BlueSunUmbra
11-20-13, 11:23 PM
Solo quest
Note: For the previous story see http://www.althanas.com/world/showthread.php?26076-A-strange-new-world-(solo-closed)
Deep within the Brokenthorn forest, stood a wooden shack overrun by ivy vines around the outside of its four walls. The door would have suffered the same fate if not in constant use and the windows showed evidence of upkeep. The shack was hard to spot as it was covered in great shadows by the trees that seem to almost bow over it. This of course was not a problem for the hooded traveler that made his way to the shack. He looked over his shoulder before he entered through the creaking door as if to spot for someone, and then closed the door behind him. He looked at an older man sitting on the rope bed and pulled his hood back.
“Sorry I’m late. My horse dropped dead from exhaustion before I even got into the forest.”
A tall man leaning against the wall between the shelves and the rope bed responded with a grunt. He did not make eye contact with the hooded man nor did he move. He stood still as statue would; keeping his arms crossed and staring at the ground. Then with a disdain tone in his voice he followed his grunt with a criticizing reply.
“You’re always making up excuses to why you’re late. You annoy me. I don’t even know why you were even recruited into our little family, yo—“
“Because, though he lacks consideration, he is a great spy and gathers Intel quiet efficiently and discretely.” Interrupted; the older man.
The tall man remained silent and did not argue the fact. The older man, not having removed his sight on the hood man, folded his hands over his lap as if to draw attention to his rings; each with large brilliant stones.
“Now tell me, what good news do you have for me?”
“A few of the northern smaller farms have all paid their shares on time and are pulling in a good amount of profit. They seem to know their place in our world” Said the hooded man gleefully.
The older man smiled and grabbed his long silver staff leaning against the wall and used it to lift himself off the bed with ease.
“Good. I know some of the other cells have control of some of the larger farms, but it’s the smaller farms that tend to be troublesome. Now let’s continue on to the next order of business.”
Before he could continue the hooded man cleared his throat to get his attention.
“There is something else you must know” Nervously said the hooded man.
The elder man raised a brow and stood stiff as he knew he would not like what was to be delivered to his ears.
The hooded man swallowed a mouth full of fear and continued.
“The new recruit, Brok, was recently killed at the Nora farm along with his brothers and his entire gang.”
“WHAT!?” yelled out the tall man.
He dropped his arms as the large muscles within them tensed up, pushing the high pulsing veins out for all to see. He stood up straight and stared at the hooded man with murderous eyes.
The elder raised one hand to the tall man without turning his attention away from the hooded man. Looking at the elder man’s hand he stopped himself from displaying the rest of his rage. The elder man grabbed his staff with both hands and narrowed his steel blue eyes at the hooded man.
“Explain” he exclaimed.
The hooded man quickly recovered his head with his hood as if to shield himself from the wrath he was being subjected to.
“Well events at the farm began to spiral out of the gangs control when a young girl and her younger brother killed Brok’s brother, Brik. After that the gang held everyone at the farm hostage while Brok’s other brother, Brak went after the little boy, Doran. Apparently Brak was killed by a dragon” Rapidly said the hooded man.
“A dragon you say?” said the elder curiously.
Fumbling with his tunic, the hooded man continued his story.
“Yes, the same dragon that showed up at the farm, guided by the little boy. Doran and the dragon killed off the gang and then Brok when he showed up later on. And this was no ordinary dragon, it could speak as well as you and I and it was cunning too. I was surprised it did not detect me hiding and moving about within the farm land.”
“I see” said the elder man as he rubbed his chin and pondered on the events. He then wanted to satisfy his thoughts with answers by questioning some of the elements of the hooded man’s story.
“Tell me more about this dragon. Where did it come from and how did this boy acquire it?”
“I don’t know where the dragon came from, I never seen a dragon around Scara Brae before or at least one that looks like it does. The boy seemed to have befriended this dragon while eluding Brak” Said the hooded man.
The elder man released his hold on his staff, yet it did not fall over. It stood standing still, defying gravity as if held by magic. He reached within his dark blue robe and pulled out a parchment and a quill pen. Both objects floated from his hands and stood afloat in midair as he closed his eyes. The pen began to move across the parchment writing down the thoughts going through his head with ink that seemed to flow out from the empty quill. He then opened his eyes, continuing his questions as the pen continued to write.
“What of this boy? Where did he and his sister come from? From what I remember, Nora had only a few children and they were already adults and moved on from farm life.”
As he waits for a response from the hooded man, he nods to the tall one. The tall muscular man knows what the elder one wants. He takes out a copper stamp and sealing wax from his satchel, and then lights the sealing wax with a lit candle that was placed on a small square table which was pushed up against the opposite wall. The quill stops its writing motion and flies back into the robe. The parchment rolls up on its own then flies in from of him. He drips the wax on the parchment and presses the stamp on the wax, sealing the parchment close. He puts out the fire on the sealing wax as the parchment flies back onto the elder man’s hand.
Curiously the hooded man stares at the parchment, and then replies to the question given to him.
“Both the boy and girl are orphans and from what I gathered, Nora has been hiding them from the city guards. They’re both wanted criminals. From stealing food to stealing gold, they’re names slowly began to be well known throughout most of the city of Scara Brae.”
The elder smiles as he grabs his staff with one hand and hands the parchment over to the hooded with the other.
“It is unfortunate to what has happened to Brok and his siblings but we will spin your information to our advantage. You will take this parchment to Mondo and then return here for further instructions. Tark and I will head to the farm and introduce ourselves to this, dragon,” calmly says the elder.
He looks over at Tark and motions him to the door. Then turns his attention back to the hooded man.
“It is time for us to part ways Trojan. See that you deliver that message without fail.”
“Of course! I am, after all, amazing at what I do,” said Trojan proudly as he places his fist to his chest.
Tark rolls his eyes at his statement as Trojan is the first to exit. Trojan turns around to face the two comrades.
“I’m glad to be outside again. That shack gives me a mild case of claustrophobia. Anyway seeing that my horse is dead it may be a while before I reach Mondo.”
“We will be travelling by the two horses we have tied at post behind the shack. You, however, will be riding the mule we have at the back,” said the elder firmly.
“HA! A fitting transportation for an ass,” Chuckled Tark as he crossed his arms.
Trojan narrowed his stare at Tark but said nothing as the three made their way around back and mounted their beast. Before the elder cracked the reins of his horse he turns to Trojan and says:
“We will reach the farm within a few days. If we’re not back in time you will wait here after you’re done with your mission. Do not wander off!”
Trojan nods in agreement as they ride off in separate paths with the sun hanging high over them.
Note: For the previous story see http://www.althanas.com/world/showthread.php?26076-A-strange-new-world-(solo-closed)
Deep within the Brokenthorn forest, stood a wooden shack overrun by ivy vines around the outside of its four walls. The door would have suffered the same fate if not in constant use and the windows showed evidence of upkeep. The shack was hard to spot as it was covered in great shadows by the trees that seem to almost bow over it. This of course was not a problem for the hooded traveler that made his way to the shack. He looked over his shoulder before he entered through the creaking door as if to spot for someone, and then closed the door behind him. He looked at an older man sitting on the rope bed and pulled his hood back.
“Sorry I’m late. My horse dropped dead from exhaustion before I even got into the forest.”
A tall man leaning against the wall between the shelves and the rope bed responded with a grunt. He did not make eye contact with the hooded man nor did he move. He stood still as statue would; keeping his arms crossed and staring at the ground. Then with a disdain tone in his voice he followed his grunt with a criticizing reply.
“You’re always making up excuses to why you’re late. You annoy me. I don’t even know why you were even recruited into our little family, yo—“
“Because, though he lacks consideration, he is a great spy and gathers Intel quiet efficiently and discretely.” Interrupted; the older man.
The tall man remained silent and did not argue the fact. The older man, not having removed his sight on the hood man, folded his hands over his lap as if to draw attention to his rings; each with large brilliant stones.
“Now tell me, what good news do you have for me?”
“A few of the northern smaller farms have all paid their shares on time and are pulling in a good amount of profit. They seem to know their place in our world” Said the hooded man gleefully.
The older man smiled and grabbed his long silver staff leaning against the wall and used it to lift himself off the bed with ease.
“Good. I know some of the other cells have control of some of the larger farms, but it’s the smaller farms that tend to be troublesome. Now let’s continue on to the next order of business.”
Before he could continue the hooded man cleared his throat to get his attention.
“There is something else you must know” Nervously said the hooded man.
The elder man raised a brow and stood stiff as he knew he would not like what was to be delivered to his ears.
The hooded man swallowed a mouth full of fear and continued.
“The new recruit, Brok, was recently killed at the Nora farm along with his brothers and his entire gang.”
“WHAT!?” yelled out the tall man.
He dropped his arms as the large muscles within them tensed up, pushing the high pulsing veins out for all to see. He stood up straight and stared at the hooded man with murderous eyes.
The elder raised one hand to the tall man without turning his attention away from the hooded man. Looking at the elder man’s hand he stopped himself from displaying the rest of his rage. The elder man grabbed his staff with both hands and narrowed his steel blue eyes at the hooded man.
“Explain” he exclaimed.
The hooded man quickly recovered his head with his hood as if to shield himself from the wrath he was being subjected to.
“Well events at the farm began to spiral out of the gangs control when a young girl and her younger brother killed Brok’s brother, Brik. After that the gang held everyone at the farm hostage while Brok’s other brother, Brak went after the little boy, Doran. Apparently Brak was killed by a dragon” Rapidly said the hooded man.
“A dragon you say?” said the elder curiously.
Fumbling with his tunic, the hooded man continued his story.
“Yes, the same dragon that showed up at the farm, guided by the little boy. Doran and the dragon killed off the gang and then Brok when he showed up later on. And this was no ordinary dragon, it could speak as well as you and I and it was cunning too. I was surprised it did not detect me hiding and moving about within the farm land.”
“I see” said the elder man as he rubbed his chin and pondered on the events. He then wanted to satisfy his thoughts with answers by questioning some of the elements of the hooded man’s story.
“Tell me more about this dragon. Where did it come from and how did this boy acquire it?”
“I don’t know where the dragon came from, I never seen a dragon around Scara Brae before or at least one that looks like it does. The boy seemed to have befriended this dragon while eluding Brak” Said the hooded man.
The elder man released his hold on his staff, yet it did not fall over. It stood standing still, defying gravity as if held by magic. He reached within his dark blue robe and pulled out a parchment and a quill pen. Both objects floated from his hands and stood afloat in midair as he closed his eyes. The pen began to move across the parchment writing down the thoughts going through his head with ink that seemed to flow out from the empty quill. He then opened his eyes, continuing his questions as the pen continued to write.
“What of this boy? Where did he and his sister come from? From what I remember, Nora had only a few children and they were already adults and moved on from farm life.”
As he waits for a response from the hooded man, he nods to the tall one. The tall muscular man knows what the elder one wants. He takes out a copper stamp and sealing wax from his satchel, and then lights the sealing wax with a lit candle that was placed on a small square table which was pushed up against the opposite wall. The quill stops its writing motion and flies back into the robe. The parchment rolls up on its own then flies in from of him. He drips the wax on the parchment and presses the stamp on the wax, sealing the parchment close. He puts out the fire on the sealing wax as the parchment flies back onto the elder man’s hand.
Curiously the hooded man stares at the parchment, and then replies to the question given to him.
“Both the boy and girl are orphans and from what I gathered, Nora has been hiding them from the city guards. They’re both wanted criminals. From stealing food to stealing gold, they’re names slowly began to be well known throughout most of the city of Scara Brae.”
The elder smiles as he grabs his staff with one hand and hands the parchment over to the hooded with the other.
“It is unfortunate to what has happened to Brok and his siblings but we will spin your information to our advantage. You will take this parchment to Mondo and then return here for further instructions. Tark and I will head to the farm and introduce ourselves to this, dragon,” calmly says the elder.
He looks over at Tark and motions him to the door. Then turns his attention back to the hooded man.
“It is time for us to part ways Trojan. See that you deliver that message without fail.”
“Of course! I am, after all, amazing at what I do,” said Trojan proudly as he places his fist to his chest.
Tark rolls his eyes at his statement as Trojan is the first to exit. Trojan turns around to face the two comrades.
“I’m glad to be outside again. That shack gives me a mild case of claustrophobia. Anyway seeing that my horse is dead it may be a while before I reach Mondo.”
“We will be travelling by the two horses we have tied at post behind the shack. You, however, will be riding the mule we have at the back,” said the elder firmly.
“HA! A fitting transportation for an ass,” Chuckled Tark as he crossed his arms.
Trojan narrowed his stare at Tark but said nothing as the three made their way around back and mounted their beast. Before the elder cracked the reins of his horse he turns to Trojan and says:
“We will reach the farm within a few days. If we’re not back in time you will wait here after you’re done with your mission. Do not wander off!”
Trojan nods in agreement as they ride off in separate paths with the sun hanging high over them.