Post by Shinobi-Iri (nick) on Jul 19, 2007 14:50:04 GMT -5
The Green Pastures that surrounded the small Farming Town of Redwater, in the
Northwest of Heartland; the main Human Province of Antigon, were bathed in a bloody red glow as the sun came up. It skimmed the horizon before beginning to rise fully, gradually bringing light to the hills, rivers and valleys that adorned the picturesque Landscape. In Redwater, there were many people up at this time of the morning already, including Aether Karligen, the Town Miller, who used the grain from his monthly harvest to produce Flour, one of the Town’s chief exports. There were already farmers in the pastures, tending to their Dairy Cows, and in the Kitchen of the Karligen Residence at the end of Creed Road on the southern end of town, Artemis Karligen was up and preparing the breakfast for the day.
Artemis glanced back from the stove at her teenage son, Tom, who was pouring over a parchment book, putting quill to the ink feverishly as if he’d never get his work done.
Artemis was still quite a beautiful woman, despite fast nearing middle-age. But she didn’t let this get her down, unlike the big-city Noble women, who preferred to have all sorts of magic cast on them to stop the age. But Artemis knew age was part of the natural order, and if it’s what Udon had in store for her, then so be it.
“Tom,” Artemis said, as her boy looked up. “Go get a warm loaf out of the oven. Riko is coming to breakfast this morning.”
Tom nodded once, and did so swiftly. Riko was the village philosopher, an old Sorcerer of the King who had since retired into the relative solitude of his study just down Creed road. However, he and Tom often talked, and his stories of the King’s service were legendary.
Aether soon came in from the Mill, his clothes covered in flour and a big smile on his gaunt but still handsome face. His job always made him happy, as bread was the staple food in Antigon, and if he had a part in making it then he was happy. He sat down at the table as Tom returned with the bread, and no sooner had they both sat down then there came a knock at the door.
“I’ll get it,” Tom said, standing and moving to the door. He opened it to reveal a tall, bald-headed man with a long grey beard and purple robes standing in the doorway and leaning on his Staff.
“Hey Riko!” Tom exclaimed as he stood back to allow him entry. “You’re looking
well…”
A slight smile crossed Riko’s face.
“I haven’t been truly well in about fifteen years, lad.” Riko said, laughing. He leant his
Staff against the table and pulled off his robes, revealing a black tunic.
“Sit down, Riko…” Artemis said, drawing a chair out. Riko nodded and sat down with a groan. Tom did so also, and they all began to eat, but Tom had questions on his mind.
“So what’s the occasion?” He asked.
Riko looked confused. “Occasion…”
“You don’t normally come here for any meals,” Tom replied. “There’s got to be something going down.”
Riko leant back on his chair, no longer eating, with a wry smile on his face.
“You know me too well, Tom…” He said, after a long silence. “Anybody that knows Riko knows everything I do is for a reason.”
“So what is the reason?” Aether asked, a look on interest crossing his face.
“Didn’t you know?” Tom asked, slightly confused.
“No, Riko requested this meeting,” Aether replied. “Said there was something incredibly important he needed to say.”
“Well Riko, what is it you need to say?” Artemis asked gently. “Or would you rather wait until after eat?”
“No, I’ll say it now,” Riko said, leaning forward slightly and placing his knife and fork down. “Have any of you ever heard of The Battling Bard of Brethren?”
There was silence, until Tom’s father spoke.
“Ramar Takito,” Aether said. “One of the King’s most trusted friends and the Security Advisor on the Silver Coast.”
“Why does the Silver Coast need a Security Advisor?” Tom asked. “Don’t the Elves take
care of that?”
“They do, but the two Elven Nations are locked in a brutal civil war that’s been going onlonger than I’ve been alive,” Riko said. “A Thousand years at least, it’s old Ramar’s job to keep the Farthde’n and L’oreign nations from tearing each other apart.”
“No small feat, I can assure you…” Aether said grimly. “They work together sometimes,
but I’ve heard stories of them turning on each other on the battlefield as soon as the last dark Soldier falls. Needless to say, Ramar has a huge job on his hands.”
Tom knew that Brethren was a small town not far from the L’oreign/Farthde’n border, and its inhabitants knew the politics of the Elven civil war. Tom thought if anyone was good for the job, Ramar Takito was.
“What does the Battling Bard have to do with your visit?” Tom wanted to know.
“Well, it actually has something to do with you, Tom.” Riko said. Tom had no idea what
Riko was implying, but somehow he didn’t like it. Riko was known for his inability to gauge danger, not since a Dark Wizard had addled his brains with a spell.
“Well, I know that you have aspirations to be a Knight of Antigon, and the Knight’s
Guild is offering a potential Knight the chance to accompany a messenger to the Silver Coast to deliver a message to The Battling Bard as a test of Character.” Riko said. “Could be an excellent opportunity…”
“What will this involve?” Artemis wanted to know.
“All he has to do is go to Antigon City and appeal to the Knight’s Guild. I think a display of the tactics he has been practicing will be more that sufficient.” Riko replied, smiling.
“Well I don’t have a problem with it,” Aether said. “I’ve never really liked the idea of Tom being a Farmer.”
Tom couldn’t believe his ears, there was a chance, albeit small, that he was to be a
Knight!
Meanwhile, far away from the town of Redwater in the Citadel of the Dead, the Dark
Lord Ahmed was sitting proudly in his Stone Throne drinking from a glass of wine that looked horribly like blood. Ahmed was heavily shrouded, so his face was not visible, but his gnarled grey hands suggested he probably was not the best-looking specimen in the world. Sitting at his round table were his Chief Advisors, a beautiful Elven Woman with
a nasty sneer named Ryuss, and an Aristocratic-looking Human Sorceror with the
Darkness Brand seared into his forehead named Adam.
“Riddle me this, my trusted Advisors…” Ahmed said after about half an hour of ponderous silence in his deep, raspy voice. “Why is it that, out of all the forces I have sent to Antigon…not one has been able to penetrate their Defenses?”
“The Antigon Elves are resourceful and strong in number, my lord…” Ryuss replied politely in her low, seductive voice. “It will require a substantial amount of effort to break their blockade.”
“As I understand, Ryuss, the Elves of Antigon are locked in civil Conflict…” Ahmed said thoughtfully. “Why is it that we still cannot do them any damage?”
“They suffer great losses at our hands, my lord…” Adam replied. “But sadly, Elves breed like flies. And as a result they are never short of numbers.”
This last comment earnt him an ugly look from Ryuss. After a brief period of silence that seemed to take forever, Ahmed got up out of his seat and began to pace the chamber.
Adam and Ryuss didn’t dare speak or rise, they knew the penalty for doing so would be great. Eventually, Ahmed turned to his companions and spoke slowly.
“I am through wasting time with these pointless little attacks,” He said. “We need to strike quickly and deliberately, with as much force as we can muster.”
“My Dark Elves will assist you,” Ryuss said confidently. “They have been training and preparing and can do much better than the hogs can.” She was referring to the Dark Orcs.
Ahmed nodded. “Yes, the pigs are tough and quite strong, but they need to be told what to do.” He mulled it over a little. “We need Warriors that can think on their feet, your
Dark Elves are just what we need…” he sat back down again. “Very well Ryuss, go and inform your Commanders that I require their presence here immediately.”
“Of course, my lord…” Ryuss replied, bowing to Ahmed and nodding to Adam before taking her leave.
They waited for her footsteps to recede down the corridor before Ahmed leaned back in his chair slightly, his face still hidden under it’s shroud. “You seem…uneasy Adam…”
“Just a little my lord…I have never trusted Elves…” Adam replied, shifting in his seat and smoothing his robes over. Ahmed sensed his nervousness and smiled.
“You do not trust Ryuss, even when I do?” He asked.
He seemed unsettled at this and unsure how to answer. Ahmed quickly saved him from doing so, giving him his assignment.
“I need logistical materials,” He said. “I need Maps and sketches of the various Areas of the Silver Coast. It is quite a vast stretch of land, and I want to pinpoint the right location for any sort of attack. Can you manage that?”
Adam nodded. “Of course, my lord…it is my specialty.”
“Good,” Lord Ahmed replied. “Take your time, soon Antigon will fall…”
Copyright Nick Holbrook 2007
Northwest of Heartland; the main Human Province of Antigon, were bathed in a bloody red glow as the sun came up. It skimmed the horizon before beginning to rise fully, gradually bringing light to the hills, rivers and valleys that adorned the picturesque Landscape. In Redwater, there were many people up at this time of the morning already, including Aether Karligen, the Town Miller, who used the grain from his monthly harvest to produce Flour, one of the Town’s chief exports. There were already farmers in the pastures, tending to their Dairy Cows, and in the Kitchen of the Karligen Residence at the end of Creed Road on the southern end of town, Artemis Karligen was up and preparing the breakfast for the day.
Artemis glanced back from the stove at her teenage son, Tom, who was pouring over a parchment book, putting quill to the ink feverishly as if he’d never get his work done.
Artemis was still quite a beautiful woman, despite fast nearing middle-age. But she didn’t let this get her down, unlike the big-city Noble women, who preferred to have all sorts of magic cast on them to stop the age. But Artemis knew age was part of the natural order, and if it’s what Udon had in store for her, then so be it.
“Tom,” Artemis said, as her boy looked up. “Go get a warm loaf out of the oven. Riko is coming to breakfast this morning.”
Tom nodded once, and did so swiftly. Riko was the village philosopher, an old Sorcerer of the King who had since retired into the relative solitude of his study just down Creed road. However, he and Tom often talked, and his stories of the King’s service were legendary.
Aether soon came in from the Mill, his clothes covered in flour and a big smile on his gaunt but still handsome face. His job always made him happy, as bread was the staple food in Antigon, and if he had a part in making it then he was happy. He sat down at the table as Tom returned with the bread, and no sooner had they both sat down then there came a knock at the door.
“I’ll get it,” Tom said, standing and moving to the door. He opened it to reveal a tall, bald-headed man with a long grey beard and purple robes standing in the doorway and leaning on his Staff.
“Hey Riko!” Tom exclaimed as he stood back to allow him entry. “You’re looking
well…”
A slight smile crossed Riko’s face.
“I haven’t been truly well in about fifteen years, lad.” Riko said, laughing. He leant his
Staff against the table and pulled off his robes, revealing a black tunic.
“Sit down, Riko…” Artemis said, drawing a chair out. Riko nodded and sat down with a groan. Tom did so also, and they all began to eat, but Tom had questions on his mind.
“So what’s the occasion?” He asked.
Riko looked confused. “Occasion…”
“You don’t normally come here for any meals,” Tom replied. “There’s got to be something going down.”
Riko leant back on his chair, no longer eating, with a wry smile on his face.
“You know me too well, Tom…” He said, after a long silence. “Anybody that knows Riko knows everything I do is for a reason.”
“So what is the reason?” Aether asked, a look on interest crossing his face.
“Didn’t you know?” Tom asked, slightly confused.
“No, Riko requested this meeting,” Aether replied. “Said there was something incredibly important he needed to say.”
“Well Riko, what is it you need to say?” Artemis asked gently. “Or would you rather wait until after eat?”
“No, I’ll say it now,” Riko said, leaning forward slightly and placing his knife and fork down. “Have any of you ever heard of The Battling Bard of Brethren?”
There was silence, until Tom’s father spoke.
“Ramar Takito,” Aether said. “One of the King’s most trusted friends and the Security Advisor on the Silver Coast.”
“Why does the Silver Coast need a Security Advisor?” Tom asked. “Don’t the Elves take
care of that?”
“They do, but the two Elven Nations are locked in a brutal civil war that’s been going onlonger than I’ve been alive,” Riko said. “A Thousand years at least, it’s old Ramar’s job to keep the Farthde’n and L’oreign nations from tearing each other apart.”
“No small feat, I can assure you…” Aether said grimly. “They work together sometimes,
but I’ve heard stories of them turning on each other on the battlefield as soon as the last dark Soldier falls. Needless to say, Ramar has a huge job on his hands.”
Tom knew that Brethren was a small town not far from the L’oreign/Farthde’n border, and its inhabitants knew the politics of the Elven civil war. Tom thought if anyone was good for the job, Ramar Takito was.
“What does the Battling Bard have to do with your visit?” Tom wanted to know.
“Well, it actually has something to do with you, Tom.” Riko said. Tom had no idea what
Riko was implying, but somehow he didn’t like it. Riko was known for his inability to gauge danger, not since a Dark Wizard had addled his brains with a spell.
“Well, I know that you have aspirations to be a Knight of Antigon, and the Knight’s
Guild is offering a potential Knight the chance to accompany a messenger to the Silver Coast to deliver a message to The Battling Bard as a test of Character.” Riko said. “Could be an excellent opportunity…”
“What will this involve?” Artemis wanted to know.
“All he has to do is go to Antigon City and appeal to the Knight’s Guild. I think a display of the tactics he has been practicing will be more that sufficient.” Riko replied, smiling.
“Well I don’t have a problem with it,” Aether said. “I’ve never really liked the idea of Tom being a Farmer.”
Tom couldn’t believe his ears, there was a chance, albeit small, that he was to be a
Knight!
Meanwhile, far away from the town of Redwater in the Citadel of the Dead, the Dark
Lord Ahmed was sitting proudly in his Stone Throne drinking from a glass of wine that looked horribly like blood. Ahmed was heavily shrouded, so his face was not visible, but his gnarled grey hands suggested he probably was not the best-looking specimen in the world. Sitting at his round table were his Chief Advisors, a beautiful Elven Woman with
a nasty sneer named Ryuss, and an Aristocratic-looking Human Sorceror with the
Darkness Brand seared into his forehead named Adam.
“Riddle me this, my trusted Advisors…” Ahmed said after about half an hour of ponderous silence in his deep, raspy voice. “Why is it that, out of all the forces I have sent to Antigon…not one has been able to penetrate their Defenses?”
“The Antigon Elves are resourceful and strong in number, my lord…” Ryuss replied politely in her low, seductive voice. “It will require a substantial amount of effort to break their blockade.”
“As I understand, Ryuss, the Elves of Antigon are locked in civil Conflict…” Ahmed said thoughtfully. “Why is it that we still cannot do them any damage?”
“They suffer great losses at our hands, my lord…” Adam replied. “But sadly, Elves breed like flies. And as a result they are never short of numbers.”
This last comment earnt him an ugly look from Ryuss. After a brief period of silence that seemed to take forever, Ahmed got up out of his seat and began to pace the chamber.
Adam and Ryuss didn’t dare speak or rise, they knew the penalty for doing so would be great. Eventually, Ahmed turned to his companions and spoke slowly.
“I am through wasting time with these pointless little attacks,” He said. “We need to strike quickly and deliberately, with as much force as we can muster.”
“My Dark Elves will assist you,” Ryuss said confidently. “They have been training and preparing and can do much better than the hogs can.” She was referring to the Dark Orcs.
Ahmed nodded. “Yes, the pigs are tough and quite strong, but they need to be told what to do.” He mulled it over a little. “We need Warriors that can think on their feet, your
Dark Elves are just what we need…” he sat back down again. “Very well Ryuss, go and inform your Commanders that I require their presence here immediately.”
“Of course, my lord…” Ryuss replied, bowing to Ahmed and nodding to Adam before taking her leave.
They waited for her footsteps to recede down the corridor before Ahmed leaned back in his chair slightly, his face still hidden under it’s shroud. “You seem…uneasy Adam…”
“Just a little my lord…I have never trusted Elves…” Adam replied, shifting in his seat and smoothing his robes over. Ahmed sensed his nervousness and smiled.
“You do not trust Ryuss, even when I do?” He asked.
He seemed unsettled at this and unsure how to answer. Ahmed quickly saved him from doing so, giving him his assignment.
“I need logistical materials,” He said. “I need Maps and sketches of the various Areas of the Silver Coast. It is quite a vast stretch of land, and I want to pinpoint the right location for any sort of attack. Can you manage that?”
Adam nodded. “Of course, my lord…it is my specialty.”
“Good,” Lord Ahmed replied. “Take your time, soon Antigon will fall…”
Copyright Nick Holbrook 2007