Trust and Betrayal ((Solo))

[The Ripper]

Unlike most of Concodia Forest’s inhabitants, Juarik wasn’t in search of unexplored ruins or riches. Juarik found himself more occupied searching for leafs, roots, and other things to smoke or sell. He wasn’t much of a lover or fighter, but for what he lacked in fighting skills he made up for in his quick wit and outstanding conning skills. Some even said he could sale fire to the sun. Juarik was a mysterious man who never stayed in one place for very long. He had often made trips through the western areas of Concordia, but this one time he found himself on the eastern side. His journey was pretty easy this far, no trouble from bandits or any other primal creatures that dwell in the unexplored areas of the forests. This particular day he found himself scrambling through a field of trees looking for some “Brittleleaf” an exceptional plant that is found at the base of some oak trees within the forest of Concordia.

Brittleleaf, unlike most tobacco leaf, has a light blue tint and a sweet smell. It grows from the roots of tall oak trees in dense areas of forest. It can be smoked, but besides that Juarik has found little to no other used for it. Juarik was pretty popular among the bars in Corone for selling this very potent leaf. He still did not make near enough money from this one leaf to start his own business, but until he ran into a fortune of some sort he was stuck laboring in the forest of Concordia finding samples to take back to Underwood and sale.

The forest was dark with small pockets of fog through out the roads that lead to Underwood. Juarik didn’t find any need to stop his mission though, he could still see and had never himself encountered any sort of beast in Concordia. He wasn’t much scared of anything these forests had infesting in them, he too was quite the primitive beast. Juarik had no doubt in his mind that one day he was destined for fame and power, but he knew he was not going to be a hero. He had no need for trusty friends and often found himself thinking of death and killing. He wasn’t a nice guy, and wasn’t one somebody should show their back to. He was a thief and a natural born killer, he did what he needed to stay alive and wasn’t one to follow any laws.

His search for Brittleleaf did not seem to be going to well but finally after several hours of searching he came across a scent that reminded him of the sweet leaf. He followed the scent for some time, until finally he came along to the tallest oak in the area. Juarik could smell the bittersweet leaf and nothing else at this point so he scanned around the base of the tree with his long muscular fingers. Along the base he found his Brittleleaf and let out a large gasp of relief. The tree was old and looked rotted, but it was still alive still had several forms of fungus feeding off its roots and base, the most notable was a dark black fungus living directly off of the Brittleleaf.

“It’s about damn time!” Juarik shouted aloud to the tall oaks that surrounded him, he slowly got to his knees and began to pluck the stems of the Brittleleaf, trying to not damage to much of the actual leaf.

By the time he was finished gathering the Brittleleaf he had collected a total of eight pounds of the light blue plant and about a pound of some dark black fungus. He wasn’t sure what the fungus was but he figured it might be good enough to smoke or sell later down the road if times got rough and he needed some ale. He neatly tucked the specimens he gathered into his large bag, that contained all of his merchandise either for smoking or sale. His bag was a bit more heavy now as he swung it around the arch of his back and looked for his way back to the road that leads directly to Underwood.

[The Ripper]

Just his luck, Juarik had a lost and found moment within himself. He had found some very valuable pipe leaf but while searching for it he had been clumsy enough to lose his way. The woods in the eastern half of Concordia were far to damp and dark to retrace his steps all the way back to the road. Juarik didn’t find much comfort in the fact that he was lost on this side of the woods, a side he had only entered once but he still was not scared of what might be lurking ahead. He started to walk in the direction which he believed to be west. He knew he wasn’t very far from Underwood but still his journey through the marshy bogs would take quite some time and caution. East Concordia was known for it’s mystery and it’s unnatural swamps.

Reaching into his pockets he started to make his way, letting hanging branches brush his dark black and red hair. The canopy of the trees seemed to reach into the heavens, as he skimmed across top of the trees with his squinted eyes. He was so small in comparison to this world, what could he ever accomplish... Juarik thought to himself as he made his way, the trees canopy beginning to starve for the light that once gave life to their branches and roots. It was night now, Juarik had not made it his business to travel alone in the forests at night. Tales of criminals and bandits making refuge in the tall trees of the forest was all so a reality to him, often times meeting some of these bandits. Juarik kept a steady pace through the thick trees and damp atmosphere of the forest. Until finally after what seemed like an hour of walking he rested against a large mound of rocks and mud, and swung his large bag off of his shoulder arch and into his lap.

“Damn sometimes you just got to smoke don’t you Beast..?!” Juarik withdraw a small wooden pipe from his bag along with a small bag of mashed up orange leaf. That leaf was called Hiselblin, the smoke screen. It wasn’t the best tasting leaf but it did produce very powdery white smoke, which could be manipulated by it’s smoker to create neat smoke shapes. The most common smoke shape was the “O” but Juarik didn’t do that trick often, it was for amateurs. He was more of a “Rain Cloud” guy himself. Juarik loaded his pipe The Beast From the East, which he made from some very sturdy oak wood long ago when he was a teen. The orange leaf filled most of the pipes bowl save some space at the top and made a small crunching noise when Juarik mashed it in his fingers. With The Beast loaded Juarik withdraw also his silver lighter and began to smoke to orange leaf.

Crackle... Crunch... Crackle... The leaf made an odd noise when smoked, it sounded like footsteps of a clumsy thief in a mound of gravel. Juarik inhaled breathing the sweet and sour taste of the Hiselblin. Smoke filled his lungs and he held it for as long as possible, his head beginning to fell a bit lighter than it was before he began smoking.

One...Two...Three...Four...Juarik counted in his head how long he could hold the smoke before exhaling...Twenty four... Juarik exhaled finally, smoked climbed from his lips slowly creating a large rain cloud that appeared to be raining. He was quite the smoke manipulator and often found himself in bars doing these tricks for coins and petty cash. The rain cloud never went away but more blended in with the thick fog that surrounded that area of the forest.

As Juarik finished that bowl he knocked his pipe against the rock he sat on, he then put it back into the bag along with the sack of dry orange leaf. He slowly found his way back to his feet while swinging his heavy bag onto his shoulders. He continued his journey looking for an exit to this damn forest. The leaf was effecting him the usual way it did, advancing some of his senses like sight(He could now see things moving slightly slower than they usually would). He walked only a about sixty steps before he noticed a small hut built into a large oak tree in front of him. Cautiously he continued towards the small wooden hut, it was maybe large enough for one person to live in. The roof was built very poorly with several large holes forced into it either by falling branches and just lack of workmanship. He had witnessed a hut like this before on an adventure through Concordia, it was the house of a bandit. As he approached the small cloth entry way he had the feeling that the hut wasn’t abandoned and someone may still be living here.

“Anyone in there...” Juarik knew it was a mistake to lose his stealth but he didn’t think about that before he shouted. Nothing was heard not even the sound of breathing, Juarik waited a few moments and then made himself at home. He peeled back the loose fabrics of the cloth to reveal a dark room.

[The Ripper]

The room was square shaped with only a table, a chair, and a bench. There was a small firepit where small ambers still crackled and sparked with the wind. Juarik still saw no one but at this point he gripped his steel daggers tightly, his eyes paced from wall to wall anticipating an unknown danger. He realized quickly he was alone in this hut he might as well wait it out here and avoid spending hours lost in East Concordia.

Juarik pulled an unlabeled pack of cigarettes from his bag and after playing with the plastic for some time he finally opened the pack. The sweet taste of the filter touched his lips and the beautiful smell of tobacco kissed his nose. He was lit this cigarette in a very unique manner, something he called Fire Fingers. Since he was about 15 Juarik had developed not only his talent of manipulating smoke particles coming from his mouth but also attained quite the other odd gift. He could produce fire from the tips of his fingers, only momentarily and the flame was not much bigger than the common candle wick.

Juarik never really saw this as a useful gift, but damn it helped when he couldn't find a lighter. He wasn't one to let his talents go to waste, even though he had few special traits.

The flame embraced the cigarette, Juarik sunk his lips onto the butt of the filter, and then the smoke pushed it's way deeper into Juarik's lungs and he just couldn't get enough. It wasn't the taste he loved or the fact that all the bad guys smoked and most woman loved it. It was just his habit, and some habits were indeed very hard to quit. This and drinking were about as bad of habits Juarik had. He just couldn't get enough though as he sat alone in the dark room, smoking and waiting for who ever lived here to come home. At that point he would decide if he would kill them or try to trick them.

[The Ripper]

For some time Juarik sat alone in the dark hut, his eyes never leaving the doorway. He would surprise who ever walked into the house, his eyes glued to the door he reached through his bag looking for a fresh pack of regular full flavor smokes. As he finally found some, and began to light one the hung from his dry lips he heard a noise just outside the hut.

His right hand slowly crept down to his dagger, Smoke, and gripped the steel handle. His lips wrapped tighter around the filter as he waited for the cloth material to part making way for whoever he was about to blind side. He didn't mind cutting one person up and bleeding them dry, until the life leaves their body. He embraced pain and didn't quite mind watching one suffer, especially at his own hands. He was a dark menacing man with a foul heart and a cocky personality to boot.

The cloth gave way and in entered a short bald man dressed in green torn pants and a green vest. The man was no one Juarik recognized, but already he knew this man didn't pose much of a threat to him. He released his tense grip off of his blade and began to stand up.

"Who the hell are you...?" The man jumped at the sight of Juarik, who wouldn't though coming home to a smoke filled pit of a house with a stranger waiting for you. "If you're here to collect your bounty let me at least tell you I am an innocent man."

Juarik was pretty puzzled but soon he realized that this man, although rather odd looking, was in fact a bandit. He had never seen a wanted poster with such a weak looking fellow on it though, this guy seriously looked nothing like the typical bandit. From what Juarik saw, it didn't even seem like the man was armed excluding his oak walking stick. Juarik knew he needed the man to get him back on his way to Underwood, so he tried to be civil and speak with the man.

"I am Juarik Vinia, sorry for the strange introduction though didn't mean to startle you pal." Juarik sounded sincere with his apology, he looked the man directly in his un shifting eyes. "I am a traveler and a tobacconist, I was traveling through this area of the forest which I am not familiar with and I got lost. I walked a bit further and to my luck I found your house, oh and sorry about the smoke I lit a few up." He lied, over his duration of waiting for the man he not only lit seven cigarettes but also smoked 5 bowls from his pipe. "I just need some help getting to Underwood, if you could point me in the right direction..."

The man shifted suddenly reaching out towards Juarik, his hand glowing red only slightly at first but shortly after the red beams grew. Nothing seemed to be happening except this strange mans hand glowing, illuminating the room casting shadows on Juarik’s sun tanned figure. A few moments later it was over, no big blast of energy, no harm done just a blinding light.

"What the hell you doing?" Juarik questioned, there was still no answer from the mysterious man whose hand was once again pale and wrinkly. "Mister you had better have good reason for nearly giving me a heart attack right now."

The man was now smiling that he got such a rise out of Juarik, even with the simplest form of magic. "I am Griffith Fiale, or Griff for short... You just need directions, right? No food or money? You're not here to collect for the price on my head?" A smile shot from ear to ear on the man as he turned and walked towards a bookshelf that somehow Juarik did not see before this point. "Unfamiliar with Concordia you say? Need help? Mister you came to the right place I guess, but it'll cost you." His right arm reached towards a large leather bound book, it looked fairly new and heavy. The man struggled as he lifted the large book from the shelf with his pale boney hands.

"Well yeah, I guess that is the least I can do is pay you since I did kind of... Break in to your house... Name your price." Juarik watched the man closely wondering what exactly he was doing with the book.

"I only ask for you to listen to my story, and of course some of that pleasant smelling pipe leaf you have hidden in that bag..."

How did this old bastard know what he had in his bag? Juarik asked himself as he still kept a watchful eye on the brittle figure.

"I don't really have time for this sir, I just wanted some directions and to be on my way." Juarik began to get annoyed with the bald mans strange actions. He had never met someone who he could break into their house and scare them half to death. Then be asked to listen to them read their stories from a large ugly book. This guy had to of been drunk, or at least he had a couple of mugs of ale in Underwood. This meant two things, this man knew where Underwood was and there was nothing Juarik could do he had to sit down and listen to this mans dull stories.