The Inn-Keeper's Daughter

[Vampiric Angel]

((This is a solo.))

The midday sun's rays beat down relentlessly this day. Luckily for Anenfel and Larissa, they had the shade of the woods to comfort them. Anenfel wore a wide grin, his mind racing with thoughts of civilization. A civilization that he hadn't been in contact with for over twenty years. His eyes were fixed on Scara Brae, the high walls, the open gates, and most of all, the friendly people. Tiny spires of light shone through the leaves, adding more majesty to his already majestic appearance.

"Remind me again why we're doing this?" Whined Larissa as she sat lazily on Anenfel's shoulder.

Anenfel's grin slowly dissipated as he was brought back to the present. His heart began to quicken as his nervous breaths shallowed. They're friendly, he reminded himself. He closed his eyes, let out a deep breath, and began to walk to the always-open gate.

"Because we need the money," replied Anenfel, slight frustration in his tone.

"For what, ale?" Larissa shot back, "You've said yourself you despise the drink."

"Of course not." Anenfel said, "We need the money for food."

"Food..." Larissa said, "You're making me go into town for food?"

"Well, I'm not sure," Anenfel said sarcastically. "There is this thing called 'eating'. Maybe you've heard of it?"

"We were doing just fine out there," Larissa said, pointing her tiny fairy finger back at the woods.

"If you consider a handful of berries every other day 'fine', then yes, we were living like Kings." Anenfel replied, waving his hands in the air royally.

"And Queens," Larissa corrected, her tiny finger pointing outwards. "What about that brace of conies you found?"

"That was more than a tenday ago." Anenfel said as they entered through the gates.

The broad grin once again found it's way to Anenfel's face as he looked upon the joyous people of Scara Brae. The gate lead to an open plaza, the plaza itself full of people celebrating the marriage of a young lucky couple. They laughed and danced to the music. Anenfel loved the music. It was fast and warming, the beat itself nearly making the half-elf burst into celebration along with the good townsfolk.

"That doesn't mean you can't find more," Larissa said defiantly.

"We're already here," Anenfel replied quickly, "we might as well make the best of it and get what we came for."

Anenfel walked through the crowd, his eyes glancing at the faces he longed to see. It was strange, he thought, that he hadn't seen another living human being since he left his father, more than seven years ago.

"I say we make the best of it by turning back now." Larissa suggested.

"What is it that you have against them?" Anenfel questioned, looking around at the crowd. "What have they ever done to you?"

"It's not what they have done," Larissa explained. "It's what they haven't done. I fear for you, Anenfel. I have seen the depths of these creatures hatred and I will not let them harm you."

"Why would they harm me? They barely know me," Anenfel replied.

"Exactly," Larissa shot back. "It is because of that fact that I fear for you. You are Half-Elf. Neither Human nor Elf, nor accepted by either side. How kindly will they take it when they learn of you?"

"These people are different," Anenfel answered, "I can see it in their faces."

"Are they?" Larissa said, "I know enough of the world to know that there is no difference of mind when that mind can't see beyond its own prejudice."

"I will not live the rest of my life as a hermit!" Anenfel shouted.

"Yea!," shouted a drunk as he walked by, "You tell 'em! *hic*"

Anenfel looked at the poor man as he trudged by, holding his mug as if it were a religious relic.

"What crawled up you?" Larissa said under breath.

"I heard that." Anenfel scolded.

"Of course you did!," Larissa said angrily. "You're Anenfel the Great! You hear all!"

"No," Anenfel said, "I heard you because you're sitting next to my ear."

"Well it's all the same!" Larissa shot back. She folded her arms on her chest, angry with Anenfel, angry with his naive mind, and angry at the whole endeavor in general.

Anenfel continued to walk through the now empty streets; the roar of the celebration echoing after them. His pale green eyes still glanced from spot to spot with child-like wonderment. He was looking for an inn, a place to rest, and maybe find a job.

After a while, when the echoes faded and all that accompanied the two was silence, Larissa finally decided to speak up, "Do you have any clue where you're going?"

"I thought you weren't speaking to me?" Anenfel answered with a sly smile.

"Well, I'm not...I mean I wasn't," Larissa stammered. "Oh, shut up."

Anenfel let out a laugh, the pair never being able to stay angry with one another for long.

"So, where are we going?" Larissa asked again after having a nice giggle.

"I'm looking for a place where we can rest while I look for some work," Anenfel answered.

"If you wanted to rest we could've stayed outside." Larissa leaned over, placing her head right in front of Anenfel's ear and closed her eyes.

Anenfel only smiled, the fairy's ever-present defiance never ceasing to amaze. Sleep well, he thought. He came upon what he assumed to be an inn.

"The Lion's Den," Anenfel read under his breath. He walked to the door, turned the knob, and prepared himself for whatever he'd find inside.

[Vampiric Angel]

As Anenfel slowly entered the inn, he was assaulted with an assortment of aromas. The one that stood out the most above the others was the smell of roasted meats. Purely on instinct the half-elf began to lick his lips, mesmerized by the enthralling scent. Moments passed as he daydreamed about the different foods, and how exactly he was going to eat them. The pork he would have on a kabob, while the beef would be straight off the bone. The scents were so thick he could almost taste the food he was dreaming of.

Without realizing it, he had started to drool. A thin line of the liquid traveling down his chin. He was suddenly pulled from his fantasies as another patron walked up behind him, wanting to get to the bar.

"Oh, my apologies," Anenfel said while stepping aside and wiping the drool from his chin. He watched as the man sat at the bar, only to notice that the other patrons were staring at him. Anenfel could only let out a faint laugh and smile, the embarrassment flushing his cheeks. He slowly walked over to the bar, the awkward stares still on him, and sat at an empty stool.

"What can I get ya?" Asked the Inn-Keeper, his joyful tone bringing a small bit of comfort to the half-elf.

"Water, please," Anenfel replied awkwardly. Somehow he felt strange ordering water at a bar.

"Water?" The Inn-Keeper scoffed, as if being insulted, "I knew you elves were strange."

"I'm not an elf," Anenfel said slowly, slightly saddened by Larissa's words echoing in his mind.

"You're ears say different," The Inn-Keeper said.

"Well, yes I am," Anenfel stammered, "well, half anyway."

The Inn-Keeper put a glass in front of Anenfel and said, "What's your other half then?"

"Human," the half-elf replied while the Inn-Keeper poured water into his glass.

"We don't see many of your kind around here any more," The Inn-Keeper stated, "and I don’t blame 'em. With the Scourge an' all."

A confused look covered Anenfel's face. "The Scourge?"

"You've never heard of the Scourge?" The Inn-Keeper asked, stunned.

"I can't say that I have." Anenfel answered.

The Inn-Keeper's eyes looked around suspiciously back and forth, finally looking to Anenfel and leaning towards the half-elf's face. Anenfel followed suit.

"The Scourge are a band of no-good thugs and ruffians that love to do mischief." The Inn-Keeper looked around once more and with a hushed voice continued, "They have bases and spies all over Scara Brae. It's hard to do anything without them knowing about it."

"How does the local authorities put up with it?" Anenfel asked, using the same hushed tone.

"They don't," The Inn-Keeper replied. "The Queen has been trying to put those bastards out of business for near ten years. But I guess that would be difficult when they have ties to the government itself."

"They have friends in the government?" Anenfel said, shocked.

"It's just a rumor," The Inn-Keeper said assuringly. "But that doesn't mean it's not possible."

The Inn-Keeper lifted his face away from the half-elf, letting him digest the information.

"So," The Inn-Keeper said, his joyful tone returning, "What brings a man...elf, like you doing in Scara Brae?"

"A place to stay," Anenfel replied, happy that the topic changed, "and maybe some work."

"You new to Scara Brae?" The Inn-Keeper asked.

"To the city, not the land." Anenfel confirmed.

"Oh, you one of them rangers, eh?" The Inn-Keeper questioned.

Anenfel shook his head, a smile returning to his face.

"No, I just know my own home."

"Well, then," The Inn-Keeper replied, "If you're interested in some work, I might have a proposition for ya."

"Really?" Anenfel said as he took a gulp of his water. It was so refreshing, he realized, as he felt the soothing liquid slide into his stomach. A chill went down his spine.

"There's a new port town just north of Scara Brae," The Inn-Keeper explained. "I'm going to open up a new tavern, where I can get a fresh start."

Anenfel looked around the full room. Men filled the booths laughing and drinking, as they also did the stools, save a couple here and there.

"You seem to be doing well here," Anenfel commented, "why move?"

The Inn-Keeper took a deep breath as he wiped his hand over his face. Anenfel could see the weary man's turmoil. Something struggled within him.

"Too many memories. Most of them bad," The Inn-Keeper said. "Besides, there's nothing wrong with slowing down, especially at my age."

The Inn-Keeper smiled and laughed a bit at that, as did Anenfel. The half-elf felt sorry for the man. By the looks of it, Anenfel was only a couple years younger than the Inn-Keeper, yet he was only beginning his life.

"Anyways," The Inn-Keeper sighed, "back on topic. My daughter is wanting to go to the new tavern so she can oversee the supplies as they're being brought in. The only problem is, the road to the town is said to be patrolled by the Scourge." The Inn-Keeper nearly spat the name. "So, I can't let my daughter go alone."

"Have you tried getting the local guard?" Anenfel asked.

"Bah, those snobs don't think the job is worth the risk," The Inn-Keeper said while throwing his hand up in the air. "And I trust the merchants about as far as I can throw 'em."

"So what is it you want me to do?" Anenfel asked, a little skeptical.

"Get my daughter there safely," The Inn-Keeper said.

"You're willing to trust me with your daughter's life?" Anenfel said, surprised.

"Well you're an elf aren't ya?" The Inn-Keeper said quickly, "They're all noble and virtuous, and all that."

"I'm only half elf," Anenfel corrected.

"Then at least you have half of all that," The Inn-Keeper closed in and continued, "which is more than enough compared to these poor bastards." He looked around the room, indicating the patrons.

"I don’t know..." Anenfel said.

"I'm willing to pay ya." The Inn-Keeper quickly put in, "Fifty when you decide and another Hundred when she gets there."

"Well..." Anenfel said, trying to think.

"Sleep on it," The Inn-Keeper said as he retrieved a room key and held it before him. "It's the least you could do."

Anenfel felt trapped for some reason, unable to escape from the current predicament. So with a sigh and a rolling of his eyes, he took the keys and said, "I don't have to pay for the room do I?"

The Inn-Keeper smiled, "Nope, on the house."

Anenfel took one last drink of his water and headed for the stairs, having a night full of contemplation ahead of him. Which was not the way he wanted to spend it.

[Vampiric Angel]

Dawn approached, and it did so quicker than Anenfel would have liked. He sat on his linen bed, his head in his hands, tired and troubled. He had already made up his mind: he was going to accept the Inn-Keeper's offer. But that was not what troubled him. He was worried he would fail. He was worried that he wouldn't live up to his heritage. His step-father was a great man, and a great warrior. Anenfel couldn't say the same about himself.

Throughout his entire drawn-out life, he had never experienced the thrill of battle. He had never felt his heart pound in his chest, the adrenaline course through his veins. And that made him worry. Is money enough to risk some girl's life? Is it enough to risk his life? The questions plagued his mind, and to every one he had not an answer. He sat silent, the sun's rays beginning to pour through the cracks of the closed drapes. A realization dawned upon him. Was he good enough? He was going to find out.

The thought gave him some bit of assurance, some tiny comfort in an uncomfortable position. No worries, he thought to himself. The simple code he had tried to live by his entire life. A smile came upon his face as he stood up from his bed and opened the thick drapes, letting the bright sun into an otherwise dark world.

Larissa moaned from the sudden change in atmosphere as she tossed and turned on the soft cushion she called a bed. The fairy glanced at Anenfel with sleep-filled eyes, wondering why the half-elf was so busy this early in the morning.

"You seem cheery," Larissa commented, "did you finally find a women friend?"

"In a way," Anenfel replied with a slight chuckle. "Though not in the manner you think."

"Then enlighten me, Anenfel, in what manner do you have a woman?" Larissa asked sarcastically.

"I found a job," the half-elf said quickly. "And it will pay well."

"Already?" Larissa said, amazed. "We've been here for less than a day and you already found work?"

"Great, isn't it?" Anenfel exclaimed, the broad grin still covering his face.

"What is it?" Larissa asked, anticipation in her voice and a smile on her lips.

Anenfel stopped at the question. How was he going to explain it to her? He knew that she wouldn't take to it kindly. She would complain about how it's not their problem and that they should not worry about other people's affairs. But, that was the way Larissa thought about everything, and since this was no exception, Anenfel would just have to react the same way he always does.

Anenfel couldn't help but blurted out the answer, "We're escorting the Inn-Keeper's daughter to the new port town, north of Scara Brae."

The smile dropped from Larissa's face, replaced with a blank stare.
"Why are we doing that?"

"One hundred and fifty gold pieces," Anenfel replied quickly, "that's why."

Larissa's eyes widened at the number. They had never had that much gold before, although they had never really had any gold before.

"And he's going to give me fifty of it when I tell him my answer," Anenfel said, putting the icing on the already delicious cake.

"And this town," Larissa asked, "it's safe?"

"Well, the town yes," Anenfel replied. "The road? Not so much."

Larissa looked at him skeptically, "Not so much?"

Anenfel had started to get prepared when he answered, "The Inn-Keeper said that there might be a slight bandit problem."

"A slight bandit problem..." Larissa let the statement drift in the air.

"Nothing we can't handle," Anenfel added, placing his daggers in another random spot for the day.

"Why do I not believe you?" Larissa asked.

Anenfel sighed. He sat down, slipping on his father's boots and said, "In all the time that we have been friends, have I ever lied to you?"

"Yes, you have," the fairy responded quickly. Her voice was high, ready to start an argument. "On many occasions."

"This time's different," Anenfel assured her.

"That's what you said the last times," Larissa yelled. "What makes this one any different?"

"The fact that I'm going to do it whether you like it or not," Anenfel shot back.

Larissa sat silently. She knew there was nothing she could do to stop him. She sighed heavily and said, "Fine." She flew from her cushion and landed softly on the half-elf's shoulder. "You better be right this time, too."

Anenfel smiled. "When am I ever wrong?"

"You will be one of these days," Larissa said. "I'm just glad I'll be with you to see it."

Anenfel let out a small chuckle and gathered the rest of his things. Hopefully, that won't be for a while, he thought. He took a deep breath as he headed for the door, his gold, and a new adventure.

[Vampiric Angel]

Anenfel was caught in the repetitive rhythm of coins jingling in his pocket. Each step would bring the quick sound, so quick was it that it left him waiting for the next. Step by step the sound became a familiarity, leaving a small warm feeling deep inside. Maybe things will work out, the feeling said. Perhaps this life is worth living after all.

It was morning, the sun barely in the sky, the moon still visible from it's high perch as it slowly faded behind a sheet of blue. Anenfel loved the moon when it was like this. The cratered surface, the dull gray mixing with the blue hue of the morning sky. He didn't know what it was that made him love it, he just had this sense awe when he would look at it.

He often wondered what laid beyond. He often thought of if they were truly the only ones in that entire expanse of darkness. He hoped not, for that would mean that they were alone. So much space, yet one small dot in the entirety to fill it all. Anenfel let out a soft sigh, trying to redirect his thoughts back to the matter at hand.

He looked around the populated streets of Scara Brae. Although it was early in the morning, the people were hard at work. The shop owners were open and already bustling with business. The gardeners were hard at work trimming the bushes and flowers that were adjacent to the street. And the townsfolk, the other's that had jobs of their own, were either doing their task or on their way to.

"I don't see how they do it," Larissa commented.

"Do what?" Anenfel asked.

"This," Larissa said while pointing and waving her hands around at the good folk. "They're up even before the sun and work themselves to death."

"Well Larissa, considering that you've never worked a day in your life, nor have you even been up this early in years, I'd say you don't know what you're talking about."

"Oh and you do?" Larissa said, "You and I both know that you're just as hardworking as I am, yet you're going to criticize me about not knowing what I am talking about?"

"Yes, I am," Anenfel replied. "Besides, having you as a companion is work enough."

"Like you're not a handful?" Larissa said.

"Not as much as you are."

Larissa scoffed at the comment. "Where is that blasted girl?"

Anenfel smiled to himself at the abrupt topic change. "The Inn-Keeper said she'd be waiting by the gate."

The two walked through the small crowds, working their way to the gate. They came upon the courtyard; the same courtyard that held the married couples extravagant party. There were people still sweeping up the small papers and taking down the high poles that held the banners indicating that as the correct wedding.

"It must have been a great celebration," the half-elf said while walking past.

"A real doozy," Larissa said sarcastically.

They came upon the gate, people walking in and out of the city through its open doors. Anenfel scanned the area for the girl he was hired to protect. His eyes danced from face to face, searching for the correct one. The Inn-Keeper had described her to him, though the details seemed to be common in this sea of people. He turned around thinking maybe they had passed her already.

But he stood there for moments before a hand delicately tapped him on the shoulder. He spun around quickly, only to be met with a beautiful woman. And from the looks of it, a perfect match with the Inn-Keeper's description. Raven black hair, deep hazel eyes, soft pale skin, and a slender frame that would put even the elves to shame. A smile came upon the women's face as she held out her hand.

"You must be Anenfel," She asked.

Anenfel felt a tingle up his spine. It was surprising how easily his name rolled off her tongue, and also strangely alluring.

"Um, yes...I am," the half-elf spoke slowly. He noticed again her outstretched hand and hurried to shake it before she took offense. She returned the shake and left it at her side.

"My name is Illyria, nice to meet you."

Anenfel was at a loss for words. He couldn't think of what to say next.
"Likewise," was all Anenfel could think to say.

"Shall we?" Illyria said after a long pause.

"Oh, right." Anenfel began walking towards the gate, Illyria close behind. He silently criticized himself for being such an imbecile. He didn't know what was wrong with him. It seemed he was tongue-tied at the mere sight of her. Though he had to admit, her smile was inspiring.

They slowly made their way out of the gate and on the road towards their destination. The group was quiet; Anenfel did not speak for the fear of making himself look stupid. Larissa chose not to speak for the pure reason that she was enjoying Anenfel's loss for words with more than a passing giggle. And Illyria was too afraid that speaking would somehow make her new bodyguard distracted from his job.

Seconds faded into minutes, and minutes combined into hours. It had been almost three hours since they had left Scara Brae, probably the most annoying and maddening three hours in all their lives combined. Illyria, deciding to take a chance, broke the silence.

"So," she said slowly as she came upon Anenfel's left side, "my father told me that you're a half-elf."

Anenfel looked to her with a curious glance and responded, "Yes, I am."

"Were you raised by the elves, or...have you met any?"

"I was raised by one elf," Anenfel answered. "A wood elf to be exact. Though he is the only elf that I have met."

"Was he your father?" Illyria asked cautiously.

"He was my adopted father. My real father abandoned me at birth." Anenfel said stoically.

"That's horrible," Illyria gasped. "Why would he do such a thing?"

"In some elven societies, the mixing of elf blood with an outside source is though of as a travesty, and the children are abominations." Anenfel took a deep breath and continued, "And the humans think the same way. At least that's I've been told."

Illyria looked up to Anenfel with sympathetic eyes. "Have you never been to a city or town before?"

Anenfel looked back down to her, their eyes making contact for a split second. "Not until yesterday."

"Well, not all people think that way." Illyria responded.

Anenfel let out a slight smile. Moments passed and all was silent once again. The road made a curve that cut deeper into the forest. They followed the curve, trusting its path. The trees surrounded them, making the forest somehow seem darker. They continued walking down the dark path. And Anenfel couldn't help but feel like they were being watched.

[Vampiric Angel]

"Something is not right here..." Anenfel commented as his left hand rested on the hilt of his sword. The comment was directed more as an external thought than actual statement.

"What is it?" Larissa whispered softly into the half-elf's ear, the way she had always communicated with him when it was time to be more cautious.

Illyria, though, was not as accustomed to such times. "Is everything all right?" The words came with a gentle shush from Anenfel as he turned to look at her.

Anenfel was concentrating. He was tuning his ears for any sound, any disturbance that might be out of the ordinary. Much like he did when hunting. He stood silent and motionless for several minutes, his eyes locked in a dead stare in front of him. SNAP! Anenfel's head shot to his left, in the direction of sound. He stood silent again, waiting for another mistake.

Moments passed and the crushing silence was unbearable. Illyria barely breathed, scared stiff with anticipation.

"What's out there?" Larissa asked.

"We must get off the road." Anenfel replied seriously. This was his moment. This was his chance to test his mettle and see if he really was worth being even half elf. Anenfel grabbed Illyria's hand and looking her dead in the eye said, "Hold tight." With a nod Anenfel was off.

He made his way into the eastern side of the woods, dodging branches with every step. He had to find a safe spot. He had to find a place where no one would get to Illyria. After a few minutes of searching he found such a place. It was a sturdy tree with a wide base. There was a small opening that looked much like an entrance to a cave. The worn and weathered bark cracked around the gaping hole.

Guiding her hand down to the entrance, Anenfel looked to Illyria one more time. "Whatever you do, do not leave this spot." She nodded affirmatively and crawled inside.

Anenfel reached up and grabbed Larissa off his shoulder, bringing her gently in front of him on his open palm. "Watch after her."

"I can't just let you-" Larissa began.

"She needs you more than I do." There was a slight sense of desperation in his voice, his stern gaze locked upon the fairy.

"Okay," she said softly. "You be careful."

"I will." Anenfel said with a small smile as the fairy slowly floated down to the base of the trunk. As silently as he could, the half-elf unsheathed his sword.

He made out into the dark woods without making a sound. The woods were dark and dank, the air closing in about him. Anenfel could barely make out the trees fifteen feet in front him. He stood still as his eyes made the change to the infrared spectrum. The world was cast into a cool world of deep purple and blue. His eyes shone with an eerie incandesence, the pale green of his eyes lighting up like torches in the dark.

His footsteps were silent as he made his way through the cold woods. Dawntracker was ready at his side, his right hand gripping the hilt. He heard a scurry in the distance, followed by a guick glimpse of red-orange as it rushed by a tree.

The half-elf rushed after the heat source, barely making a sound as his feet connected with the ground. He ducked under tree limbs and hopped over logs in hot pursuit. The being was fast, so fast that Anenfel could only catch a split second look before it was camouflaged again by the trees.

The sound of the clumsy scurrying ceased. Anenfel looked from afar as he caught a look at the thing, or at least a part of it. Most of the entity was covered by a tree, except for one small portrusion at the bottom. A foot, Anenfel thought to himself.

The half-elf walked slowly as he silently came up on the would-be assailant. He held his breath, holding Dawntracker close to him. With a feline grace he jumped around the tree, thrusting Dawntracker out furiously...only to be met with an empty purple hole. His eyes glanced downward and the half-elf found his assailant.

A fox. It stood over its new kill, but before it could begin feasting, it was startled by Anenfel's sudden movements. It let out a low growl as it picked up the dead rabbit and ran off. A small smile came to the half-elf's face as his eyes returned to the normal spectrum.

He slowly put Dawntracker back into its scabbard, the sound of the steel grinding into place sent a shiver down his spine. He didn't know why, but everytime he had the same reaction. He had always assumed it was his keen hearing, but he wasn't sure.

Anenfel turned around slowly, wanting to make his way back to Illyria and Larissa. A surprised look came to his face before the hilt of a sword smashed into his face and the world was plunged into darkness.

[Vampiric Angel]

The shadow took him. Seconds became minutes, minutes became hours, and time became an illusion. Lost in the flood of confusion he swam to find a way out. Faint images plagued his brain. He had a purpose...but what? A name... There was a name... It stood on the egde of his tongue, beyond the fabric of reasoning. It was torture. He knew the name...he had to. It was important. She was his to protect. But against what?

He fought against the darkness. He must know the name. Danger...urgency...she was in trouble. She needed him. He fought harder as the shadow struggled to bring him down. It grasped at his hands. It over came him, trying to drown him.

He felt naked, stripped of his strength....cold. The shadow grew darker. He was losing himself, he could feel it. His eyes grew weary. He lost focus. His eyes forced shut.

Illyria.

The name...Illyria! His eyes shot open. Illyria! He clawed against the shadow, fought against its strange clutch. Illyria! She needed him. Illyria! She still needs him. Illyria! He won't fail her. Illyria! He must not fail her. Illyria! Not this time. Illyria!

A spire of light shone down on him. It casted back the shadow. It released him. He felt a pull, a nudge inching him futher towards the light.

Anenfel.

It began as a whisper. The name seeming as foreign as his dark prison. Anenfel. He grew closer to the light. Anenfel. He could feel it's warmth. Anenfel. A smile grew on his face. Anenfel. The name crescendoed, welcoming him. Anenfel....Anenfel....

"Anenfel!" Larissa shouted.

The half-elf eyes opened to his surroundings. A starry sky, over a canopy of leaves. The crescent moon shining brightly through the dark blanket. Illyria...she was...he left her. It came back to him. Someone was following them. He chased it down...a fox? No...it was... He jumped to his feet, desperation in his limbs. A pain rushed through him. He fell to his knees, holding himself on all fours.

"Anenfel!" Larissa shouted as she flew up to him. "Anenfel, they took her! They took Illyria! I tried to stop them, but there was too many. I barely escaped myself."

Rage filled his eyes. "Where did they take her?" He said through clenched teeth.

"Off into the woods," she replied, "I know the direction, but that's it."

"You will have to show me, I will do the rest." His voice was quivering with anger. Larissa had never seen him like this. He was a new person at this point.

"What do you intend to do?" She asked cautiously.

Anenfel looked up from the leaves on the ground and said, "I'm going to save her." A line of blood slowly trickled down from his nose. He wiped it off and looked at his blood-stained fingers. It covered them in it's crimson curtain. He didn't care...he was going to see more of it soon.

[Vampiric Angel]

The night was full and the darkness was deep. And amidst the shadow prowled the deadliest of creatures. With baleful green eyes that pierced the depths of the soul, the creature waited. It had a purpose, a cause. The cause itself was simple, yet what it meant to the creature was worth all the gods wealth and more.

The river was in sight. The nameless river that meandered through the Brokenthorn Forest was well-known for it's prone to become an ambush spot. The creature was more than happier to support that fact. It's target came in to sight, clumsily walking up to the river's shore. It was deathly quiet. The surrounding wildlife knew the creature's plan, and sat idle in anticipation.

Quicker than shadows the creature closed the distance, stalking closer to the distracted human. Reaching into his sleeves, the half-elf slowly retrieved his daggers, their steel shining bright. With deadly precision he placed his daggers; one at the throat, the other just above the tail bone.

The man gasped, the feel of cold steel to his naked flesh surprising him. "Are you going to kill me? Like this?" The man indicated the trousers that laid silently at his ankles.

Anenfel leaned his head next to the man's. "Where is she?" The half-elf growled, the animalistic tone in his voice taking on a life of it's own.

"What?" The man asked dumbfoundedly.

Anenfel pressed his dagger harder against the man's throat. "Where is she?" The man stood silent for several moments. "I will not ask again," Anenfel said as he pressed the dagger harder.

"You're not going to find her," the man replied.

"Tell me where she is, or you will die tonight." The half-elf stated as a thin line of blood began to run down the man's neck.

"Alright, alright." The man said quickly. "She's at a camp of ours, just downstream."

"Thank you," Anenfel said as he turned the man towards him.

"You will regret this," the man said. "The Scourge will have your head."

The half-elf's eye were cast ablaze as he stared at the man. In a flash Anenfel sunk both of his daggers deep into the man's chest. Before the man even realized what had happened, Anenfel leaned in close, stared the man straight in the eyes and said, "I doubt it."

Slowly the wayfarer retrieved his daggers, hoping to inflict as much pain as possible. The half-elf looked at the man's surprised face one last time before kicking him into the river and watching him float limply downstream. Anenfel looked at his blood-stained daggers in disgust. Ruing such fine blades, he thought. He retrieved a piece of cloth from his pack.

"It's over," Anenfel stated.

Larissa's head slowly popped up from under the half-elf's scarf. "Well, good riddance to that. You know how much I hate blood."

"Don't worry, there wasn't much." Anenfel said in an almost sad tone. "But, you might want to get into the pack."

"Why?" Larissa asked.

"Because I don't need you vomiting all over me when I take back Illyria."

"Oh, right." Larissa replied. She slowly floated from the half-elf's shoulder and squeezed herself under the flap of the pack.

Anenfel slowly placed his daggers back into his sleeves and threw the bloodied cloth into the river. What use did he have for it anyway?, the half-elf thought as he silently made his way downstream.

[Vampiric Angel]

The guardsmen stood silently as he peered out over the river. The pale moon reflected off of the stream with a mirror-like quality, lighting the surrounding area. A deep sigh left his lips and his mind wondered hand-in-hand with his boredom. The man was recruited into the Scara Scourge with promises of adventure, treasure and excitement. Yet, for the past month, the most exciting thing he had seen was a group of squirrels scurrying around foraging for nuts. Though, the silence did bring a comforting serenity with it; a quality the guardsmen liked to delve into from time to time.

He closed his eyes as he breathed in deeply through his nose, and a slight smirk began to form. Perhaps the job will end up being more profitable in the end, he thought. But the roaring sound of laughter drifted to his ears, and he remembered himself. He was a Scara Scourge. A cut-throat, a scalliwag, a no-good degenerate who's mind would more likely be on stealing someone's coin pouch than pretty rainbows and happy squirrels.

His eyelids slowly slid open, and his blue-green orbs wandered about his surroundings, searching. He was set on guard duty this night, and he must act accordingly. He must be aware that at any moment from any dark hole an enemy could strike. He is the only thing standing between his comrades and a certain, silent death. The man's leather-covered hand tightened around the spear standing upright at his side. His gaze hovered at different locations and after a second, the rested once again on the river.

Only this time they were not met with the beautiful reflection of the moon, but rather a dead man limply traveling downstream. Upon closer inspection, the guardsmen noticed it to be the body of Grimwald; the other Scourge set on guards duty. The man made to yell for his companions, but found he could not as a dagger protruded from his throat. With a gurgle he fell to his knees, wide eyes and mouth agape. Blood began to flow from his mouth and the point of the dagger's impact. The world began to tumble and fall, just as the guardsmen did after a moment instability. As the the last moments of his life quickly flew away, the guardsmen's eyes rested one last time on the pale moon hanging lazily in the starry sky.

"Nice shot," Larissa commented from under the flap of Anenfel's pack, her head poking out of a small opening.

Although Anenfel took the compliment with little response, the half-elf did not share his fairy friend's rejoice as he knew too well that the aim of his dagger was set on the man's chest, and not his throat. Creeping along the shore line of the river, Anenfel hastily made his way to the dead guardsmen holding his dagger. He crouched low before the man, blood staining his chin and cheeks. The half-elf looked at the man's face as he retrieved his dagger and noticed the distant grey orbs peering in his direction. For a quick moment he felt a pang of guilt, but was relieved as it faded away. Slowly the wayfarer slid his fingertips down the man's face and slid his eyelids shut. The man's gaze was making him uncomfortable.

The half-elf wiped his dagger on the grass, remembering why it was handy to have a spare piece of cloth to clean your blades. Voices could be heard from a short distance away. The guardsmen's comrades, no doubt. After placing his dagger in his sleeve once more, Anenfel steeled himself for the bloodletting that was about to begin.

[Vampiric Angel]

Clouds began to loom in the starry sky, masking the vibrance of the moon and casting all land that was not blessed by fire into shadow. Fortunately for Anenfel, he needed not the moonlight to navigate the now forbidding forest. He slowly made his way towards the oblivious guardsmen and their blissful conversation.

"I didn't mean to startle the horse", one man chuckled, "but it was rather satisfying to see Brom running away, screaming like a terrified newborn."

"Well if you hadn't told me the tale about the demon horse that lived in those woods, I never would have run, Waen." Brom replied with a light-hearted tone.

"At least it wasn't like the day Tym was caught sleeping with the Captain of the Watch's daughter!" A large roar of laughter came after the statement. The man continued, laughing with the others, "He ran out of that house with his trousers around his ankles, and his sword flopping all over the place!"

"Shut it, Helmond." Tym replied after a few chuckles. "If the Cappy had let me explain instead of chasing me with his axe, he would have found that it was all a pleasant misunderstanding." Tym leaned in close to the others, "Though, just between us, I still see his daughter two times a week."

The others laughed heartily, and Helmond slapped him on the shoulder. They all took a large gulp of ale from their pint-sized mugs. Suddenly, in the distance, they heard a twig snap and their heads perked up.

"What was 'at?" Brom whispered, his eyes glancing all over the place. Waen, never missing an oppurtunity to scare poor gullibe Brom, replied.

"It's probably the Black Beast of the Mountains." He said it with the most serious of faces, although in his mind, he couldn't help but laugh.

"T-The Black Beast of the Mountains?" Brom asked with a straight face, but his eyes gave away his fear.

Waen produced the eeriest voice he could muster, "Aye, the Black Beast is said to come down from the mountains every fortnight and feast on weary travelers." Brom gulped. "Standing at seven feet tall, the Black Beast towers over any man. It has claws sharper than steel, hide thicker than leather, and fangs that are so bloodstained that they're said to drip blood constantly down the ten inch length."

Brom was hanging on every word, sitting on the edge of his seat, his normally warm hands turned white with cold. All the while though, Helmond silenty made his way behind the young Scourge, preparing for the right moment.

Waen continued on, "Its pale green eyes penetrate your very soul, and will turn you into a bumbling bafoon if you look into them. Forever damned to feel the excruciating torment over and over again."

With the most beastial instinct he could find, Helmond roared behind Brom while roughly placing his hands on the man's shoulders. Brom literally jumped off of his stool screaming, to the delight of the other three. They were crying with laughter, while Brom just stood there with a fearful look on his face.

Walking away from the others, Brom stood stiff as his chin repeatedly clattered, as if he were trying to say something.

"What is it, Brom?" Tym asked, taking notice to the strange behavior.

"T-t-t-t-the Black Beast!," he stammered. He began pointing to the dark bushes where a pair of pale green eyes shone. They all shared a chuckle as Brom began to slowly make his way towards it.

Standing nearly on the edge of the bush, Brom shook with fear. He couldn't take his gaze off them. Slowly, to Brom's horror, a face emerged from the black. Before the man could cry out, a steel sword impaled him in the chest, the tip breaking throught the other side.

A gurgle and a tremble later, Brom lay limp on the sword. Releasing the man from its grip, the assailant blended with the shadow once more, letting the limp form that was once known as Brom, slide to the ground. Helmond and Tym ran to help him, but to no avail. Waen slowly backed away from the corpse, a look of pure terror on his face.

"My Gods," he whispered, "what have I done?" He continued to back away until he bumped into the bushes behind him. The sudden feeling scared him into swiftly turning. He yelled as he was confronted with pale green eyes that bore into him. A flash of steel silenced the cry, and Waen's head tumbled to the ground, next to his limp body.

Drawing weapons, Helmond and Tym stood back-to-back waiting for another assault. Helmond tightly gripped his battle axe as Tym held his rapier down at his side. Keeping a weary eye on their surroundings would keep them alive longer, they thought. But it wasn't until Tym saw a longsword hurling towards him end-over-end that he had doubts.

Without enough time to worn his comrade next to him, Tym quickly ducked under the attack and heard the terrifying sound of his friend gasping for air as toppled to the ground.

"The Black Beast", Anenfel mused while walking out of the shadows. "I like that." Grinning wickedly, he drew his daggers from his sleeves and waited for his opponent to make the first move.

[Letho]

GENERAL NOTES: Well, this is probably the first time somebody explicitly asked me to judge their thread. I hope I live up to the expectations. Also, I couldn’t help getting the feeling that this story is left unfinished. I don’t know did you intend to end with a cliffhanger or you just lost inspiration at the end of it, but it feels terribly incomplete. However, I’ll be giving it full exp, despite the fact that it’s not over 10 posts long. Anyways, onto the rubric.


CONTINUITY – 6

This wasn’t badly done. You presented the story fairly good early on, explaining why Anenfel is stepping out of the wilderness and into the city of Scara Brae. You even implemented the information of his half-elf heritage into the story, making him and Larissa worry about people’s reaction to it. I was a bit surprised by the abruptness of the innkeeper that offered him a job so swiftly. Elf or human, entrusting your flesh and blood to someone you met five minutes ago seems a bit unbelievable, especially considering the fact that the trouble on the road was probable. Another detail that stood out was the fact that Anenfel entered the inn drooling at the scent of food, and yet he failed to grab a bite before going to bed. Always try to fully explain the events that transpire (unless you want to deliberately hide reasons of some characters) and keep an eye out for details that you lose sight off when you proceed with the story.

SETTING – 5

There were some points in the story where this was done rather well, namely after Anenfel got knocked out and started his vengeful assault on the Scourge ruffians. However, beside that, the setting was rather bland. It’s not that you don’t mention specific things that are around your character, but your description of them is often somewhat unsatisfying. I’ll just mention one example. When Anenfel entered Scara Brae there was a wedding taking place and the streets were packed with people celebrating. Such proceedings are cheerful, loud and almost frantic and I would expect Anenfel to get lost in it, especially given the fact that he never was in a city before. So what you should strive to do at all times is to make the setting alive by describing both it and your character’s reaction to it, make it a part of the story instead of just a background on which the story takes place.

PACING – 3

I really can’t say that this story pinned me to the chair. The fact that Anenfel scored a job the second he stepped into the inn felt rushed and expected. And from the moment Anenfel took the job, I could predict that the daughter would be a staggering beauty that would dazzle the poor half-elf. There’s nothing essentially wrong with this, but when a story is predictable, it holds very few surprises and twists that make the reader keep reader with eagerness to find out what happens on the next page/post. Try to deviate from the clichés. For example, what if the daughter actually staged the kidnapping, working with the Scourge to extort ransom money from her old man? It’s just one example how to make a story not just a story, thugs not just archetype goons and daughter not a run-of-the-mill damsel in distress. Another reason for such a low score was the fact that the story was left unfinished, leaving me wondering what happened to both the protagonist and the lovely Illyria.

DIALOGUE – 6

There was a lot of it; solos usually enable the writer to write more elaborate exchanges between their characters and the NPCs. And while this can add to the realism of conversation (and it did in this story), there was nothing that really caught my eye, nothing noteworthy that would make me say that the dialogue in this quest was intriguing and unique. The quarrels between Anenfel and Larissa were rather interesting though, and they certainly depicted their different mindsets, but don’t fall into a trap of overdoing it. It happened to me with Myrhia. NPCs are a good was to further the story, but if you use too much of it, the story takes a backseat for the exchanges between two characters.

ACTION – 6

Generally, it would seem that there are no real problems here. Anenfel is a good guy, looking for work and doing the honorable thing, helping the innkeeper. He gets a bit overzealous (understandable given his “greenness”), gets in trouble, loses the daughter and tries to get her back. However, once you scratch beneath the surface, you can see some things that don’t fit. One of them is the fact that, even though he has a tactician’s mind and knows the wilderness, Anenfel still takes the daughter down the main road that is probably overlooked by the Scourge. I would’ve expected him to take her through the woods, down the road less traveled or something. And I would’ve expected him not to allow the corpse to flow downstream, serving as a public announcement for all the rest that he killed one of their own. Anenfel has a tactician’s mind. Make him use it a bit more, like he did when he attacked from the shadows.

PERSONA – 5

I can’t say that I didn’t get a glimpse of what Anenfel and Larissa are like, but given the things that occurred, I would’ve expected more then just a glimpse into their character. Anenfel steps into the city for the first time, loses the person he was supposed to bodyguard, kills a bunch of people... It should have some serious consequences on his emotional state. You depicted his gullibility rather well though, just as well as you presented Larissa as somewhat of an angel on his shoulder that looked over him. What you should work on is try to describe other facets of their personality, deepening the emotions that you merely mention (the regret over the kill, for example, or the awe at Illyria’s beauty).

MECHANICS – 5

As far as typos go, you started of rather clean in the first couple of posts, but then you started to make more and more mistakes the further you went. I can only assume the reason for this, but I know that concentration is sometimes proportional with the inspiration, so when you don’t feel like writing, you’re bound to make more mistakes. Try to proofread your writing, even if you don’t feel like it. In fact, especially if you don’t feel like it. Also, at times you make your sentences a bit short and choppy that sometimes gives out an impression that you’re not really going all out to describe something. Sometimes it’s simply redundant. An example:
The night was full and the darkness was deep. And amidst the shadow prowled the deadliest of creatures.There is really no need to break this into two sentences. Instead of creating suspense and tension that the shorter sentences can sometimes do, you unnecessarily break one good sentence into two rather poor ones. So in short, keep an eye out for mistakes and don’t be afraid of longer sentences.

TECHNIQUE – 4

I think this is something you should focus on improving in the future the most. While there is nothing essentially wrong with your writing, I scarcely saw instances where you made it be more then just words. I always say that it’s the technique that gives life to your writing, all the literary devices that can make you or break you. My best advice to you is to experiment with it, try throwing in a metaphor her, a hyperbole there, a bit of foreshadowing to give some vague indication of what was to follow. There is really no exact way to improve here that I know of other then trying different things on your own and trying to make it work for you.

CLARITY – 6

No real problems here. Your writing is rather easy to follow and presents the story with little difficulties. The mistakes I mentioned in the Mechanics rubric sometimes break the flow, especially the fragmented sentences. Another thing that I’d like to mention is that sometimes you try to tell two completely different things in one paragraph. I always believed that the best way to make a paragraph is to make the first sentence be what the rest of the paragraph is all about. Of course, there are times where this shouldn’t be done, but generally this simple rule gets the job done.

WILD CARD – 6

Not a bad piece of work, but the fact that a lot of was left unanswered at the end of it hurt it the most I think. Keep on the good work.


FINAL SCORE – 50

Congratulations!!!


SPOILS:

Vampiric Angel gets 450 EXP and 150 GP (assuming that he saved the daughter in the end and got her to safety).

[Cyrus the virus]

EXP added!