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streak101
06-16-08, 02:12 PM
Takes place after the Conquest Trials and The Hustle and Crystalline Plantation missions. CLOSED to me, myself, and I.
"It is a shame when so much is out of your control. You couldn’t save your mother from your father and now you can’t even save yourself from that which Sine Nomine will bring upon the world. Maybe it would be in your best interest to end it all right here.” The man's words echoed in his mind to this day, Banda shook his head vigorously to push the memory away. It had been four months since the Conquest Trials; a tournament in which he had represented the House of Sora in. He had been fool hardy, over confident and in turn became a pushover for the opponent. His partner had not shown up and so he was forced to take on two very skilled opponents. One was a creature, some sort of shape shifter and the other was a mere boy with powerful allies who seemed to create them from thin air. Although he held his own in the fight he knew he had lost. His opponents were greater skilled than him. They had proven to the ones deciding the outcome that they were better. Banda was ashamed, he hasn't shown his face around the House of Sora since then.

Banda banged his head on the table and swore in whispers. The tavern he was sitting in had been a must-see everytime he traveled to Scara Brae. The barkeep recognized Banda already, and always had the table in reserve for him because of the money he spent in the tavern day after day as of late. The people inside were laughing and gossiping about many things, none interested Banda. He sat in the corner of the tavern in an attempt to be left alone.

His clothes were soaked in water from the rain outside, the claymore that was nestled in its sheath was rusting rather badly he was afraid to brandish it only to find that it was broken. His hair was dripping water and stuck to his face making him cold and clammy. The bandana he usually wore to keep it dry had been useless in the rain outside, Banda tied it to his forearm. His calm brown eyes which before showed ambition and happiness were now a symbol of sorrow and hopelessness. He noticed the necklace around his neck and recalled when he had found it.

The Grander's Order was a promising organization with great plans. Banda remembered the initiation mission for the GO like it was yesterday. Four new recruits were given the task of obtaining a caretaker for the GO's stables. They were given no assistance at all from the ranking officers of the organization, only where to find the target. Banda remembered defeating powerful soldiers in their final movement out and taking one of their horses for himself. It was in the saddlebag of the horse that he found this necklace. He had dealt with those men easily...back when he was still new to the whole mercenary life-style. Everything seemed so simple back then.

He reached into his pocket and took out the dragon figurine he had collected in Dheathain. He looked at it strangely, as though he couldn't comprehend something about it. "How did I even survive that adventure?" He asked himself. The trip through Luthmor was deadly enough with the creatures that inhabited the dense rain forest, not to mention they were racing against an insane magician, a demon, and a mind controlled Minotaur. He and the half-dragon breed Amaril Torrun were saved only by their mage friend Demetri and the newly freed Minotaur from the magician’s grasp. He had pulled the figurine from the cave wall just before entering Saffron’s Lair and finding the corpse of the mighty dragon himself.

Yes, I recall that moment, you shed quite a few tears over my body. The dragon’s spirit spoke now, nestled in Banda’s mind. He had a vague memory of how Saffron’s spirit entered his mind, but both him and the dragon had a few theories. The one that seemed to make the most sense was the Pool of Saffron. It was only a few days after coming in contact with the magical waters that Saffron entered Banda’s mind. It was a good theory; Saffron did enter his entire being into his beloved treasure to guard it even after death. The magical properties of the Pool of Saffron spilled over Banda, and caused the strange ethereal connection between man and dragon. Banda regards Saffron as a good friend, a strange familiarity between the two has formed over the months.

“But that’s all in the past.” Banda sighed. He was in a slump lately. “Maybe I need to do some soul-searching.” He felt like an old man.

“Excuse me…” Banda turned around. Speaking of which… He thought. An elderly man had been poking his back to grab his attention. He was in his early fifties already and it showed. Wrinkles lined his face and made him look a great deal older than he actually was. He wore typical clothing, and lifted himself up with a cane. He smiled and a pair of dimples showed. Banda raised an eyebrow at the old man. “Are you Banda Utako?”

streak101
06-19-08, 11:49 PM
Banda shook his head. “I don’t think so.” He said and returned to his drink. He wasn’t in the mood to talk to some ‘fan’.

“I’m sure you’re him! I’ve seen you a number of times!” The old man insisted, the smile on his face only growing bigger. He sat down next to Banda and ordered himself a glass of water. “How has life been?” He asked happily.

Banda looked at the old man. “It’s been okay…Wait, what kind of fan asks that? Don’t you want an autograph, some souvenir, or something?”

“No, I’m just an elderly citizen wanting to greet a good man! I heard about your loss in the tourney, such a sad way to lose a battle…My name’s Peunachi by the way.” The old man said with a wrinkly grin.

Banda sighed; he might as well have a conversation with the old man. “Yeah, I suppose you could say it was a disappointing loss. But hey! I held up against a few opponents outnumbered.”

Peunachi laughed. “Yes, it proves how terrific you are! The great mercenary, always on the job…are you on one right now?” The elder looked around the room suspiciously.

“Nope, I might just retire.” The words left a bad taste in his mouth. It was possible to retire; he could open up a shop down in the marketplace and sell his carvings. Banda pondered it, he could really do it, and give up the fighting life for some peace for once.

“Retire? But my boy, you’re so young!’ Peunachi moved closer to Banda. “Perhaps you’re just in a bit of a losing streak, maybe you need to train yourself, get in touch with your roots.”

Banda shrugged. “Maybe so but where would I start? I don’t suppose you know any places where I can practice?”

The old man was silent for a time; an internal struggle was apparent in his mind. “I know of no such place, but I do have an idea; I have a request for you Banda.” The mercenary listened to the elder.

“There shouldn’t be any major danger, but the trek is far, and there is always risk of the wild animals.” Peunachi cleared his throat. “I am an old man with no children or living relatives. Therefore my family name will end with me. My family has passed down a story along the generations of a sword. It is untouched, and unharmed by battle. My grandfather told me it was forged by one of our ancestors, his name is lost in our history but the name he gave the sword was given to the patriarch of each family in our bloodline. The sword is in Corone, there is a path through the mountains that leads to a small shrine, and it is there the sword lays. The map has been passed down my family as well, have it.” He pressed the wrapped up scroll into Banda's hand.

Peunachi looked into Banda’s eyes. “I would like you to have the weapon Utako. I have no descendants to give it to, and I know of no one who can make the journey except you. It is a journey to help you with your training, please, take the blade.”

Banda raised an eyebrow. “What if the sword isn’t there?” He asked curiously.

The old man smiled softly again. “You will still have the alone time you needed to recuperate.”

Banda leaned closer to Peunachi. “Why are you doing this?” He asked questioningly.

The elder smiled again. “Like I mentioned, I have no sons or daughters to give the sword to, the only man I know of who would even use the blade would be you. I wish for the blade’s legend to go on, even if my name is forgotten like my ancestor’s. I don’t have much for this world, soon I’ll be gone, and I’d like to know that at least I was finally able to fulfill the family’s goal.”

Banda sighed; he scratched his forehead in frustration. He could not deny this old man’s plea. It was a dying wish; Banda was reminded of the Salvarn, Torrence, whom gave his life to save the young man. “I will do it for you, old man.” He placed a hand on Peunachi’s shoulder.

The old man smiled brightly. “Thank you Banda for granting my wish, please take care of the blade if it is there.” He looked up at the bartender. “Oh look, your drink is here.” Banda looked away from the elder.

“No it’s-“ He looked back but Peunachi was nowhere to be found. The old man was gone.