The Birth of a Ranger (solo)

[Eathanos]

Eathanos sat in his quarters he had been kindly given by the monks who resided within the citadel of Radasanth on the isle of Corone. He was stretching out the kinks of his muscles which had become sore after training within the citadel against a rather unusual opponent. In the room with him was the first person he had come to know on the isle. The monk who had first introduced him to what the true purpose of the citadel was and had offered him the shelter of the monastery.

“Have you heard any news today my brother?” asked Eathanos referring to the purple haired wood elf that his thoughts remained upon in every waking hour.

“Not today,” was the short and simple reply coming from the monk.

Eathanos’s eyes furrowed in his momentary lack of movement. There was nothing for him to do but face endless opponents day after day waiting here.

The monk saw the unsettled emotions whirling within his companion, “Perhaps there is another way to track down the news you seek.”

Eathanos eyes popped up and looked the monk in the face as he stopped his stretching rituals, “How is that my friend? We have naught to do on this isle except to await news of him.”

The monk’s face grew solemn as he knew what he was about to talk about was forbidden for him to discuss with anyone because of the implications it might have for the monastery and the citadel itself.

“As you are well aware of Corone is at war with itself at the moment. The Viceroy’s have taken control of the nation and will do anything to retain their power removing the voice of the people,” spoke the monk not knowing what the elf would have to say about his views of the war.

Eathanos thought over what he was told. Anyone who was not blind could see that the countryside was preparing for the siege of war. There was an uneasiness in the air that seemed to strangle the words of the world.

“What would either side have me do? I am an outsider not of their race or of their nation. At best I would be a mercenary to anyone here. A pawn to be thrown into battle not cared if I lived or died. Besides that, how would this bring me closer to news of him?” Eathanos rationalized.

The monk could see Eathanos’s side of the story but was not done trying to convince him to take his place amongst this war, “The rangers could use a champion as dedicated as you. They may not know it themselves but you would be an asset to them. Besides you never know if you may run across your elf in the ranks of the Empire’s army. In which case you would have full reign to shoot him down like a dog, instead of being sought as a murderer.”

Eathanos considered the proposition set forth. He knew that he should care about what was going on here. The rights of the people had been taken away here and that was wrong. But the monk did speak the truth in that the one he was after might be among the army of the empire. After all it was an army that destroyed his village and the purple haired elf was among that army. Who knows maybe he had sought a new and more destructive army to join amongst the empire.

“Even if I do as you say monk how do I meet these rangers and how would they know I come to help them and not as a spy?” Eathanos asked wanting to know the monk would have to say about that.

Them monk stood slowly and removed a ring from his finger, “This is an enchanted ring. It was given to me by an elf of the name of Tenniel Lisosian. He is amongst the higher ranks of the Rangers and would know that I sent you to him. You must seek him out in the fortified city of Gisela.”

The monk offered the ring over the Eathanos, “Take care of it. When you see Tenniel tell him I am well and cannot wait to see him in peace times again.”

Eathanos took the proffered ring and grabbed his weapons and thought to himself, Time to hit the road again I guess

Eathanos walked to the door and turned to look at his friend one last time, “Thank you for your kindness brother. I will see you again soon.”

With that Eathanos took his leave of the dorm and headed out in search of an elf named Tenniel in the city of Gisela.

(OOC: This is a prequel thread that its end will also meet the end of the Pirates of The Am’aleh Seas thread. This is to create an ongoing theme between my own charicter and that of Lady Scarlet and the overall theme and outcome has been pre-aproved by Amen.)

[Eathanos]

Eathanos was never one for taking the roads or popular routes so traveled by humans. As an Elf he stood out far to easily and could be followed on the roads of the Empire. Eathanos traveled in the most direct rout heading southwest of Radasanth and fording the river.

The first few days of the journey led him across a vast grassland. Apart from the ridgeline that was his goal to the southwest there was naught to see except the occasional game animal. Eathanos spent these nights camped on beds of grass with no fire due to the lack of trees eating what roots and wild vegetables he could find along the journey.

Two days after leaving Radasanth, Eathanos reached the peak of the ridgeline that he had been seeing since he left the big city. From here he could see the great forest of Corone in which the city of Underwood lay. His destination did not lay in that direction. He would cut across the skinniest part of the forest heading towards the port city of Gisela.

As he descended the ridgeline he knew he was in Ranger territory now and much less likely to be able to talk his way out of trouble with any authorities who caught him traveling as he was. After all only spies or thieves and people who wished not to be seen traveled the way he was.

He spent his first night in Ranger territory at the edge of the forest as it let out onto a flood plane. Eathanos could see the city against the skyline. A faint glimmer and bump on the horizon. Eathanos had made himself a fire and caught a small rabbit for dinner that night. The meat felt good after a few days with nothing but roots and what not to eat. Though he had no seasonings Eathanos was a hunter by nature and knew how to make a meal out of anything he could catch.

As night fell on the encampment he had made Eathanos let the fire burn down to coals and laid down for the night. But something felt wrong. There was a crack of a twig. Eathanos didn’t move at first knowing that any movement he made would betray that he had heard it.

Then came a voice, barely a whisper, “You idiot watch where your stepping.”

“Sorry brother I couldn’t see it in the darkness,” came the reply in a slightly more baritone voice.

Eathanos ran over in his mind where he had left his weapons. His bow was still strung, thank the gods for that, and sat within arms reach of him but his quiver which held his arrows and his sword were across the campfire from him.

Damn it I can’t afford to be making mistakes like this, Eathanos thought to himself.

Moving as fast as he could grabbed his bow and drew it throwing his power into the bow. A magical arrow appeared on the string. He faced the direction the snapping twig noise had been made.

One of the men was smart enough to run away but the other held his ground not knowing what to do. The poor fool had already drawn his sword obviously meaning deadly intent.

Eathanos loosed the arrow and willed it to split. As the arrow took flight it split into three arrows all aimed directly for the man who had stood still. Two of arrows pierced the mans heart as the third flew over his shoulder.

As the man fell to his knees registering that he was already dead the arrows dissipated leaving an open and gaping wound.

“You were supposed to be asleep,” was all the man said before his eyes glazed over as he passed into the void.

Eathanos grabbed his quiver and sling it to his hip. He drew a single arrow and knocked it. There was no need for the caution as the second man, apparently the brother of the dead man, was long gone into the night.

Eathanos walked over to the dead man. No life remained in his eyes. Eathanos searched over his body looking for anything useful. He found two iron throwing daggers, the short sword which smelled faintly of poison and a very fine leather belt.

Eathanos tied the belt on tucking the items he had scavenged into the belt and set about making a pyre.

After the wooden stack was built he grabbed the nameless man and laid him upon the pyre. Eathanos took a few of the coals and laid them into the wood and blew the flames to life. Eathanos kneeled and observed the funeral as it was saying a small prayer for the mans soul that he would find peace in the next life.

Eathanos sat a silent vigil until dawn broke and he took off in the direction of Gisela and the Rangers.