Just before I were to tug my knees in, and sulk in the crow’s nest, I saw some wolf-like creatures sneak up on my friends as they reached the shore, it didn’t look as if they had noticed. Blast it! I rushed down on the deck, looked out over the railing, my bow would not reach them either, shouting was pointless too. I looked down the side of the ship, prepared to jump in and swim. Or try to at least, the swamp wasn’t deep enough for me to learn how to, I tried a couple of times, but just ended up very wet and cold afterwards. But, looking down the side of the ship, I saw the hatches to the crossbows below deck. It was worth a shot.

I had to duck, just in time, rushing down to the first deck. The crossbows were all loaded with some large, almost javelin-like bolts. I pushed the hatch open, the creatures, now grey masses about a stone’s throw behind my friends, had gotten closer, I couldn’t see them as detailed as I could from up top. The crossbow looked complicated, had it just been a big bow, I’d known how to use it for sure. I fiddled around a bit, and with a loud thunk, the arm moved the string and the bolt forwards, shooting it out towards shore. I stopped my breath to listen for a cry, hopefully I had managed to not hit my friends. Instead I heard a splintering sound, I had hit their tiny boat. And the creatures were ready to pounce.

The next couple of minutes I spent reloading and firing the three crossbows, I didn’t have time to see if I hit or not. Sometimes it seemed the ship knew that I wanted to reload all of them, and did it on it’s own, it was as if someone was watching me, but I did not have time to go search the ship through. I saw a powerful light from the shore, Lorna I presumed, was working that beam once again.

It took a while, but finally it seemed the creatures had been defeated. I could make out a grey pile of stuff, but the distance made it difficult to see any more than that. Another small boat had appeared, and sailed itself towards shore. Not a big loss that i had hit the first one then. I closed the hatches once more, and climbed back up to my spot. I could only see two figures sitting in the boat, and a third one laying down. I had my concerns, and now they turned into downright fear, what if one of them had... died? I had a hard time swallowing due to the thought. I sunk down below the crow’s nest’s railing. No... it couldn’t be true, could it?

As they brought the third person on, my fears were confirmed. I couldn’t believe it, there, in his newly bought armour, covered in bite and claw marks, lied a lifeless Aurum. One thing was seeing dead people, but it was different when it was someone you knew, someone who, less than an hour ago, had been alive and well. Lorna and Vali seemed oddly calm, I even heard them bicker about Aurum’s items. I was in no mood to correct them, I was overcome with grief. It was only when Lorna, as calm as ever, suggested that we could take Aurum back to the white city, and ask clerics for help, that I felt my senses and strength to act returning to me.

Lorna turned into a horse, which helped carry his body part of the way. I looked for merchants and other travellers with wagons for help, but none was to be seen. We did not speak to one another the whole way back. First when we were at the gates, late in the evening, were we able to hail the guards, that we needed medical assistance. The guards acted ever so slowly, I have never wanted to punch a servant of law and order, also because I was using both hands to haul Aurum’s legs, but right now, I felt like a less-than-friendly fist-nudge in the right direction would hurry the guardsman up. Finally three other guards arrived with a stretcher, and we rushed towards the first temple. I did not recognize the symbol, it looked like a bird’s head in black. The priests or clerics all wore dark-greyish robes, their faces expressionless. I grabbed the nearest, lifted him up by his robe, and asked, sobbingly to help.

The guards had left again, seeing as the clerics took Aurum’s lifeless body in, I wanted to have been there, staying outside, not knowing what was going on, had me on edge once again. A bright flash cleared the night sky for a second, then a cleric poked his head and said that it was done but “The raven Queen needed payment for the deed.” Both Lorna and Vali looked to one another, then at their coin-purses, the cleric seemed to notice “No, my lady doesn’t want coin, but she will be asking for a favour, if any of you would take it upon you to...” This was my moment, I didn’t know of this Raven Queen or her calling, but, a God that brings someone good back from the dead, that can’t be bad, right? Not that it would have mattered, I would have given myself to Gruumsh as sacrifice, if that had been required. I knew what i had to do, this favour, I would take it, no, I HAD to. “I’ll do it. Anything, I’ll do it!” The cleric took a second to look at me, Lorna and Vali, they didn’t seem keen on helping, but none of that mattered now. The cleric turned to me again, expressionless as ever, “Very well, but I don’t know what my lady will require...” I shook my head with determination, “Doesn’t matter, I’ll do it, whatever it takes, I’ll do it!”

Finally, supported on either side by a cleric, a dizzy and weak looking Aurum stumbled out, the aura of confidence that had stuck to him along our way, had faded. I didn’t think, I just had to let my feelings go. I hugged him tightly, perhaps a little too tight, and finally I could let my tears flow freely, but these were no tears of grief. These were tears of happiness, of friendship. Even the innkeeper at the Tinkerer’s Rest could see that we had had a rough time, he just nodded, gave us keys to our rooms and found meals for us “It’s on the house, don’t worry about it.” My tears of joy finally stopped and now I finally realized how worn and tired I was, I feel asleep the instant I hit my bed.

I wonder what the Raven Queen will ask of me, but whatever task it is, I’ll do anything, ANYTHING, to see it through.

#story #recap #Tal'Dorei #Whitestone #Worg #dnd 5e #lore #writing #first person narrative #Roll20 #Tena Barkfang

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qarajhcreations · 6 years

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Tales of Catacrach, Reforging Old Bonds

Marakesh enters the square-cut tunnels, with some difficulty, as the ceiling is only about 5″5′ up from the floor. Ahead of him walks the Mountain Dwarves of clan Bulkfire, that had just cleared the road, they seem to have general small talk going between them, about the termors and quakes today, about the size of the boulders. One of them, a younger male dwarf with dreadlocks in his hair and beard, shortly mentions the “fine curves on those two elven lasses”, only to receive a less-than-friendly backhand slap by the female road-worker. Their general talk seems to shift about what they are doing afterwards, they are probably aware that the matters for why an awkward Sun-Elf, are here in a Dwarven Stronghold, is of a higher priority.

Just in front of Marakesh, Muirhon the Clanlord and his daughter Hildryn, the one female Dwarf Fighter, that caught his attention. Muirhon is silent as the rocks around the tunnel, but Hildryn casts the Elf a few look from time to time. Occasionally, the mountains outside tremble from the earthquakes, but the rumors of Broz Kadûr seems to be true; the tunnel does not seem affected by these earthquakes. The walk is long and arduous, the cleanly cut-out tunnel doesn’t change it’s appearance for the next two miles. Suddenly the group step through arch of cut stone, warm, orange light beams through the massive cave that is the stronghold.

The stronghold is made up from layers upon layers of cut stone buildings, carved out of the mountains. The upper levels seems more conventional buildings, similar sizes, scarcely decorated, square-cut homes. Other levels seems to have a market place, with various shops, mostly smithies and gem-workers. Just as Marakesh looks around in this strange, new place, Muirhon finally speaks to Marakesh. The workers have dispersed, and Marakesh now stands alone with the two Dwarves. “Well lad, this is important so I hope that you’ll head my words well. Not all Dwarves here are prepared for the change you’ve brought, and though they know you would only be able to enter, if a Dwarf would let you, they might suddenly feel the urge to call you nasty things. This is simply because change and some Dwarves don’t go well together, but please, do not give them reason to hate you, this is a momentous moment for Broz Kadûr, and, I hope, for the surface world as well. I will need to prepare a few things before I present you before the Council of Clans, it will take some time to call the other Clanlords and our honorable Thane as well.” He stops to look at you and Hildryn, “You can walk around with Hildryn, she’ll keep you out of most harm, and will know where to lead you, when the time comes. Or you two can accompany me to Bulkfire Clan-hall, we’ll go over what’ll happen, you can get some rest and, if required, you two can have some time on your own. I’ll leave the choice to you.”

Marakesh’s silent nature left an awkward moment for all, until Hildryn suggested that it probably was better to head for the clan-hall for now, to which an expected shrug from Marakesh’s shoulders was all the response the Dwarves got. The trio left through to the levels with the great clan-halls of Broz Kadûr, many of the common Dwarves stopped their daily cyklus to see what an Elf was doing here in these halls of stone. Few got close, to which Muirhon had to shield Marakesh, and yell “Aurh-Saman!” an ancient Dwarven phrase that means something along the lines of “Reforge the Old Chain” Of the younger Dwarves around, many looked in wonder, but Muirhon was well-known, and Dwarves respect the Clanlords. However, while keeping Marakesh out of potential harm’s way, Muirhon couldn’t stop an increasingly large group of curious Dwarves from looking, it was hard to hide a more than six foot tall anything amongst the Dwarves.

Once inside the Hall of Clan Bulkfire, Muirhon called a very young Dwarf, short, beige-colored beard strapping his chin. Muirhon handed the younger Dwarf a simple, yet decorative axe. “Bring this to the Thane’s Herald, tell him Aurh-Saman is coming. Clan Bulkfire wishes to call a council.” The young Dwarf nodded and took off. Inside the Clan-hall’s dim-lit rooms, Muirhon wiped his forehead. “It will take a couple of hours, though we should hear the horn of the herald soon.” Muirhon opened a door to a chamber, “You will not be disturbed in here, I will announce when we will be heading for the Council.” With those words, Muirhon closed the door, leaving Marakesh and Hildryn alone. After a moment of awkward silence, Hildryn embraced Marakesh (for as much of him as she could reach), and they proceeded to talk about interests and their lives and adventures, and of their coming life together, and the task they were to accomplish. In the far distance, a deep booming call echoed against the ancient walls.

An hour or two went by, and Muirhon announced that they were leaving for the Council now. The otherwise commonly-dressed elder Dwarf, was now in a polished ceremonial plate armor (that didn’t seem to fit him all that well). In unison, the three began, followed by Bulkfire clan-folk, to move towards the Council. The amount of Dwarves, staring was uncomfortable for Marakesh, but as Hildryn had told him; he would likely have to get used to it, if they were to live amongst other people. The long walk was perhaps meant to be silent, but word had reach Clan Bulkfire and it’s equally minded Dwarves, slow and low at first, but building up in volume and intensity, the Dwarves cheered “Aurh-Saman! Aurh-Saman!”

Upon entering the Council hall, the liveliness of the stronghold outside vanished the same moment the forged steel doors closed behind the last Clanlord to arrive. Finally the Council of Clans was assembled. In the centre of the massive hall, the ceiling nowhere in sight, the walls going up finely carved with faces of former Thanes and heroes. Along a wide, but low stone table sat the seven other Clanlords on heavy-cut stone chairs. Marakesh and Hildryn was, by Muirhon in advance, asked to stand back until called upon. Their very different hands reached one another in the darkness. For the first time since leaving his icy home, Marakesh felt a strange warm and calm feeling rush over him, and if he had looked at Hildryn, he would have seen her rounded cheek go red in a blush.

The Thane’s Herold; an elder, slim (for a resident of Broz Kadûr) Dwarf in a long, dark-green robe, clanked an odd mixture of a staff and a maul against the stone floor. With a clear voice, the Herold announced out, “This Council of the Clans is called by Clanlord Muirhon Bulkfire, son of Orrin Bulkfire and Mardi Copperhelm. Is he present?” Muirhon got up, with some trouble due to the armor, “Aye, Clan Bulkfire is here.” The Herold nodded and continued to address the other Clanlords and Clanlady present, going left from Muirhon; Thurin Hammerhead, Etta Irngrim, Hrolkr Urt-Hedin, Bjorngrim Wolfheart, Zonkir Silvershield, Murdrir Rockaxe and Olfart Goldcrusher. “This Council of the Clans is also basked in the glory of our higness, Thane Kaatbul Platebasher, all please rise in her name.” As if on cue, all the Clanlords and the Clanlady rose and made various bows towards a stone and iron throne. Upon it, in a mithral chain-mail with heavy-set golden pauldrons, sat the Thane. Kaatbul’s long dark-blonde braids held together by thick golden rings, she nodded down to the hall; the Council was now officially started. The Herold spoke again, “Clan Bulkfire have called this Council, for a special reason. Clanlord Muirhon Bulkfire, will you present your case?”

Muirhon got up, cleared his throat shortly, “Fellow lords, and lady, honorable Thane, I’ve called this Council, because of what I, with my very own eyes and with my very own blood, have seen. My fellow lords and lady, Aurh-Saman is upon us!” The other Clanlords began to mumble and talk between one another. Before the Herold could ask for order, Olfart’s raspy voice cut through the air, “So an Elf gave something to one of your kind? Where is this Elf and the item it gave then? Prove to us, that Aurh-Saman is actually here.” Muirhon cocked a wry smile, “I’m glad you asked that, fellow Clanlord. Lad, Hildryn, step forward if you please, and place the item on the table, I’m certain the Clanlords and Clanlady would like to see and feel it for themselves.” Led by Hildryn, Marakesh was almost dragged close to the table, the Clanlords and Lady turned their heads to see, even the Thane seemed to lean forward in her seat, to get a better view. Hildryn placed the Ice Rose, crafted by Marakesh’s magic, on the table in front of the first Clanlord, Thurin Hammerhead. The old Dwarf took the ice flower gingerly into his hands, studied it closely, then passed it to the left. As the Rose had been around the table, the Herold then took the Rose up to the Thane, who seemed to spend the longest time yet, looking the single flower of ice over. With the Herold by her side, she whispered something into his ear.

The small-talk and low-volume arguing stopped, when the Herold clanked his maul-staff down. “Thane Kaatbul Platebasher will speak on this subject now!” Kaatbul stood up from her throne, her majestic braids reaching the floor by her feet. “You, Aelfir, step to me.” Hildryn had to nod Marakesh in the direction of the Thane, but eventually he took the few, for him, steps to the Thane. He felt her eyes resting on him, her voice was calm, but friendly, “You speak our tongue, yes? I see you’re a Zon-Aelfir, not one Ara-Aelfir, not one from a spire. Tell me, what caused you to craft this beautiful item for a Dwarf?” Marakesh seemed to look at his feet, turning his face away from the bright blue eyes of the Dwarven Thane, finally he spoke, “I found her... to be the prettiest creature I had ever set my eyes upon. I felt that I had to express that, and I’m not... great with words.” Marakesh glared apologetically down to Hildryn a little behind him. The Thane nodded apparently also looking at Hildryn’s reaction. “Are you, as an Aelfir, aware of what Aurh-Saman means? You must have heard it a couple of times by now.”

Marakesh told what little he knew, mostly what Muirhon and Hildryn had told him about it. Kaatbul Platebasher nodded slowly, “Then, I ask of you, Zon-Aelfir, by what name shall we, the people of Broz Kadûr, call you by, now that you are a friend of Dwarves here?” Marakesh was hesitant at first, but after a nudge from Hildryn, he stated his full name “I am Marakesh Fen’Harellan.” Meanwhile this conversation went on, the Herold had gone to a back room, now he came back with a bronze slate. On top was in Dwarven runes written “Forging Old Chains Back Together for Eternal Friendship” the Herold held it towards Marakesh, and the Thane spoke again “This slate needs to be taken to the nearest Aelfir settlement, we know of the spire Aerellith north of here, and slightly to the west, from clan Wolfheart, we have learned that the spire is led by a Highlady Ondilgorin. Unfortuneatly we know nothing more of this settlement. What we do know, is that the slate needs the inscription in Aelfir as well in as our Runar, I trust that you will assist our smiths in making the inscription correct.” She turned her attention to Hildryn and Muirhon, “As much as I understand what the love between two people require, I would ask that you carry this task out as soon as you can. My personal armory will provide you with equipment, if needed. This is a large task to take in, but one that will benefit not only Dwarves, but also the surface world in due time.” She sat herself down again, a thoughtful look in her small eyes, she nodded to the Herold, who proceeded to clank his maul-staff down, “That concludes this Council of the Clans, does any Clanlord or Clanlady have any say against what have occurred, should speak up now.” Olfart as the only one looked as if he wanted to end with a final word, but instead kept it to himself.

So ends the adventurous tale of Marakesh, but his adventure is not over yet. He and Hildryn have a very important task ahead of them, and after that? Who knows...

#Lore #Tales of Catacrach #Fellmir #DnD 5e #dnd character #Story #writing #Dwarves #Elves

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qarajhcreations · 6 years

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A Tal’Dorei Misadventure, part 7: Rattle and Boom

After breakfast, we decided to split up, Lorna needed something to ward of the cold, and Aurum and Vali wanted to ensure that the message of the camp, had actually reached someone who could do something. It was even colder than the day before, and small, strange white flakes filled the air. They tickled oddly when they landed on my face.

Lorna found a clothier pretty easily, finding herself a cape with fur interior, it looked really cozy. The kind lady running the store turned to me, but while i could feel the cold alright, it wasn’t something that bothered me. The up to three winters I spent, mostly soaked, in the bogs and swamps near Stillben, had hardened me from cold. This was more of a harsh, biting cold, pricking at the skin, than the soaking, feverish cold of the swamp during winter. As we got out into the city once more, we just started wandering around, the two others must have run into more time-consuming elements than we did. I tried to catch the strange flakes in my mouth, an easy task, I found. They tasted like freshly poured well-water, and the chill nature of it made it rather refreshing.

We finally met the two others, it seemed they had had some trouble with the guards, but I deemed it better to let them tell it themselves, than to pry into what wasn’t my business. On our way to the message board, we came across a guard, and Aurum promptly proceeded to ask about the guard’s name. I am not entirely sure why exactly, but Aurum then proceeded to tell of the marauder camp that we had found. The guard, a man named Samson, said that he would bring this for his superiors. The guard also spoke of a small group of soldiers and clerics, that had gone missing by the ship and the cave, where we had first found the corpses. Vali had small stars in his eyes about going back to get the treasure.

Arriving back onto the beach, already things were different. The white flakes, “snow” according to the others, was now falling steadily and laying on the beach and anything surface, almost like a white carpet. Stepping down on it made a strange creaking sound. With her new furred cape, Lorna looked less shivering though she still, at times, kept her arms in motion beyond normal walking. Aurum still looked worried, but I guess Vali had told the Dragonborn about the numerous undead, and it seemed he was fired up for battle as well. Having one friend with a heart for battle was bad enough, two? I don’t think I was prepared for that. I was certain that I could hold one of them back for a while, but if they both went crazy at the same time? Yea, no chance there.

Another thing that was different was the ship, it had been pretty well set on the beach before, now it was sitting on the shore, mostly in the water. It also seemed that someone, or something, had repaired the boat. Gone was the hole that we used to enter about a week ago. A more worrying thing was the two large figures, standing guard by the cave. Even from this distance, their great-axes, currently resting, looked sharp and unpleasant. It was first now that I noticed that they had horns on their heads. I was just about to suggest what the best approach, when Aurum brandished his sword and charged towards the creatures. Well, so much for strategy, I guess.

Seeing Aurum and Vali fight is nearly mesmerizing, the way they carve their way through foes. I figured they didn’t need all that much support. Instead I turned my focus on the ship, touching the wood, I focus on the ship, how was it moved? Who moved it? Unfortunately, I only found that the ship under the influence of some type of magic. As I finished up, the two had also made short work of the large, strange skeletons. Apart from a small cut on Vali, both of them looked to be just fine. With those two in front, me and Lorna took care of the rear. The cave was strangely warm now. A small stream of water lined the cave from the white snow outside, not sure how that got there, I don’t remember seeing water there before.

We could have gone stealthily, but it seemed a head-on approach was better, perhaps get a moment of surprise? A strange figure was standing by the central coffin, but before we would be able to get to him, there was a line of maybe ten to twenty skeletons. I didn’t see where Lorna went, but the two others went headfirst into the combat. I decided to aim for the figure by the coffin, in the vague light in the cave, it looked strangely thin, covered in bandages, and pretty horrific to look at, if I’m being honest. It mumbled some words, aimed at the rest of my friends, but I don’t know what it did. Retaliation was required for sure, and I quickly fired two arrows, that both seemed to hit. I was in a good position, a powerful beam from Lorna, was incinerating the skeletons and both Vali and Aurum had decent success with fighting the skeletons. However the skeletons also fielded archers, I had ben hit several times, but I felt that if I could take out the central figure, maybe the others would fall too.

Suddenly I found myself almost surrounded by three skeletons coming at me. I was about to re-position myself, when I heard the figure mumble at me, and in an instant my limbs froze, another couple of hits, and I was unable to fight back. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Aurum coming to aid me, I wanted to tell him to go for the central figure, but neither my lips nor tongue could move. Finally i was able to move, but the skeletons followed suit. I would have to deal with them, before going after the central guy. I suddenly felt a burning, bright light coming close, I was trying to fend off the skeletons. The heat came closer, too close, too hot. I felt my strength failing, still gripping my bow, I slumped to my knee, trying to regain my strength. My eyes closed, and it was difficult to keep them open, I gritted my teeth, trying to see if it was clear. Only to find myself still in the bright, hurting light. My eyes closed again from the pain, and the last thing I remember was my face making contact with the cave-floor.

I gasped for air, and life, as a warm feeling came over me, Aurum was holding my hand, trying to pull me up. The world was spinning for my eyes, and my legs felt weak, I was still clutching onto my bow in my other hand. My ears were still ringing, but I think I heard Aurum ask if I was ok, so I replied, slightly, my face was still hurting “Yea, I’m... good.” We managed to get the strange central figure down, a corpse covered in old bandages, but as it fell, it turned into a black mist, seeping towards the coffin. At the same time, Vali had discovered that the skeletons had the coins lodged in their skulls. He was trying to pry one coin out, when the skeleton slowly began to reform again. In an act of haste, I poured the Holy Oil out all over the interior of the coffin, and a split second later, a dangerous flame from Aurum licked out and burned the black mist away. With this the skeletons fell apart once more. A cry of anguish came from Vali; the coin, all of them, had turned to dust. the treasure he had been wanting since our first visit, was no more. I felt sorry for him, even if his greed almost got us killed... twice.

Well, there was no sign of the soldiers or the clerics, no recent corpses. The conclusion was that they must be on the ship, none of us had gone onto the ship, though a rope-ladder gave that opportunity. I was tired, though I scouted the beach for wood to make a campfire. I fell asleep like a rock, my body aching too much, or being too exhausted, to take my armor off. I probably wouldn’t even had bothered trying to hide while changing out.

The next morning I heard commotion on the beach. I’m not sure I believed my eyes, the ship had been moved (or had moved) during the night. Vali was ecstatic and seemed to have way too much energy. Vali said the he actually could control the ship, I must admit, that sounded dubious at best, but having no way to disprove it. I climbed aboard, but something did not feel right at all about it. Along our sail a few miles or so down the shoreline, I kept to myself and avoided the others.

#recap #lore #DnD 5e #Tal'Dorei #Roll20 #Tena Barkfang #Whitestone #First-person narrative #story #writing

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qarajhcreations · 6 years

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A Tal’Dorei Misadventure, part 6: If first You don’t Succeed...

As we headed back, both me and Aurum failed to keep our respective armors silent. Aurum’s scales, I presume as I had not seen him without armor on, scraped against his chainmail. And on my part, I must have failed to correct my scale armor after the clash with the Orcs the night before. Unfortuneate as it were, the camp was expecting us. I was planning on shooting more tents on fire, but I never got that far, as a welcoming part was marching out to greet us.

We hastily retreated, trying to shake the pursuers. A thick fog spawned after Lorna had uttered a few words. It seemed to be enough to slow the bulk of their fighters down, that or most of the warriors were ordered to stay back, in case our maneuver was a distraction. We were about ready to head back to their camp, take a few pot shots at sentries, set a tent or three on fire. However, a larger group of Goblins, judging by their size and speed, bursted through the fog, heading straight for us. We shared glances, fight or flee can set in really quickly. We decided to fight.

Me and Lorna started preparing to fight, but before any of us could do anything. we saw something... small being hurled at the Goblins. Had Aurum just... thrown... Vali? As Vali the next second stood up, and started to hack away at the Goblins, it confirmed the unbelievable. The Goblins, a part from one that kept trying to hide behind the trees, were no problem and quickly dispatched, without any of them returning to the fortification. For once, Vali didn’t seem to care for looting the bodies, I suppose he would have had past experiences with Goblins, and knew they wouldn’t be carrying much valuable loot with them. Both me and Lorna had come out of this encounter unscathed. But something was bothering me; Goblins might be smarter than the average Orc, but Hobgoblins are usually even smarter, and better armed. So why did only the Goblins follow our tracks?

I tried to tap into my father’s side of my heritage, the Orc thief turned prisoner, then father, and then highwayman. But I saw nothing past a veil of hatred and anger, I felt my knuckles grow white, in my mind I was there, strangling his sorry excuse for a throat, till his brown eyes turned empty and void of life in his head. I scared myself... but I don’t think the others noticed... I am not sure I would be able to explain it. I had promised myself to try and be emotionless if I were to meet my father on the roads, this anger... this burning hatred... Could I kill my father, if he suddenly stood in front of me? I shook my head a little, too many thoughts that I wasn’t prepared to think about at once, too many feelings that I wouldn’t... no, COULDN’T accept. I had to be the better person, from a father who’d leave home for the sake of a cheap merchant, and from a mother, who’d use my brothers to extort and blackmail, and who’d gladly tell young girls that she’d have a good job for them, only to keep them ensnared in her business, that dreadful house.

We had begun moving north, back towards the white city. We set camp a bit off of the road, in the hopes to warn merchants and travellers, but we saw none coming our way. At night, after getting out of my armor and into regular clothes, I slept uneasy, when I finally began to dream, it was a strange dream. My dream was about arriving back in Stillben, on a horse, having taken out the bandits my father was running with, bringing him in for his prison sentence. The people of Stillben would cherish me, and call out my name with pride. As the various business owners thanked me for making the trade roads safer, I recognized my mother, flanked by the two of my brothers. She approached me, asking me to become a part of the family again, she said that she had seen the error of her past, and wanted to apologize. Just as I was about to investigate further, I was called out to in the real world, my night-shift was coming up. I wanted the end of my dream, I wanted it to be true. I grabbed my bow, didn’t even bother to put my armor back on. The entire night-shift was uneventful, and it made me curse, in Orcish, even more to myself. I needed that dream, and I needed to finish it, to guide me.

As we arrived at the city, we immediately told the guards at the gate about the Orc, Goblin and Hobgoblin camp. the guard said he would give word to a higher ranking officer, and asked where we were staying. Not knowing any better, the Tinkerer’s Rest seemed as good an option as any, the guard said it might be a couple of days. The clouds above had grown darker, the weather was colder; a sure sign of rain and maybe even a storm back in Stillben. I used to like the storms, as a kid, hearing the wind howl outside the wooden boards of our house, the fresh smell of salt from the ocean. Those were the times were my brothers would stop fighting and my mother would tell stories. During those storms, I felt... happy. Alas the sea was far from this large city, I could not smell the salt, and the wind wasn’t bearing down on the buildings. The air felt... Dry, somehow. The air in Stillben always had moisture to it, this felt like you could take chunks of the air, and just break it apart. I glanced my friends over, Vali seemed unaffected, so I turned to the next one, Lorna. She was shivering and rubbing her arms, trying to keep herself warm, I’d help, but now we were in the city, I’m certain she could find a clothing store. I turned my glare towards Aurum, his eyes often darted towards the sky, I think he was concerned about something, but now didn’t feel like the right time to ask.

We tugged in at the Tinkerer’s Rest, though I must have stepped in something, as the bartender complained that I was leaving bloody prints on the floor. Not sure when that happened, maybe in the middle of the night-shift?

#DnD 5e #Recap #lore #Tal'Dorei #Whitestone #story #First-person narrative #writing #Tena Barkfang #Roll20

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qarajhcreations · 6 years

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A Tal’Dorei Misadventure, part 5: Raid the Raiders

As we headed towards the campsite, there were clear signs of a lot of activity, trees having been cut down, dragged away. There were even prints of what looked like cows. Could it be that the cows, if it really was cows? were the same cows, that me, Lorna and Vali was originally going south from the big city to resolve? Two birds with one stone, right?

Coming over the crest of a hill, we saw it. Palisades, Hobgoblins on meticulous patrols, sentries and a lots of tents. And, lo and behold, there was also a pen with cows. I could see a strange grin on Vali’s face, it made me uneasy, but I couldn’t get myself to tell it to him, I’m not sure I’d know how to phrase it right. There was also the ordeal with Vali and Aurum; you could not find two more different people. Would I have to throw myself between them? Can they keep from fighting, and focus on the task at hand? What of Lorna? Gah, too many thoughts at once. I looked away, just as the two began to argue about the best way to approach the camp.

I started, slowly, to make my own plan. I could take out a couple of sentries, from hiding. Wait, then switch position and repeat it from another angle. I glanced at one of the larger tents, heavily guarded at all times. Orcs would pick up javelins and head out on patrol, an armory, perhaps? If I, somehow, could get to that, I could destroy their excess weapons and armor. That would make it harder for them to threaten merchants and travellers. Another big tent was on the other side of a stream, from how much it was decorated, compared to the smaller ones, it was probably belonging to the Warlord of some sort.

It seemed that Aurum had succeeded in persuading Vali to NOT just charge in, going melee with everything, which, I must admit, was an impressive feat, given how stubborn Vali could be. Perhaps that is what happens when you get old, he did say that he had been alive for a very long time. Now they were actually talking, in a constructive way, about strategies of not so much getting into the camp, but rather, create panic and chaos within the camp. I am not entirely sure why, but rather than starting an argument I’d lose, I figured things would go more smoothly, if I contributed to the solution. They discussed parts about setting tents on fire, obviously we couldn’t just waltz in, set the tents alight, and stride out again. Setting my arrows on fire would be an easy task, and going by long shots I’d made in the past, hitting the tents wouldn’t be a problem either. There was no signs that it would suddenly begin to rain, so the fire shouldn’t be hindered.

Aurum, in particular, had been spokesperson for going back to where we had met Frankie, apparently Frankie couldn’t be hurt as easily as the rest of us. I had nothing against it, despite still not completely trusting the half-bear, though I’m certain the feeling for me was mutual. Vali, to no surprise, wanted to start the assault straight away. I believe Aurum either got tired of arguing or wanted to do something, but eventually he accepted and with that, me and Lorna approached the edge of the woods, to take the two sentries by the gate out. Both our projectiles struck true, but it wasn’t enough to take the Orcs down. Instead they began crying for help and that the camp was under attack. At that time we decided to go with plan A; go back and get Frankie to help. I fired as we began running, but it was a bad shot and an arrow lost.

We probably got away just in time, it didn’t take long before we were sure they did not follow us. We had managed to rile the camp up, but not as much as we had hoped to. Still though, now we had a general idea of how long it would take them to muster a fighting force. Inadvertently, without me ever telling my strategy, it ended being very close to my thoughts. This would take some time, but we if could keep doing these needle attacks, we’d eventually wear them down to a point, where they would not be a danger to villages and travellers. We began looking for Frankie, and to my surprise, he was rather easy to find. We, mostly Aurum and Lorna, began to attempt persuading him, and I butted in with what seemed reasonable. Eventually the bear shrugged his shoulders and swung his massive axe upon one of them. I made sure to keep away from him, just slightly behind, to keep an eye out.

Coming back, we tried to be stealthy, but between me, Aurum and Frankie, we still managed to make a lot of noise. Worse was; they were expecting our approach, so just as I lit a torch, to use to make my arrows on fire, me and Lorna both got hit with some crude arrows. It stung as the arrowhead found a weak-spot in my scale armor, but I have to stay focused. “Come on Tena, you’re a big girl, no crying over a tiny arrow like that, focus on your job.” As I had my inner dialogue, denying myself the feeling of pain, I lit the shaft of an arrow. For a moment the orange, flickering, tantalizing light had me awe-struck, but then I let it fly, like a weird orange bee, arching in the night, descending upon and finally igniting the large tent, that we presumed was their armory. Meanwhile, Aurum, Vali and Frankie had taken to fight the enclosing Orcs, there were one particular ugly and large one. From my vague knowledge of Orcs, he was probably an officer of some sort. The mere presence of that Orc seemed to make the Orcs stronger, he needed to be dealt with.

Vali and Aurum had theirs to attend to, luckily their armor and size, respectively, seemed to keep foes from doing too much, Vali had taken a couple of hits, but seemed to be enjoying the midst of battle. Another two arrows struck me from the Hobgoblins shooting from afar, one in my thigh, one in my abdomen. Aaargh, gritting my teeth didn’t do much, I’d have to pull it out later, right now, the big Orc as the problem, I’d just have to take the arrows and hits until, he was dealt with. I turned slightly, lit another arrow, and let it fly. For a short moment the flames licked the Orc’s hide armor, but nothing that lasted. A tiny voice in my head was sad that I didn’t get to see him engulfed. But the thought scared me, I wasn’t like that... The fire was pretty and all, but I... this was not me. Despite the torch being lit in the ground next to me, I promised myself to not light the next arrow on fire.

Lorna seemed to directing something, a massive cone of blue-ish light shone down, scorching the Orcs and Hobgoblins. I saw Aurum’s sa light up us well, and Vali... disappearing? No, because the Orc slashed into where he stood, and a streak of blood indicated a hit. I fired the arrow, and struck, but somehow this Orc was still standing. With Lorna’s beam in the background, dealing with the archers, Aurum and Frankie turned on the big Orc, and finally the hulking greenskin fell. With a sigh, I grabbed the shaft of the arrow in my abdomen, oh it was in pretty deep. I closed my eyes and thought of the moments with my brothers and little sister, it made me feel slightly better as I pulled the arrow out, ooof, that was unpleasant.

We had bigger problems than arrows; the camp was mobilising, and an enormous Hobgoblin with a flaming weapon was marching out towards us. I think we’ve got their attention now. Just as Aurum and Vali were about to charge, a thunderous explosion lit up the night sky with bright orange light; something inside the armory had caught fire and exploded. It was a beautiful sight beyond anything I’ve ever seen before.

#DnD 5e #First-person narrative #Tal'Dorei #Recap #Lore #story #writing #Tena Barkfang #history #Hobgoblins #Roll20

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qarajhcreations · 6 years

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A Tal’Dorei Misadventure, part 4: If you go into the woods today...

The journey south along the road was without events, except, after heading through some tall grass, I don’t recall why exactly, it seemed that we had lost Vali, my short friend. I was a little sad that he wasn’t with us, but I had seen him fight, I wasn’t worried. What could be his downfall, would be treasure luring him to a trap, or something that he couldn’t fight. His greed would continuously cause trouble for him. We didn’t see any loose cows along the road, but I reckon we needed to talk to the farmers first anyway, to learn the details about it.

As we came upon a single standing tree, I saw something shiny. From a distance, the sun gleaming in the reflection made whatever it was, seem very pretty. Upon closer inspection, we could see that it was the head, or maybe a helmet, of someone. Closer still, and we could see a person sleeping, it was the person’s actual head. Lorna suggested that I could wake the person up, so I did. I walked over, weapons hostered, no need to frighten the person or anything. “Uhh... Hi.” I said, loud enough to wake the person up. The person, in a heavy-set chain-mail, jumped to their feet, brandishing a very large sword, causing me to back a foot or so. “Woah woah woah, uhh hey there...”

From the shape of his body, I made him out to be male. His body’s skin wasn’t skin, it was a mixture of scales and horn, with the scales looking like a polished metal, very pretty. Seeing as neither me nor Lorna had any weapons out, he sheathed the large sword on his back once more, and seemed to become calmer. That’s when I noticed his tail... It was long and swaying... like a snake... mesmerizing... Woah...

I snapped out of the slight trance, he was presenting himself to us, I mean, who he was and such, not the other thing. Said his name was Aurum, for the life of me, I can not even get close to pronouncing his surname. He was going to meet a friend in a place called E-mon, I think. He appears to be a somewhat religious person, a Dragonborn according to Lorna, I shall do my best to not insult his faith... As soon as I figure out what it is, that is. Lorna doesn’t seem too fond of him, but I don’t know, I like him, he’s big, got a big tail and a big sword... And he’s so shiny. And he seems kind... nice, I might be getting some mixed signals from him, which may be in part because it was kind of sudden that he went from sleeping to pretty much engaged in a conversation with us.

We had been walking together for a bit, when a group of buzzards circling around above something on the ground. Perhaps it was instinct, but while both Aurum and Lorna (though, reading facial features off a scaly, angular face is a bit unusual) were concerned about what the buzzards were feasting on. I, on the other hand, cared for the buzzards, there was a lot of them. Birds weren’t among my usual prey, I’m more for critters, wolves and boars, you know, land-based wildlife. It wasn’t a hard shot, plenty of targets. Grab an arrow, knock it on the string, inhale, focus... Let go. I followed the arrow’s clear path through the air with my eyes, right up until it pierced through one of the buzzards. The bird itself didn’t make a noise, but it suddenly slumping dead onto the ground, scared the other buzzards off. “Got it!” I smiled with glee to my travel-mates, Lorna seemed unimpressed, whereto Aurum’s face was a mixture of being baffled that my shot hit and concern, whether the concern was about me, or the thing the buzzards had been pecking away at, I couldn’t tell. But at least now we would have easier access.

Both Lorna and Aurum went to see the body, as we got closer it was obvious. Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed the greenish-skin, at which point I decided to act as if the bird was more important. I have seen dead people before, dead Half-Orcs as well, but I had always been alone when near bodies. This was different, and it made me uncomfortable. I gritted my teeth, focusing on cleaning the buzzard off, placed my arrow back in the quiver, there was no haste, they would call to me when they were done and ready to leave. As expected. Aurum called out that they had discovered some tracks leading away. If wrong-doing was done to this corpse, it would be an act of good to seek justice.

The trail appeared as deep and wide tracks, bear paws. I had heard tales of bears, strong enough to rip you apart, but usually preferring peace to actual aggression. But there had never been bears in the swamps of Stillben, so I wasn’t sure what to expect. As we walked in between the trees, we tried to keep as quiet as possible, I looked over my shoulder, Lorna was as gone, but her voice echoed from somewhere, she was good at hiding, though I reckon that to be easier, if you’re not bogged down by armor, and if you’re about a foot shorter than me. Thinking about that, my thoughts fell on Vali once more; where could he be? He seemed to like our company, so I don’t understand why he didn’t follow us. Maybe he just got lost. As we walked, the tracks changed into something that appeared as a barefoot person. I took myself in glancing at Aurum’s feet, but they were covered by his boots, it isn’t polite to stare, but I don’t think he noticed.

As we entered a clearing, we saw three large creatures on the other side of a small pond. Two of them had black fur, looking like very large and wide dogs, almost. The third one was brownish, and seemed to stand guard, constantly it would turn it’s head from side to side, watching. I think it saw us, as it made a few, short growls to the two others. As they headed for the far end of the clearing, the big brown one headed first to a primitive tent, and as it came it, it was humanoid-looking, wielding a crude, but very large axe, and it was headed in our direction. Lorna din’t have any weapons out, Aurum had had his sword grabbed, but was now holding his open hands up. Slowly I lowered my bow, the bear-man seemed to have his eye on me. He was big, strong-looking and that axe could leave a mean gash in anything in it’s way, and after the corpses in the cave, I figured I should be more careful. Aurum spoke, his voice a bit shaking, to the bear, “We mean you no harm!”

Somehow, it seemed that speech alone was enough to calm the bear-man down. He lowered his axe, and as he did, I placed my bow back onto my back. I would still be cautious, the nature of wild animals is often fight or flight, but some are cunning enough to lure a prey into a false sense of security, only to bite into the throats once it was dark. People that greet me with weapons drawn, I don’t easily trust them just like that. Luckily for me, it seemed that both Aurum and Lorna were ready to talk our case. After some questions back and forth, regarding the dead Half-Orc by the road, the bear-man, named Frankie, allowed us to stay in his camp, just as long as we didn’t make any big fire, or touched the other regular bears.

Without a fire, the buzzard wouldn’t be cooked, but Frankie said that there had been plenty of Goblins, Hobgoblins and Orcs in the area, threatening the peace of the wildlife. Poachers, basically, but organised and savage. Hobgoblins were new to me, I had heard of them, but not seen or fought them before. Orcs and Goblins? Usually not a problem, Goblins will typically run if they are outmatched, Orcs are strong, but they aren’t known for being smart, a clever assault could typically turn the scales in your favor. Making a cooking fire would reveal the clearing’s location, but without a cooking fire, it would be rations. Aurum asked if he could try something with the buzzard, I handed it to him, I couldn’t see a flint and tinder, or some kind of potion that could cook it. But before the beach and the cave, I hadn’t see someone so small as Vali, cut down so many undead. Aurum seemed to inhale first, holding the neatly-cleaned carcass up in his hand. In a split second, a bright red flash came out from his mouth, a scorching flame, enticing and so... Impressive. The bird in his hand? Not so much. That thing was blacker than any buzzard have ever been, completely inedible. He gave me an apologetic look to me. I wasn’t really mad at him, he had good intentions... I think. And there is no point crying over spilt milk, or, in this case, a burned bird.

Lorna, not interested in the bird at all, went into the forest, I assume to find berries and other edible things. She returned empty-handed shortly thereafter. I too tried my hand, but came to the conclusion, that unless I wanted to feast on pine cones, this wouldn’t be the place for a good meal. Frankie had offered some berries, and I’d hate to be an impolite guest, so I kept my rations tugged away in my backpack. The berries were tasty, but I didn’t feel full, but I managed to, I think, suppress my stomach from growling. Given Frankie’s hospitality, we decided to sleep for the night, presuming that the Hobgoblins were behind the death of the Half-Orc druid by the road. We decided to split the night shift up in three, Lorna taking first shift, me the second, and Aurum the watch closest to morning. He said he had difficulties seeing in the dark. With only a couple of hours till my shift, there was no point in taking my armor off for the night.

Lorna called out to me, I had not really been sleeping, I was pondering where Vali could have gone to, and if I would ever see his short, angry and lost statue again. I grabbed my bow from my back, and started doing rounds around the pond. I noticed that the woods were quiet, more than it should be. Actually it had been just as quiet during the daytime. This was not natural. Finally, by the western edge of the clearing, I heard rustling, the sound of feet, branches snapping, twigs stepped on; something (or someone) was running straight towards the clearing. I had nowhere to get into hiding, in my head, I grumbled a short swear in Orcish, so instead I just readied an arrow, pulling the string back. I almost let the arrow fly in surprise of what came out; Vali (with thorns and vines stuck in his clothes) of all things.

We didn’t have time to really chat things through; from where Vali had just gone through the undergrowth, several broad-shouldered Orcs and Hobgoblins now also came through, they may have followed him here, but I don’t think he was aware. “Wake up everyone! We’ve got some visitors!” I yelled out as loud as I could, there was no time to shake them awake, there was more than two hands full of the invaders. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw both Lorna and Aurum go to work, Lorna with her stones at range, Aurum branching the hefty sword from his back. Another big figure was swinging an axe, was that Frankie? Vali seemed to be just peachy, despite having three attackers trying to cut him down, they failed a lot, though. I fired a couple of shots, that hit, and a single one that missed. I don’t think I did much, but when one of the small Goblins tried to run for it, I shot at his back. Despite him being halfway through the bushes, and with an axe-swinging Frankie on his tail, I heard the dry thwack of an arrow sinking into him, not enough to stop him though. Eventually the Goblin was stopped, and on Aurum’s request, kept alive for questioning. Aurum’s a smart one, I’ll remember that to ask for advice in the future. Since the Goblin was in company of Orcs, it was possible that it wouldn’t understand the common tongue, plus I figured, I could act intimidating to help with Aurum’s questions.

I hadn’t meant to kill the Goblin, really, I promise. I was just going to send him off with a kick to his rump... It sounded like wet paper, as he squished against the trunk of a tree, I felt slightly sick inside. After going behind some bushes to get in some more comfortable clothing to sleep in, I slept like a rock until morning. So much better to sleep without armor on. Sleeping without clothes is better, but I could never do that with other people around. Come morning I woke, to the sigh of a pile of dead, bloody and mostly naked Orcs and Hobgoblins, okay, not what I had expected, but I didn’t hear combat during Aurum’s watch, so it must have been the first group of invaders. I took my gear under my arm, and went over to the same shrubs where I changed before. I don’t think I made a sound, but suddenly I heard Aurum’s voice call out to me. I was mid-change, and got really flustered, instinctively, and perhaps, poorly, covering myself up best I could. “Woah woah woah... Uhm... Woah.” I think he became as embarrassed as I did... Good, then maybe he won’t mention this. As long as he doesn’t start making weird excuses or try to explain it afterwards.

Sifting through the remains, I found two crude longswords. Amongst some of the things were apparently a map, leading to the camp of the Orcs, Hobgoblins and Goblins, the others were already preparing to move out. For some reason, I don’t think Vali and Aurum like each other very much, I’d hate to see friends of mine fight. But between Vali’s stubbornness and Aurum’s pride, those two are going to be at less than good terms for a while. We headed out, with no sign of Frankie and the other bears to find the marauder’s campsite.

#Lore #Recap #First-person narrative #Tal'Dorei #d&d 5e #Whitestone #Werebear #Orcs #Hobgoblins

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qarajhcreations · 6 years

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Sight between the Buildings

We cling to homes and abilities

A feeble attempt to break our cyclic equilibrium

Of solitude and sanctuary

We seek the herds and the loudest crowds

To feel whole, to feel alive

Is living really a matter of wholeness?

But what of those who are not in the crowd?

How do we perceive the hermit

The loner, the wanderer, the soulless cripple?

Do their lives matter to us happy people in the mass

When we do not know how to reach them

Or have the ability to understand them

Amongst the living, walks the undead

Droning, mindless, pointless

These people sees no tomorrow

With no future possible, what dreams do these strange folk have?

What hopes do they have for themselves?

How can we make them a part of our happiness?

If only we knew

#poetry #loneliness #solitude #physchology #society #living #depression #loner #outcast #hopelessness #writing #Qa'Rajh Creations

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qarajhcreations · 6 years

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Tales of Catacrach, The Separation of the Elves

When the Giants swarmed Fellmir in ancient times, the races living in Fellmir had little means of defending themselves against the might of the Giants, most creatures either chose a nomadic life, constantly on the run from Giants, typically, Orcs and Hobgoblins, or they chose subjugation.

In southern Fellmir, the Elves, then only a single, united race, sat council, trying to find a solution for the Elves. Most of the Elven leaders were in agreement that fighting the Giants, would lead to nothing but ruin (a few even suggested a full surrender, to allow the Elves to survive). The debate seemed unending, until a group of the Elves highest ranking mages and scholar came up with a solution. If the mages were allowed to concentrate their magic, it would be possible to move every creature to “another place” as the mages explained it. However, the mages also warned that they couldn’t control the destination.

Meanwhile, as the Elves argued, the Giants marched ever closer. Scouting parties never returned and eventually, as things started to look dire, the mages were told to start the spell. In a matter of days, the Elves willing were wrapped in a slight glowing cloud. A few Elves had decided to fight until the very end for their forest-homes, however much persuasion was tried, these Elves couldn’t be moved.

This was the first time the Elves were split, the Wood Elves, the ones staying behind, have only been seen or heard from on rare occasions. It seems that though they took to helping fighting the Giants, but only when these were threatening their forests.

Any other Elves were teleported away, however, as the spell was rushed, large parts of the Elven society was split up. Most, later High Elves, ended in the Feywild, a land of wonders, but also one of savage creatures seeking to submit any and all minor races to their whim.

Two parts of the Elves ended on the Astral planes of the Beastlands and Arborea. The wild nature of the Beastland shaped the Elves into wanderers, loners, hermits in pact with nature and creatures, the Sun Elves for this reason are rare and finding two Sun Elves in the same place, is considered a myth. In Arborea, the Elves found themselves deep in thought, their feelings and emotions becoming more powerful and intense. As such Moon Elves tend to stick together in small, very tightly-woven groups, as they don’t feel understood by other Elves and even less so by other non-elves.

Finally there was the unfortunate ones, those few that was sent to the horrible place known as the Underdark. The harsh, unforgiving environment, filled with all manners of unspeakable horrors, turned the freedom-loving Elves, into the slave-hungry Drow, seeking to get work-slaves from the overworld, to build temples, shrines and statues in the dark mistress, Lolth’s image. Those that aren’t worked to exhaustion, are giving as sacrifice to Lolth. A horrible and slow death, filled with the despair and knowledge, that no hope remains for them.

#Elves #Lore #Tales of Catacrach #Drow #High Elves #Wood Elves #Sun Elves #Moon Elves #d&d 5e #Custom campaign #Arborea #Beastlands #Feywild #Underdark

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qarajhcreations · 6 years

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A Tal’Dorei Misadventure, part 3: Ship Wrecker

After resting near the beach, but still in a relatively safe distance from the cave and the ship, I was the first to wake up the next day. We had not talked about someone standing guard during the night, but luckily the night had passed by without anything happening, at least, so it seemed.

I had taken quite a beating, first by the corpses in the cave and later, by the boar that I killed last evening. And I had not taken my armor off before the night and as result, my body was so sore, that stretching out after a good night’s sleep, was an activity that ached badly. I looked over my traveling companions, sleeping soundly, peacefully. I took an extra look at the pretty lady, her cheeks so smooth, enticing almost, I wanted to touch them, but that would probably end up being weird. And it would certainly wake her up, which wouldn’t exactly be a nice thing to do.

I scouted the area, but it seemed like all was quiet. With a sigh of relief, I sat down on my bedroll, and began to open my armor. Oh man, my skin needed a breather, after the beatings and all, I ran my fingers over some of the bruises, and a jolt of pain shot through my chest. Ow, okay, don’t do that again. I looked at my armor, but apart from a few bent and battered scales, my armor had held firm. It was first now, with my armor in my hand, that it struck me how happy I was, that my friends were asleep, I mean, I was in undergarments, but still, I hadn’t even known them for more than a week.

It had been a little less than an hour, of me trying to work out the kinks on the scales, which is not easy without any tools. It also doesn’t make it easier, when you don’t want to wake people up. To be frank, armor-making and black-smithing wasn’t at all for me; who want to stand near a hot furnace, beating on iron all day, getting soot on all parts of your body, in your hair, in your face. My scale armor, and my axes, had been sitting on a big lump of a human male warrior. He was lying face-first down in the swamp, just off of the road going into Stillben. I couldn’t make out any wounds on him, but he was dead alright, eyes all rolled up in his head and all. At first, I tried pulling the armor over his head, which I quickly found was difficult. I then noticed the leather straps, looking like four belts, sitting on the back of the armor. That made things a whole lot easier. It also made the rather large armor fit me better, as I could tighten the straps holding it over my stomach. The axes were nice too, I almost expected them to be heavier. It took a while to get used to the weight of the armor, I had been living in rough, regular clothes. Maybe it as time to leave the swamp and go out and do good, father did bad, and I don’t want to end up like him.

As I heard one of my new-found travel-mates waking up, I hastily donned my armor again. The pretty lady seemed quick to awaken, and without a word, she sauntered off towards the edge of the forest. I’m assuming she had to relieve herself, that’s usually a first-thing-in-the-morning for me too. She soon after came back, looking pleased, no wonder. With my short friend all up and awake as well, we quickly took down our primitive camp, and headed back onto the beach.

With the cave looming ahead once more, we made sure to try and be quiet. I do not know if corpses and skeletons can actually HEAR anything, but, why risk it, right? I readied an arrow, but was surprised to see neither the pretty lady bring her long stick out and my short friend seemed content to not have his axe in hand either. I don’t know what they were thinking, I mean, I’m a pretty decent shot, but would they go in, practically unarmed, that’s like... halfway to naked. Perhaps their theory was “if we do not pose a threat, the undead won’t see us as one”. I don’t know about that, the undead that I have met in the swamp, didn’t seem to care much about if you were a librarian or a knight, but these could be different undead.

In the back of the cave, by the big chest, four skeletons stood, like statues, they didn’t move a muscle... No wonder, now that I think about it. But yea, they were standing completely still. Each by it’s corner of the chest, most certainly, guarding the chest. We also saw the sorry remains of the corpses, but there was no sign that they would stand anytime soon. No skeletons guarding the two smaller chests on the right though. When dad was home, he talked about arguing with some of the other highwaymen, about spoils and who should get what. My short friend was the one that suggested going back for the treasure, and seemed very eager to get his hands on whatever was in the chests. So he and the lady went off, I told them that I’d have their backs, in case the skeletons started moving. I was a bit concerned with my own position, three corpses laying relatively close to me, if they started to rise, I’d have serious problems.

They didn’t move. The corpses, neither the skeletons nor the more fresh ones near me. My two friends soon after returned with pleased looks on their faces. They must have found something nice, but I’ll refrain from asking about it. I know of greed from both my father, and later, my mother and brothers as well. Sure, it was nice to have money to your name, for buying food and a warm bed in an inn, but I had seen what money, what greed, can do to people. And I did not like it. At some point, it might be worth having a conversation with them both about this issue, but I��m not sure how I’ll be able to phrase it in a way that they will understand.

Out of the cave once more, our attention was turned towards the wrecked ship. From this distance it seemed only slightly larger than the fishing boats, I had seen in Stillben’s harbor, but once we got close, we could finally grasp the sheer size of it. What looked like a reinforced iron-band pattern, turned out to be hatches for large crossbows, each standing on a small set of wheels and seemed way too heavy to lift. That seems impractical to me, but I have never set foot aboard a ship, so, how would I know? We found two ways to get into the ship; a rope-ladder hanging from the railing and a small opening near the sand, that I assumed was made when the ship wrecked. The rope-ladder was all the way down, so my short friend would have no issues reaching it. The hole was a different story, almost all covered by sand.

I began digging, the others didn’t find it in them to help, I do have the biggest hand and longest arms, so I reckon their thought was that I’d be most efficient. It doesn’t bother me to do labor like that, I’m no dainty flower. Plus, if it’s doing good and helping people, it’s all that I need. As soon as the hole was big enough, my short friend darted inside the boat. I hope he’s careful, the pretty lady too, I’d hate for them to get hurt, when I can protect them. Finally the hole was big enough for me to get into.

The inside of the ship felt cramped, despite the size. My short friend was already going to town on some innocent barrels, I was going to tell him that people don’t usually store valuables in barrels. But one, it probably wouldn’t help and two, maybe that’s something you do on a ship. Most of the barrels had remains of food, but on barrel had a strong sweet smell to it, compared to the rot of the food. A smile, of width I had not yet seen, beamed on his face. He tipped the barrel, carefully, and began to roll it out of the hole. However, it got stuck in the sand. I tried to help, but ducking my head under the rafters, between the barrels and odd crossbows, it was hard to use my strength properly.

With our exit now blocked, we began heading up through the decks. If life at sea meant moving through such a cramped space every day, I think I’d prefer the shallows of a swamp. Sure, there’s leeches, bugs, pot-holes, and a lot of other nasty stuff, but at least you don’t have neck-cramps all the time. Finally we got up to the top, I had to do a bit of back-stretching. The top deck was clear, no corpses, no barrels, no treasure, which I find to be strange, but hey, if our mission was clearing out the cave and the ship, making the beach safe, finding nothing would mean that we had done a good job. At least in my mind.

While I headed for the rope-ladder’s top, preparing to get off the ship, my short friend went straight for a weird gate into a room below the steering wheel. The pretty lady seemed to be heading in that direction as well. They’ll be fine. As soon as I had thought that, a sound like thunder roared through the screams of the seagulls. I looked at the sky first, but it was all clear. Then I looked to the gate, my short friend had just opened up. A strange contraption of metal had a smoking ring, like it was on fire. I also saw my short friend having a different haircut, as if someone had dragged a strange knife atop his head, I glanced around, if something had been fired, it might be worth checking out. i couldn’t see an arrow, bolt or knife anywhere on the deck, but finally I saw it, smoking, red hot and stuck in the strange tree in the middle of the deck.

As my friends headed into the room, looking for more treasure, no doubt, I squatted down in front of where the thing had lodged itself into the wood. My fingers started moving towards it, it looked metallic, I could feel the heat as I pulled of my gauntlets; where I to dig it out, I’d need my fingers nimble. If I had a bucket, I could get down on the beach, get some water, and cool it off. Or I could wait for the thing to cool off on it’s own. Kind of lucky that it didn’t ignite all the wood around here. Then it struck me; I have a water-skin with me. Slowly and carefully I poured some water on the metallic object, making it hiss and sizzle. As it stopped smoking, I tried wrapping my fingers around it, but even without the gauntlets on, I could not get a grip on it. It’s surface was smooth and shiny.

Grabbing an arrow, I began to chip away at the wood holding the item, slowly digging the arrowhead in, pulling pieces of wood out. This was going to take a while, but if my friends started looting, it was probably safe to say; I wasn’t exactly pressed for time. I could hear them talk, calmly, well at least they weren’t arguing about loot, but I could not hear the subject of their conversation. I think I felt the metallic object shift, I pushed the arrow in and began prying it out. Man, it was lodged in there, must have been shot with a hefty amount of force.

Finally it became loose. I held my other hand under it, as it popped out. A sphere, seemingly made out iron. As it came out in the sunlight, it really shone. Mesmerized, I must have been looking at it for a while, as my friends finished looting the room, I didn’t even care what they had found, I had a treasure of my own. I was about to head over towards the rope-ladder, when a strange shadowy-creature appeared on the stairs from the lower decks, I called out to it, I wouldn’t want to shoot someone innocent, it seemed to be approaching me, I couldn’t see it wielding weapons, but something felt wrong about it.

It took a swipe at me, though I managed to step out of the way. My short friend was already en route, swinging his battle-axe wildly, slashing away at the shadowy figure. He hit, but it was as if he was cutting into thin air. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw another shadow appear from behind the pretty lady. I didn’t have time to warn her, not that I needed it, she suddenly made a really bright column of light appear, vaporizing the shadow entirely. That must have been magic. Okay, so I’ll have to keep an eye out for the pretty lady and her tricks in the future. The first shadow had turned it’s gaze and limbs towards my short friend. As it struck, he appeared to become weaker, as if it had hit his muscles straight on, a scary sight actually. I fired an arrow, to protect him, but the close range, and with the shadow’s attack scaring me, the arrow just whizzed off of the deck. Despite the clear weakened state, my short friend swung his axe again, and as it cut through, the shadow vanished.

Without breaking much of a sweat, we left the boat, and began to carry, roll and drag my short friend’s barrel of alkohol, he was determined to bring it back to the city, to sell it, I think. With the barrel moved between me and my short friend’s strength, our overall speed was significantly slower. However, despite that, our spirits were high, and we decided to not camp outright for the night, due to the idea that none of us had trouble seeing in the dark.

It took almost double the time it had taken us to get to the beach, to get back to the city, but as we finally did, we all headed straight for the tavern. I still had sand on my hands from the digging earlier, so after placing down my short friend’s barrel at the bar, I headed out to wash up. After that it was straight up to my room, finally being able to take my armor off, letting my skin breathe. Despite the almost too small tub, the hot water was so relaxing and pleasant, I could almost have slept there. My muscles were tensing up, I would sleep soundly tonight. Placing my clothes in a neat pile next to my armor and gear, I were finally able to unwind. I slept only moments after I had placed myself in bed.

The next morning, we all gathered at the bar. We were to hand in the mission, so we all trudged towards the barracks near the large tree. As it was the pretty lady who had obtained the mission, she would be the one to confer with the guards about what had happened. I had bumped pretty hard into the door-frame on the way in, and was now rubbing my hurting forehead, so I didn’t really pay attention to what the lady said. On the way out, one of the imprisoned pirates reached out between the bars, grabbing onto my belt. I’m assuming he was trying to grab my rear, I hear prison can do strange thing to people, make them need certain... things... more than others. He muttered some words to me, before he passed out in his cell again. Life at sea, huh? Not for me it seems.

In the hurry to get the mission turned in, we had forgotten something very important; breakfast. Naturally, we followed a sweet, delicious scent to a bakery. I went straight to the counter, perhaps a bit too fast, as it seemed I scared the boy overseeing the store... I didn’t mean to, I was just hungry. It’s not like I was going to eat him or anything. Raw meat isn’t good for you, honestly. We got our cakes, payed for by my short friend entirely. With our immediate hunger settled, we headed back towards the shop, my short friend had apparently found something he wanted to learn more about.

Inside the shop, I started to look around for weapons, my axes were okay, but maybe it was time to update. I felt comfortable that I would be able to use pretty much any odd thing, mauls, swords, hammers, axes. The shop seemed more “general store and item” shop, than selling and buying weapons. As the pretty lady went up to the clerk, a strange sound could be heard behind him, almost like a fart, but prolonged and less... Flatulent, somehow. A mere moment later, a very handsome elderly man came out to the counter. There was something to him, I can’t really explain it, it was as if someone as tickling the inside of my stomach. I probably interrupted the pretty lady in her shopping, but she would probably take a long time finding special stuff for her tricks and what not. I, on the other hand, was pretty certain what I wanted and what I needed, plus, my funds were limited, going by the amount of coins that I had, though it was more than I’d ever had owned before. The two of them had given me a total of... twen-ty-five, was it? Of the shiny, yellow coins. The pretty lady said that it was five, then five, then five, then five and five more.

I told the man, Gil-something, that I needed something that could pack more of a punch against undead, I was really hoping for some weapons to be stored in the back, and he’d bring them to me to browse. Instead he found three vials of some kind, and explained that if I were to add it to my weapon, arrows or my axes, it would do special damage to undead creatures. I was only able to afford a single of the vials. But I couldn’t bring myself to sound disappointed within ear-shot of the nice man, even if I was. The problem was; I doubt, after looking at my remaining coins, that I could find a blacksmith, willing to part with a pair of weapons, or even one, for what I have left. I didn’t really focus on what my friends bought, I should ask them later, out of curiosity.

With the mission past us, and shopping done, we headed back to the square with the tree. We must have attracted some attention as we walked, I didn’t see many short ones like my friend, and I saw none quite as pretty as the lady. We found like an elevated wall, people had been putting paper on it. We found a missive that someone needed help with some cow-watching down south, there were other options, but they didn’t entice us. As we took off, I looked over my shoulder, back at the city between the trees. I felt like a better person, like I had done something important, something good. It was great feeling, as if something inside of me had grown bigger, stronger.

#Recap #Tal'Dorei #d&d 5e #First-person narrative #Tena Barkfang #Undead #Whitestone #Gilmore

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qarajhcreations · 6 years

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A Tal’Dorei Misadventure, part 2: Curse of the Booty

The cave was luckily big enough for me to enter with my friend on my shoulders, but upon discovering a body, he asked me to let him get down. As he did, and I stood up once again, the scales on my chest rattled against one another. Knowing the rattle likely would alert something within the cave, I uttered a light curse in the Stormlord’s name. This battle ahead might have been easier, had I been more aware of it. Guessing, I’m not used to being mounted.

I looked closer at the body, the nauseating smell of rotten flesh, not unlike that of the swamp near Stillben, rose to my face. And suddenly, the corpse began moving. I don’t know what I expected when I heard “undead”, but well, here’s one now. I had told the strange, pretty lady, that I knew how to deal with undead, by cutting them until they stop moving, figures I would have to give my two axes a twirl.

In other parts of the cave room, several other skeletons and zombies rose, started coming towards us. I noticed the skeletons had bows, but the zombies seemed less armed. Before I could dispatch the crawling flesh-pod below me, a war-cry came from my short friend, his battle axe chopped the zombie up nicely, triumphantly shaking his axe at the next corpse in his line of sight. I could only shrug at that, it was a nice swing, sure, but the zombie wasn’t exactly fast either. Oh well, on to the next one. It was actually coming rather close as I had been waiting. Seeing as they were up close and had noticed us, I clanked my axes against one another, this could actually be fun.

The pretty lady went off on the left with a big stick, facing a skeleton that had just taken a shot at her. Skeletons lack poise and well, muscles, so it’s not really a wonder that it’d miss. My short friend had been looking around the cave, and now he suddenly dashed up to meet a skeleton that wore a fancy hat. Against me, another of the boney men stood, swinging it’s shortsword. It was so easy to predict, so I just stepped to the side of the swing. Meanwhile, I could hear the whistling of arrows missing, hitting the stone floor somewhere else in the cave, not sure who they were shot at. I also heard the pretty lady hit her skeleton with the wierd stick she was carrying, a satisfying cracking sound. “Alright mister Marrow, it’s you and me now.” I said, as I swung both axes in a motion as give the skeleton in fron of me a hug.

Look, I’m used to either fighting things at a distance, or things that are a little more solid; both my axes missed. The Stormlord must have me in a bad standing right now, I’ll make a note to remember to make an offering next time I see one of his shrines. Behind the unharmed skeleton, another zombie was shambling slowly towards me. Fighting two things at once is not ideal in any situation, I’ll have to finish up Captain Weight-loss quickly, so that Pulled Flesh over there won’t become a problem. An arrow whiffed past me, seriously, I don’t have time for this crap right now, I’m busy, okay? I raised both axes again, learning from my mistake the first time, raising them above my head, I brought them down hard, first one cutting into the skeleton’s collar-bone, with the sheer force behind the other axe, stopping the skeleton from moving.

I heard an uncanny sneering coming from where the pretty lady was, I couldn’t see her, but I did see a very large badger in her place, biting onto the arm of the skeleton by her. My short friend had dispatched the funny hat-skeleton, and had been flailing towards the skeletons in the back, the archers, I reckon, as they stayed at a distance. I would have followed closer, the large badger didn’t seem to be all that agile or to have a thick hide, but a moaning from the oncoming zombie, had me thinking better than to get over there and help the badger-lady. “Get in line, Rot Brain, I’ve got two axes and uh...” That sounded a lot better in my head, “Uhh... so take this!” Satisfying, hacking flesh away from something that isn’t supposed to have it, not enough to bring it down yet.

The zombie didn’t seem to like my one-liner, as it’s one limb smacked against my side. My armor took the brunt of it, but it still stung. Okay Tena, time to take this serious, stop playing around. Out of the corner of my eyes, the badger turned back to the pretty lady once again, and in the back of the cave, the sound of a heavy battle-axe chopping through bone, told my short friend’s story. I swung both axes again, I’d deal with the zombie, then help the pretty lady, she had already taken a couple of hits. Both axe-blades cut nicely into the zombie, but just as it seemed the zombie would fall, it kept groaning and moaning. I was baffled, couldn’t react as it somehow managed to swipe at me again. “How... are you not dead?!”

It’s blows were starting to hurt really bad, my armor was holding, but it managed again and again to hit me where the armor didn’t cover my body completely. Fear is not something you talk about, growing up in a family of Half-Orcs, where the father was out robbing and likely assaulting people. But... everytime the zombie took a swipe, I was feeling that my life could end, my armor probably saved my life several times. Worse was, I couldn’t seem to keep it down, no matter how much I hacked away at it. I had to get away, had to use my bow, had to avoid getting hit. I leapt to the side, feeling the wind as the mostly cut up limb kept flailing in my direction. I was safe for now. I stowed both axes away, still with chunks of rotten flesh. I needed a breather... And some bandages. At least it was a blunt arm, I wouldn’t want my armor cut to pieces, mostly because I wasn’t wearing anything underneath.

The pretty lady, badly bruised just like me, had finally taken down the skeleton. She had moved over towards where I was just a minute ago. I only now discovered that the first zombie, the one my short friend made in two pieces, was also still moving. I couldn’t worry about that right now, I was safe. My first target would have been the one skeleton archer, but my short friend was already enroute across some shallow water. The pretty lady looked more in need. I fired an arrow at the zombie I had fought earlier, it hit, but it just wouldn’t go down. In my own tongue I muttered “Why won’t you just... DIE!” I fired again, and hit, but to no avail again. The pretty lady had turned into the badger again, swiping claws into the dead flesh. And somehow, now it finally remained unmoving.

A my short friend had dealt with the remaining skeleton, he went to look through the large chest. I expected him to find treasure, or perhaps another corpse, the chest was big enough for that to be possible. As he began moving over towards another of the chests, the piles of bones began to shiver and move. Lady-badger was already headed for the exit. A skeleton was re-assembling itself as he rifled through the chest, he was quick to put things into his bag, so he must have found something. Just as it’s skull was back on it’s shoulders, I fired an arrow. The skeleton would be in my short friend’s path out of the cave, and more of the dead things were apparently coming back to life once more. My arrow pierced through the skull, letting the skeleton rattle to a pile of bones again. And we began to run, no looking back.

When we got out on the beach, I asked if he had picked anything that could have caused the undead to keep rising, he looked me deep in the eyes and said no, it felt honest to me. Badger-lady jumped, attacking his backpack, but he managed to shake her off. The undead was coming from everywhere now, we must have triggered their ancient slumber, and the now vengeful undead wanted peace returned. It only stopped when my short friend pulled some strange coins out of his back, and threw them towards the cave. It seems very practical to have such coins that can halt the undead in your backpack, when you’re headed to an area with undead, I’ll have to ask if I can have one of those at some point. It could easily come in handy later.

While I set up camp, making the bonfire, scouting the perimeter and such, the others spent their evening arguing about treasure and such. I didn’t really hear or care much about it, I was getting awfully hungry after all that fighting, so I decided to go hunt for some dinner. Pressing myself against trees, I scouted around the undergrowth, and something pig-like amongst some bushes. It could be a boar, I readied an arrow and snuck closer, the grass and leaves sticking into my scale armor minimized the noise the small plates made. It could also be a loose pig, but pigs are domesticated, so they belong to someone, it would probably be the best to not kill and eat that. I saw a tuft of fur, and in the same instance I released my cocked arrow, hitting boar in it’s rump. It squealed angrily and came barrelling towards me. Just as I managed to fire a second arrow, the powerful tusks punched against my armor. But the boar had died. Happily, I threw it over my shoulder and wandered back to camp. Unfortuneatly, I was so hungry that I couldn’t really cook it well, a lot of meat was wasted that day, but it got food in my stomach, and I went to sleep in my bedroll with a full belly.

I wonder what tomorrow will bring...

#d&d 5e #Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting #Roll20 #recap #story #lore #first person narrative #Tena Barkfang

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qarajhcreations · 6 years

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Fortidsmindeprojekt, fiktiv tekst

En forårsaften, 1372...

En mand kommer ridende af de mudrede små-veje, hans ansigt er sammenbidt, og hestens man er dækket af små perler af sved. Det er kun ganske kort tid siden at han så faklerne, så mændene, og hestene, og vognene komme rundt omkring bakketoppen. Fra hans gårdsted i udkanten Aasted har han holdt udkik, mens han passede sine marker. Den ulidelige ventetid siden Hr. Krabbe gav ham, og nogle af de andre bønder besked på, at værne imod en væbnet styrke. Hr. Krabbe havde hørt at fæstningen Hald ved Viborg skulle være faldet, og at den fjendtlige styrke nu var på vej i retning mod Salling.

Endelig kunne han se faklerne, og lyset fra fæstningen på næsset i vandet, og i aftenens svindende lys, kunne han se Galgehøjens dystre omrids på sin venstre hånd. Vist havde han aldrig selv stjålet eller drevet ran, men med den rosa-røde sols forsvinden på den anden side af vandet, kunne han se en skikkelse, dingle svagt i aftenens stille vind. I skæret fra en fakkel, kunne han se to mænd i harnisk og hjelm stå, lige ved vandkanten hvor dæmningsvejen gik ud til fæstningen. Den ene med sit spyd og skjold, den anden sit skjold på ryggen. Fra hestens stønnende og forpustede åndedrag, og dens øjne stående hvidt i dens hoved, til mandens manglende udrustning, kunne de regne sig frem til at dette ikke var en af fjendens soldater. Manden, næsten lige så forpustet, eller måske skræmt, som hans hest, sagde blot, ”Slip mig igennem; fjenden kommer!”

Skønt det halvlune forårsvejr og højt solskin havde gjort dagen behagelig, var stemningen her på dæmningsvejen til Hr. Krabbes fæstning ganske trykkende. Det mørke, kolde vand på begge sider af den smalle vej, var om muligt mere skræmmende end de bevæbnede mænd, som manden havde set komme over og omkring bakken sydøst for Aasted. Han beroligede hesten, og satte farten ned. Dyret var et arbejdsdyr, til pløjning af marker samt til at trække vognen, når høsten skulle i hus. Skønt manden ikke ejede en saddel, var det alligevel hurtigere at ride på den, end skulle hans ben have ført ham frem i mørket. Endelig var han ved porten til Hr. Krabbes fæstning, broen var oppe og han steg af hesten, og hidkaldte vagtens opmærksomhed. ”Jeg bringer en vigtig besked til Hr. Krabbe! Fjendens mænd er i Aasted nu!” Broen blev ikke med det samme sænket; men bud blev sendt af sted til hovedbygningen. Snart efter tændtes flere fakler langs fæstningens palisader. Skulle fjenden komme helt herud, ville de få deres at se til mod Hr. Krabbes mænd. Nu blev broen sænket, langsomt lod de brede reb broen komme ned. Bonden klappede beroligende hesten, skønt han allerhelst ville ride så langt væk som muligt lige nu. Med et hult drøn var broen helt nede. Nu blev bonden vist ind af en vagt og to høje, bredskuldrede karle marcherede væk fra porthuset.

Den anspændte stemning var endnu mere udtalt her, hvor de røde gløder fra essen i fæstningens smedje afslørede et dystert et glimt af livet bag de høje palisader. Hr. Krabbe havde hyret tømrer og karle til at bygge denne fæstning for mindre end to år siden. Så længe Hr. Krabbe betalte var der ikke nogen der stillede nærgående spørgsmål, men snakken gik, når man var udenfor Hr. Krabbes hørevidde. Således var der en mand fra Nissum, der mente at Hr. Krabbe havde fornærmet en anden herremand fra Mors, og at fæstningen skulle bruges i den forbindelse.

Bonden havde ikke selv arbejdet på fæstningen, og det var første gang han havde været inden bag palisaderne. De aflange skjolde hver med et spyd stod klar. Enkelte af mændene bar også pilekoggere og buer, Hr. Krabbe havde ikke sparet på udstyret. Og fæstningen virkede også solid nok. Bonden var ikke helt tryg stemningen. Ud af øjenkrogen holdt han øje med en ung karl, der førte hans hest over en smal gangbro, til endnu en af fæstningens øer, hvor noget der lignede en stald var opført.

Hr. Krabbe selv kom ud, en presset mand kunne, bonden se. Bonden tog sin kutte af, og bøjede hovedet i respekt. I dette lys fra faklernes skær virkede Hr. Krabbe, som han kom der flankeret af bevæbnede mænd, og med et sværd ved siden, som en kriger. Bonden tog mod til sig og kiggede op, ”Hr. Krabbe, Hr. Krabbe! Fjenden kommer, ganske som De forudsagde! De står i Aasted nu!” Hr. Krabbe blev om muligt mere bekymret end de var før, han havde håbet på bedre tidener, og bedre tid til klargøre den nyligt opførte fæstning. Hans ansigtsudtryk til trods, var hans stemme rolig da han talte: ”Meget vel, og du er helt sikker på de kom denne vej, og ikke blot var rejsende?” Mens han talte havde Hr. Krabbe bevæget sig nærmere bonden, denne lugtede ikke af øl eller vin, og virkede klar i mælet. Bonden nikkede ivrigt, ”Jovist er jeg sikker, jeg kunne se deres hjelme skinne i faklerne, da de kom over bakken ved Aasted. Med sikkerhed vil de komme her inden midnat, Hr. Krabbe.” Hr. Krabbe nikkede eftertænksomt, ”Nu vel,” han vinkede til en af de unge karle, der havde taget sig af bondens hest, ”bring mig pergament og min fjerpen, og lad det gå lidt tjept!”. Den unge karl nikkede og løb ind hvor Hr. Krabbe just var kommet ud. Mens de ventede, takkede Hr. Krabbe bonden for hans troskab, ”Du er en mand af ære, hvad er dit navn, min gode mand?” Bonden så helt paf ud førend han svarede, ”Jeg er Jens-Peder, af Aagarden, Hr. Krabbe.”

Hr. Krabbe skrev ganske hurtigt, omend bonden ikke var i stand til at læse hvad der stod. Pergamentet blev rullet sammen og lukket med Hr. Krabbes segl, og Hr. Krabbe holdt det frem til bonden, ”Bring dette til min forpagter på min gård i Nissum, og du skal få din belønning.” Bonden bukkede dybt og stak det sammenrullede pergament ind under sit tunge slag. En række ordrer blev råbt til de bevæbnede mænd i Hr. Krabbes tjeneste, og bonden fandt sin hest iblandt køer og kvier i stalden. Han trak det godmodige dyr ud, over den smalle bro til den befæstede ø, og ud igennem porten. Først da han kom ud på dæmningsvejen med det mørke vand, satte han sig op fik hesten i trav. Vel inde på det faste land, drejede bonden hesten mod nord, det var næppe en god idé at blive stoppet af bevæbnede mænd sånær Galgehøjen. Således red han langs den mudrede bred, og i nattemørket bag ham, lod et horn sit dystre kald gjalde gennem luften.

Hr. Krabbe spejdede mod land. Det var nu flere dage siden at fjenden var ankommet, men ingen herold havde meldt fjendens hensigt, ingen rytter med krav om overgivelse. I stedet havde hans folk på fæstningen blot kunnet se til, imens at fjendens krigere arbejdede med at flytte store mængder jord. De spærrede vejen af, med blokader og svært bevæbnede; ingen fik lov til at komme ud til øen og fæstningen via dæmningsvejen. Det var tydeligt at fjenden ikke var interesseret i at kæmpe på Hr. Krabbes præmisser. Men Hr. Krabbe kunne se, ud fra lejren som blev bygget og de forsvarsværker der blev rejst, at denne styrke var stor, måske op til flere hundrede mand. Selv havde han blot tredive svende fra Nissum og de nærliggende landsbyer, som han havde betalt i dyre domme. I åben kamp, mod så stor en styrke, ville de blot blive slagtet.

De første tegn på desperation, indtrådte efter et par uger, en af de unge staldknægte tilbød at svømme over vandet til Nissum for, at bede Hr. Krabbes fjerne slægt om at komme til undsætning. Man havde fulgt knægtens svømmetag i skæret fra faklerne, indtil man ikke længere kunne se ham. Vist så han ud til at kunne svømme bedre end de fleste, men man hverken set eller hørt noget til knægten. Alt i mens var lejren på bredden blot vokset sig større og mere truende dag for dag. Hr. Krabbe beordrede at broen og porten skulle forblive lukket. Ikke så meget fordi han forventede et angreb i ly af mørket, men Hr. Krabbe vidste godt at hvis først een mand overgav sig, ville det ikke vare længe førend resten ville følge efter. Hans bedste chance var at holde ud indtil der kom forstærkninger, eller til den fjendtlige styrke besluttede sig for at drage videre. Det sidste virkede dog mere og mere usandsynligt, da lejren kun blev større og større, og Hr. Krabbe kunne have svoret på at endnu flere mænd havde sluttet sig til den belejrende hærstyrke.

Den sidste ko var slagtet, og rent vand var også slippe op. Flere af mændene beklagede sig højlydt, når de troede at Hr. Krabbe ikke lyttede. Også Hr. Krabbe begyndte at mærke manglen på nærmest alt. Han havde skrevet breve, før fjenden var ankommet, men havde ikke nået at få dem sendt. De fint-oprullede pergamenter med hans segl og sirlige håndskrift, lå nu på hans bord i rummet i hovedbygningen. Mændene opholdt sig på øen med den tomme staldbygning, skønt Hr. Krabbe havde sagt at alle tre øer skulle have vagt-poster, mest for at man kunne se hvorvidt fjenden ville angribe eller pakke sammen og drage videre. Hr. Krabbe havde hørt om sine forfædres bedrifter, som lensmænd og krigere under konger, om storslåede dueller om land og ære, og hans sværd var såmænd smedet af den bedste våbensmed i Aalborg, dets værdi kunne betale adskillige af de mænd han hyret. Men Hr. Krabbe var ingen kriger. I adskillige dage nagede tanken om, at han skulle forsvinde ud af denne verden, uden at have efterladt sig et mæle som var en stormand værdig. Hans hjelm stod pudset og klar. Skulle han drive mændene frem i et overraskelsesangreb? Der var nu gået så mange dage at fjenden næppe ville forvente det. Imens han tænkte, lukkede han sig inde i sit rum, og lod mændene klare dagligdagen.

Men Hr. Krabbes mænd kom hans egne tanker i forkøbet; der lød en skarp banken på hans dør, hans hånd var med det samme på sværdets skæfte. ”Hr. Krabbe, vi beder Dem lytte til vor bøn; lad os slippe vore våben og bede om nåde, vi har gårde og familier som venter derhjemme.” Hr. Krabbes første tanke var vrede over, at de mænd som han ellers havde vurderet var blandt de mest loyale folk i hele Salling, og som han havde betalt ganske vel, nu vendte ham ryggen. Disse kujoner skulle få lov til at smage hans sværd.

Men Hr. Krabbe havde også selv en familie, og det ville næppe gå ham vel, skulle han forsøge, ene mand, mod tredive karle samt den fjendtlige styrke efterfølgende. Måske var fjenden til at tale med? Hans tanker om gården derhjemme og hans egen familie, skubbede helt de glorværdige bedrifter som hans forfædre havde udført, ud af hans hoved. Det var, når det kom til stykket trods alt, bedre at miste ansigt, end at miste livet. Træt og afkræftet åbnede Hr. Krabbe døren; karlene stod klar med deres spyd og skjolde, deres ansigtsudtryk var fyldt af samme træthed og udmattelse som hos ham selv, men også med sammenbidte miner; de havde været klar til at bryde hans dør med magt, om nødvendigt. Hr. Krabbe løftede en åben hånd, han ville tale. Mændene var lidt usikre, Hr. Krabbe havde godt nok sit sværd ved siden, men var ikke i nærheden af at gribe til det. ”Ved daggry i morgen, vil jeg, at I alle kaster spyd og skjolde i vandet, fra den inderste ø. Således kan fjenden se det. Vi går dem i møde, under en hvid fane, med rejst pande, som stolte Sallingboere.”

Som sagt, så gjort. De trætte mænd lod, ved solens stråler, deres våben forsvinde ned i vandet, kun Hr. Krabbe lod sit sværd blive i bæltet. De to karle der stod for at sænke broen, som for nogle få uger siden havde været kraftfulde unge mænd, kunne nu ikke ikke engang holde broen oppe; de svære knuder løsnedes, og faldt broen med et brag. I samlet, forhutlet, flok drog Hr. Krabbe og hans mænd over den smalle dæmning, og da de kom nærmere bredden, kunne de se, at fra vandets kant og hele vejen op til Aasted, var omformet til en stor lejr. De høje jordvolde med stejle sider og palisader rejste sig over dem. En vagtpost fik øje på dem, og den hvide fane man havde lavet af Hr. Krabbes sengelinned. Han råbte ind til lejren, der straks begyndte at myldre af liv. Det gibbede i de trætte mænd, da de passerede imellem de første jordbanker, hvorpå bueskytter stod parate på begge sider over dem. De passerede stumme, sammenbidte mænd iført jern-hjelme og harnisk, og en rytter i ringbrynje ventede dem midt inde i den store lejr. Bortset fra den karl der bar fanen, og Hr. Krabbe selv, lod alle mændene deres åbne hænder løfte over hovederne, i tegn på overgivelse.

Således slutter historien om Hr. Krabbe og fæstningen på Sallingholm, hvad der skete med Hr. Krabbe og mændene vides ikke, men fæstningen var virkelig og tiden blev dens fjende. Den fjende der havde belejret dem, var ingen anden end Kong Valdemar, ham der siden fik tilnavnet Atterdag. Han samlede det danske rige efter lang tid pantsættelse til Holstenske og Lübske hertuger – men det var ikke alle, der overgav sig frivilligt. Herremanden på Sallingholm var en af dem udstod en belejring, førend han måtte bøje sig for overmagten.

#Dansk #Sallingholm #Krabbe-slægten #Valdemar Atterdag #Middelalder #Multi-Medie Projekt #Fiktiv tekst #Historie

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qarajhcreations · 6 years

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A Tal’Dorei Misadventure, part 1: Welcome to Whitestone

It had been a good couple of days in the forest south of Whitestone, I had already shot a couple of rabbits, used one of the corpses as bait for bigger things, a few foxes and even a wolf. I had hoped for deer or boar, but then I remembered that they don’t really care for a dead rabbit as bait. I had been wandering around for a while, all of these trees looked the same to me, nothing scary or dangerous though, I heard people claim that “darkness looms in this forest”, sure, it got dark at night, but it seemed like night anywhere else to me.

Finally I stumbled upon a road, roads are good, they lead to places. Places where I could sell the pelts, and the meat, then I could go to a tavern and buy a real meal. I had been eating berries and various kinds of herbs, of course, I could have cooked the game, but that would make the hunting kind of silly. So instead I would just enjoy the meal even more. I was following the road, I could see both hoof-prints and wagon-marks, so it was a big city then. Big city means big money to earn, big money means a bigger meal. And I sure was getting hungry.

Suddenly I heard an outcry not too far away, per instinct, I stopped, crouched down and readied my bow without cocking an arrow. As I got closer, it was not something, but someone. I had been dealing with bandits and highwaymen before, some of dad’s old “friends” I think, sometimes they jump you, going crazy with their weapons, sometimes they try to trick you. As I saw no-one trying to get the jump on me, I was preparing for the latter. I moved closer, trying to keep my scale mail from clattering too much, spooking or alarming the someone to my presence.

In a small clearing, a tiny person, male, I think, was swinging from a rope. The trap had snagged around his ankle, and now he was dangling with his head pointing down. He was yelling all kinds of curses, even mom wouldn’t go that far as to some of the words she would spew, when father, yet again, didn’t return to supper. He had kept a hold of his battle-axe, a weapon nearly the same length as him. I could see strength in him, as he swung the axe at the rope. Not the accurate type, it seems. In his haste to cut himself down, he would also make the rope sway away from his swings. I don’t know much about being small, when I was younger, I was quickly taller than the rest of my family, but, I don’t think being upside down like that can be good for you in the long run. I was going to call something calming out to him, but words fail me at times. “Hey, you’re not a rabbit”. I mean, obviously. No fluffy tail, no long soft ears, and the body wasn’t covered in fur. The feet seemed to fit a rabbit in size, but the shape seemed off somehow. It worked though. The person stopped his swinging, looking at me.

“Help me down!” he cried, I was pretty sure he wasn’t a bandit, but it never hurts to be careful. “Alright, hold still... and stop swinging, please.” For a second he seemed ready to swing his axe once again, but I think he understood that I meant no harm, and actually wanted to help him. I grabbed his ankle, with the rope on it with one hand, and loosened one of my axes from my belt with the other. Sure, I could just have cut him down, letting him fall, but that’s not like me. I wanted to be different than my father, people said my father wasn’t nice, so that’s where I’ll start, by being nice. The axe cut through the rope easily, and the only thing holding the short person up now, was my free hand. Slowly I lowered him to the ground, until he could reach the ground with his hands. There was a strange strength to him, this guy would probably throw a mean punch, if annoyed. He brushed himself off and presented himself, something with V, I think. Names is something I forget easily, I try to remember, but it seems to slip away just as easily.

He didn’t remember how he ended hanging like that, his last memory was being in a tavern, in a brawl. His eyes seemed to gleam with joy as he mentioned brawling. I asked him if he wanted to tag along, really, I needed someone who were better with directions than me.

After a short, awkward trek, what with him being half my height, but keeping up nicely (to be fair, I wasn’t running) with me, we came to the walls of Whitestone. A fair amount of travelers were looking at me, I did remember to close the top part of my scale armor, right? I gazed down, just to be certain, yea, it was closed. Phew. Then it was probably just my size. I looked over some of the travelers, but none of them appeared to have THAT smirk. So, if they were looking at my rump, they were hiding it well. I’ve always hated those looks, I’ve seen them on the face of the people that visit... the women working for my mother.

Defenses seems light, I guess if you have a big wall like that, you’d feel pretty safe. The humans guarding this place asked me what my business was, I thought it would be fairly obvious, what with my bow, and several dead animals on my shoulder, but they are just doing their job. Plus, I didn’t really have a reason to lie. I was about to head inside, after hearing where I could sell the game. When the short one said that he was with, and then proceeded to say that I was male. I had to turn around at that, I mean really? I know I’m not feminine like some Elf girl, hips swaying and such, but surely he could see my shape. In his defense, he might not have seen many Half-Orcs before, my kind aren’t that common here. With my free hand, the other holding the game on my shoulder, I squished my breast from the side, pushing onto the scale mail. I’m not sure I convinced him fully, but the guards allowed him in either way.

Man, this city is big. I had had a small hope that my short new friend would know about this place, but he seemed to be even more lost, than I was in the forest. We turned left on a larger street, there was a lot of people here, interactions with other people is not my forte, considering I spent about four years in a swamp, eating frogs and bugs, because I couldn’t stand what my family had turned into, me and people... Yea, not the best match. We came to an open square, looking like a place for a market, the eye-catcher though? A huge, shining tree. My friend seemed drawn to it, and went up, hugging the trunk of it. It seemed pretty weird to me, even though the tree’s glow was... comforting, in a way, it’s hard to describe really. A couple of city guards asked that he stopped hugging it, as someone recently had tried to cut something off of the tree. Though my friend wasn’t doing something wrong, at least, not to my knowledge, I asked him to, as the guards ordered, to let the tree be.

We got to a store, with a strange, low-hanging tent above it. The store had plenty of fur for sale, so the guards had given me a good tip. I placed the rabbits, the foxes and the wolf down on the counter. It might have scared the woman a bit, but it’s just business. I got a nice bag of coins, enough for a good meal, I reckon. We asked the lady if she knew of a tavern, a place to eat for me, and a place to drink for my friend. I’ve met a few drunks, especially around mother’s... business, guess I’ll just have to keep an eye on him, just in case. The lady showed a map, I had to lift the guy up on the counter for him to see. Despite the city’s size, only a single tavern were pointed out to us, I suppose it makes it easier rather than having to choose, I’d get scolded if I were to arrive at some posh, upper-class dining spot. Doubt my friend would be taken in friendly manners either. The place is called the... Something’s Rest.

The place wasn’t exactly booming with people, suits me just fine, less people to gawk. I was delighted to see another Half-Orc tending the bar, big fella, bigger than my brothers and my father. In my search for a proper meal, I might have forgotten to clean myself from the fur, blood and whatever else the animals would have left on my shoulder and hands. Come to think of it, that would explain people giving me looks, I’m probably looking pretty savage-like. Well, better this, than them looking at my curves and form. The bartender scowled, as I placed two bloody handprints onto his counter, when asking for a meal. Told me to go and wash myself off outside. And not to touch the horses. I mean, I could have used the horses to wipe my hands. However, I didn’t see any horses outside, so I just cleaned my hands with the water in the bucket. As I got back, showing my hands to ensure the bartender that I now was clean, my short firend had already ordered and seemed content on sitting by the bar. I ordered a good, hardy meal, and what a delish. Especially the bread. Man that was good.

While we were eating two guards came in, tailing a strange looking, and sounding, woman. I was focused on the meal before me, but I did manage to hear something about a journey. I was half a mind to get up and ask her, but seeing as she was coming towards me and my friend anyway, I just kept on eating. She was being real friendly-like, buddying up to me and the short one. I heard something mentioned about “undead”, I do have a bit of history with them, the swamp was often crawling with more or less decaying bodies. She asked if I was an expert on killing them. To me, if you cut stuff up until it no longer moves, that’ll do just fine.

Having a new task ahead, though the woman never DID go into detail about what exactly we were supposed to do, I’ll take it upon myself to ask her at some point, when there’s peace and quiet. My short friend wanted to go shopping, and the woman wanted to join, much to his dismay. However, he got persuaded, when I said I needed to shop as well. Does he trust me? I think I’d like if he does. I didn’t REALLY need anything per say, but browsing never hurts. There was a store across from the tavern, according to the bartender. Good, then I wouldn’t get lost as easy. The store had a unicorn head out front, it was very pretty, and caught my attention as we walked over there.

So much so, that I bumped against the doorframe, head-first. My short friend bought some odd-looking potion, pretty color though. He also bought several small balls, I have no idea what he’d use those for. The woman, strangely enough, didn’t want anything. Was her idea of shopping a ruse? I’ll have to keep an eye out on this one, I think. I didn’t really see anything that I wanted to buy, not being good with money and numbers, kind of keeps you from shopping for anything other than what’s absolutely necessary. It didn’t seem like a weapons and armory shop, but after walking up to the counter, and showing an arrow, I was quickly presented with a lot of arrows, so I bought them. I’ll have to count them later, just to keep track.

Back at the tavern again, my friend decided to drink till he no longer could stand, which didn’t take long. The strange woman pointed out that he had passed out, so I picked him up, gathered my arrows and went up the stairs to the rooms. We had purchased a room each, the woman had tried to get the guards to pay, but they just waved her attempts off. I placed my sleeping friend in his bed, and went to sleep in my own room.

The morning after I was awoken by the woman, calling out for me and my friend to get ready. My friend did not look too happy about it, the drinking the night before still showed it’s mark on him. We had two guards as escorts, seeing how the woman was released from jail, they’d probably make sure that she kept whatever she had promised them. As we left the city, heading with the morning sunshine behind us, I felt a mixture of sadness, I had not had breakfast, and relief, I just feel better with less people around, I guess. Soon the mountains rose on one side of the road, a deep forest looming on the other. Scouting ahead, I noticed some movement; a white rabbit was hopping along the edge of the woods. Without thinking further about it, I took aim and fired an arrow off. With a dry thwack, the arrow found it’s mark, nailing the rabbit to the trunk of a nearby tree. I cheered to my travel-mates, and headed over to collect the kill.

Just as I knealed down, four men attacked us, sending the one guard to an early retirement. The combat was a bit of a blur for me, I killed one with a clean shot from my bow, another one came close, and stabbed my arm with a tiny dagger. However he too was dispatched shortly. The remaining guard said that he would take his friend home for a prober burial, and pointed us in the right direction of wherever we were going. With screaming seagulls above us and the smell of salt in our nostrils, we came upon a barren beach. There was a black, rock-like cropping out in the water, which, upon closer inspection turned out to be a shipwreck. In on the shore, amongst some darkened stone, a black opened revealed a cave, and with my short friend sitting on my shoulders, his battle-axe’s hilt kept poking me in the back, we all headed into the cave to invetigate the sound of something scuttling about...

#Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting #Whitestone #d&d 5e #Roll20 #Lore #story #recap #first-person narrative #Tena Barkfang

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