A hooded, short and stocky, figure walks out of the library in the middle of the sheet of darkness in the middle of the night. On him he is carrying a bag of supplies, such things as food, drinks(mainly beer), and a few extra pairs of clothing. He scans his surrounding area with his brown eyes and then looks up at the star lit sky.
"I'll hurry back", He says, "And as soon as possible"
He walks down the road to the shop and into it and looks at the sleeping human merchant on the side wall. Eliza looks down at him as he smiles through his brown cloak at her and she smiles a little. He nods to her and walks up to the depot in the middle. He fumbles through it for something and then pulls out a piece of parchment and a feather and some ink. He scribbles down on it quickly, apparenty hurrying as he might miss something. After he is done he posts it to the wall. It reads:
Dear fellow dwarves and friends of mine,
My old dear king, Shezar Goldenhearte, has fallen ill or so I've heard from various traveling people. This has gathered my attention and I've taken into consideration that it is one of my responsibilities as a dwarf of Facias along with Silverbrand to go and see him. Even though he may not be sick, it will be my first time seeing him in over forty years. I'd like to personally say farewell to Galim, Caranthir, Mishrack, my dear king Tialdin, Uloim, Brendan Mason, and the others close to me on this isle. I estimate my trip will be about two to three weeks at the most. I bid everyone farewell and I wish you all good health.
Croktin Skullcrusher
After he is done pinning the note to the wall he begins to walk away slowly. His axe on his back wriggles about as he walks one step at a time. Near the end of the road he comes upon the inn. He looks up at the old place that has not seen much business since it's opening. He then quickly runs to the end of the peninsula through whatever trees there are left in the forest. Past the docks there is a small wooden ship, that can hold a crew of twenty or so, docked near the shore. Croktin walks up the wooden ramp onto the ship. A tall old human man with white, long hair walks up to Croktin and nods to him.
"I see you've made it. Are you ready to leave now? I do not have much time.",the man says.
"Nay...I wish to wait five more hours...one more is comin'...she doesn't like thee sea as I do...but I hope that didn't make her change her mind...",the stocky figure says through his cloak up to the man.
"Very well...but I want money...how much will you offer for me to stay?",the man asks.
"How about...two ingots...for four hours...",Croktin says.
"Fine then...being that I am a captain...we'll stay in dock for a few more hours for free. But if she is not here by that time we are leaving with or without her.", the captain says.
The stocky figure nods and then looks out down at the ground. He pulls his hood back on his cloak to reveal a brown beard and a chain mail hood on his head. His facial features reveal him to be Croktin Skullcrusher. He stands there and stares out into the darkness for any sign of Belegi. The ship rocks silently back and forth. Croktin curses under his breath a little about the water and then continues scanning the area.
They journey to Facias
Moderator: Gamemasters
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Croktin Skullcrusher
- Posts: 29
- Joined: Fri Jul 18, 2003 7:09 pm
- Location: United States
Darkness lies over the streets of Troll´s Bane. Another small, hooded person, almost engulfed by the shadows of the high buildings of the city of the tall people leaves the tavern, walking slowly and not looking back. The figure is cloaked in a red cape, the glinting starlight is reflected by rings of polished steel underneath its cape. The eyes of the figure are fixed to the ground as it wanders on, carefully it avoids the open space of the market place. Some bearded faces can be seen in the windows of the tavern, their eyes following the hooded figure, sad but stern. Leaving the library behind, the hooded person catches sight of a bunch of halflings, fooling around in the dark water of the river.
“Hiho Goldi, join us!” one of the halflings screams.
The person wanders by, smiling warm at heart but not looking at the merry people at all. After minutes of lonesome walking, the person arrives at the docks, carrying only a small bag and a canteen. The ship still lays in the silent sea, the moonlight plays its everlasting game with the waves that arrive at the shore, coming from wherever Tanora gave life to them. The eyes of the person searches the hull of the ship and a silent sigh is hearable. Suddenly, the person removes its hood from its head and marches up the ramp, entering the ship without hesitating. In the pale light, red hair with blond locks can be seen. Another small figure approaches from out of the shadows and one can see the two embracing and exchanging whispered words of love.
There is silence all over the island as the ship sets sails long before dawn. As the first beams of the new day touch gently the grass of the now again fertile lands around the city of Troll´s Bane, merchants and peasants enter the market place like every day to sell their goods and wares, the clashing of the sledgehammers can be heard inside the forge and there is peace all around. But someone is missing.
“Hiho Goldi, join us!” one of the halflings screams.
The person wanders by, smiling warm at heart but not looking at the merry people at all. After minutes of lonesome walking, the person arrives at the docks, carrying only a small bag and a canteen. The ship still lays in the silent sea, the moonlight plays its everlasting game with the waves that arrive at the shore, coming from wherever Tanora gave life to them. The eyes of the person searches the hull of the ship and a silent sigh is hearable. Suddenly, the person removes its hood from its head and marches up the ramp, entering the ship without hesitating. In the pale light, red hair with blond locks can be seen. Another small figure approaches from out of the shadows and one can see the two embracing and exchanging whispered words of love.
There is silence all over the island as the ship sets sails long before dawn. As the first beams of the new day touch gently the grass of the now again fertile lands around the city of Troll´s Bane, merchants and peasants enter the market place like every day to sell their goods and wares, the clashing of the sledgehammers can be heard inside the forge and there is peace all around. But someone is missing.
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Croktin Skullcrusher
- Posts: 29
- Joined: Fri Jul 18, 2003 7:09 pm
- Location: United States
The day passes on and the ship rows further and further through the seas, as it approaches it's destination. A brown bearded fellow stands staring out over the edge of the sea feeling sick to himself. He would admit that he hates the ocean and any water, but being himself, he did not want to admit it. The night had been long gone for many hours by then, and he found himself awake next to the other figure whom had entered the ship by night lieing down in the hull of the ship. He had gently kissed her on the forehead and had gotten up from the spot where he had slept so comfortably and walked up to the deck of the ship. He spent nearly all of his day from the point on walking slowly, pacing on the deck. The only time he had stopped was to sip some beer and eat some ham. The captain had finally approached him a while later after watching the dwarf pace almost every time he saw him.
"Rest at ease, my dear fellow. We will have reached our destination in a few hours. This is not one of those war galleys, but rather a small fishing ship. It does not take to long to get there. Perhaps you should find something to do to occupy your time with.",the captain had said.
Croktin looked up at the sky and then walked over the a mast that held the white sails up against the sky. He slumped down against the mast and slowly decided to take a nap after turning many more different colors in the face.
"Only...a few more hours..."Croktin thought aloud to himself as he dozed off again.
Some time later he awoke, and night had crept back into place, covering everything in darkness. Some figures walked around throughout the ship staring at the dwarf who was still sitting down against the mast. Suddenly a familar figure came up to Croktin and smiled.
"We've only a few more hours...we had to stop because of this fog...I hope you don't become too upset.",the man said with a bit of shakiness in his voice.
"Ugh...fine...at least thee ship isn't rockin' back and forth like normal...anyway...do ye 'ave any idea where we are at?",Croktin asked as he gazed around the man and then turned his attention back to him.
"Well...we are in a common route that a lot of sea vessels use...trust me we'll be fine...there have only been rumors of things that lurk in the water here but other than that we will be quite alright.",the man said.
"Things...like what?",Croktin asked Curiously.
"Hyrda...a common hydra has up to six heads...they say if you cut one off...they grow more...two more...to take it's place...they say the only way to kill one is to stab it in it's heart...but that is besides the point...we have a few more hours...at least until this fog clears up and the ship will be moving again in this darkness. Now I must get back to the crew.", the captain said as he turned around and headed back to some other crew members near the back.
A few more hours had passed and Croktin once again found himself waking up in the same area with his head bobbing up and down. The ship was still settled in one place. Croktin shook his head and looks up. He felt his axe on his bag and it seemed his chain mail was growing heavier and heavier. He was growing tired of waiting out on the open sea. He figured it would be better for the ship to be moving than sitting in one spot. But he could not do a thing. The fog was clearing up and then soon Croktin realized there was something in the water. He had caught it while he had almost fell asleep again. Something that resembled a head...two pairs of eyes. It went under once it realized Croktin was staring down at it form up above.
Croktin quickly jolted up to his feet and drew the axe off of his back. He looked over the edge of the ship and then sighed. He figured it had gone away. But he had figured wrong.
"What in the gods' names is that!?",a man shouted from an upper deck.
Croktin's eyes shot up as he saw the man standing there. And then some snake-like thing jumped up and clenched the screaming man in between it's jawls and then pulled him down on under the water. The water began to turn blood red. The same spot where the thing had pulled the man under water.
"Men grab your weapons!",the captin shouted
Several men of the small crew came running to the upper deck with short swords and maces and small buckler shields. Croktin ran over to the side where the man had been pulled under before. Croktin almost jumped back into the mast in which he had been resting on when six heads shot up from the water. They were that of a Hydra. Croktin's heart pounded hard as all six heads started making grabs at more of the men. Some resisted but a few others were quickly snatched under. One head spotted croktin and begin to snap at him. Croktin swung his axe at the Hydra's head and only succeeded in missing. He tried once more and still he missed as the Hydra was to fast for him. Croktin fell onto his hands and rear end. He had dropped his axe. The Hydra's head moved closer to Croktin with a glare. It opened it's mouth and roared at him as it was nearly five feet away from him.
"ar...",said Croktin as that was all the time he had to say it in.[/i]
"Rest at ease, my dear fellow. We will have reached our destination in a few hours. This is not one of those war galleys, but rather a small fishing ship. It does not take to long to get there. Perhaps you should find something to do to occupy your time with.",the captain had said.
Croktin looked up at the sky and then walked over the a mast that held the white sails up against the sky. He slumped down against the mast and slowly decided to take a nap after turning many more different colors in the face.
"Only...a few more hours..."Croktin thought aloud to himself as he dozed off again.
Some time later he awoke, and night had crept back into place, covering everything in darkness. Some figures walked around throughout the ship staring at the dwarf who was still sitting down against the mast. Suddenly a familar figure came up to Croktin and smiled.
"We've only a few more hours...we had to stop because of this fog...I hope you don't become too upset.",the man said with a bit of shakiness in his voice.
"Ugh...fine...at least thee ship isn't rockin' back and forth like normal...anyway...do ye 'ave any idea where we are at?",Croktin asked as he gazed around the man and then turned his attention back to him.
"Well...we are in a common route that a lot of sea vessels use...trust me we'll be fine...there have only been rumors of things that lurk in the water here but other than that we will be quite alright.",the man said.
"Things...like what?",Croktin asked Curiously.
"Hyrda...a common hydra has up to six heads...they say if you cut one off...they grow more...two more...to take it's place...they say the only way to kill one is to stab it in it's heart...but that is besides the point...we have a few more hours...at least until this fog clears up and the ship will be moving again in this darkness. Now I must get back to the crew.", the captain said as he turned around and headed back to some other crew members near the back.
A few more hours had passed and Croktin once again found himself waking up in the same area with his head bobbing up and down. The ship was still settled in one place. Croktin shook his head and looks up. He felt his axe on his bag and it seemed his chain mail was growing heavier and heavier. He was growing tired of waiting out on the open sea. He figured it would be better for the ship to be moving than sitting in one spot. But he could not do a thing. The fog was clearing up and then soon Croktin realized there was something in the water. He had caught it while he had almost fell asleep again. Something that resembled a head...two pairs of eyes. It went under once it realized Croktin was staring down at it form up above.
Croktin quickly jolted up to his feet and drew the axe off of his back. He looked over the edge of the ship and then sighed. He figured it had gone away. But he had figured wrong.
"What in the gods' names is that!?",a man shouted from an upper deck.
Croktin's eyes shot up as he saw the man standing there. And then some snake-like thing jumped up and clenched the screaming man in between it's jawls and then pulled him down on under the water. The water began to turn blood red. The same spot where the thing had pulled the man under water.
"Men grab your weapons!",the captin shouted
Several men of the small crew came running to the upper deck with short swords and maces and small buckler shields. Croktin ran over to the side where the man had been pulled under before. Croktin almost jumped back into the mast in which he had been resting on when six heads shot up from the water. They were that of a Hydra. Croktin's heart pounded hard as all six heads started making grabs at more of the men. Some resisted but a few others were quickly snatched under. One head spotted croktin and begin to snap at him. Croktin swung his axe at the Hydra's head and only succeeded in missing. He tried once more and still he missed as the Hydra was to fast for him. Croktin fell onto his hands and rear end. He had dropped his axe. The Hydra's head moved closer to Croktin with a glare. It opened it's mouth and roared at him as it was nearly five feet away from him.
"ar...",said Croktin as that was all the time he had to say it in.[/i]
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Croktin Skullcrusher
- Posts: 29
- Joined: Fri Jul 18, 2003 7:09 pm
- Location: United States
The hydra thrusted it's head quickly at Croktin. Croktin rolled over as the teeth of the beast sinked into the wooden deck of the ship. Croktin quickly crawled to his axe and picked it up into his hands. He quickly jumped out of the way as the Hydra made another snap at him but barely missed. Croktin slid under the Hydra's head and rammed his axe's tip into the Hydra's neck. It wailed out in pain in it's terrifying hiss. The head quickly slipped back under the water. Croktin grunted as he limped with his hand on his leg where the Hydra's teeth had scraped against his leg. It was bleeding constantly too. Croktin felt his strength fail in his left leg, the leg he had been bitten in.
"Why is it retreating?",someone shouted from over the side of the ship
"Maybe...it's full...or had it's fill...whatever it is....let us go!",someone else shouted.
The captain, who seemed to have survived the attack, ran past the injured Croktin, to the ship's steering wheel.
"It'll be back!",he shouted,"But by that time we'll be gone!"
Croktin crawled over to the mast he was laying against before with his hand grasped tightly around his axe. He leaned himself up against the mast and began to pull off some off his under garmet and then began to wrap it around his leg. Some hours passed when a man from up above shouted out,"Land spotted!"
"Finally...",muttered Croktin in pain as the drew nearer to a port town. They had finally arrived in the North. The land of Facias. Croktin stood up and limped to the cabin in the ship. In the Cabin he looked about for his things and found his bag. He pulled it up over his shoulder and grunted as the extra weight put more pressure on his wound. He slowly walked down the deck and then looked back up at the captain.
"If ye see Belegi, or thee lady dwarf. Tell her this message. Tell her that Croktin has gone to thee local inn not to far from here. He will be waiting fer her there and he is plannin' on stayin' the night as it is not to smart to wonder outside a town at night.",Said Croktin to the captin.
The captain simply nodded and waved Croktin on. Croktin walked down gray cobblestone streets, past all the wooden homes with straw roofs, and some with wooden ones. And then he came upon a two story wooden building. He quickly went inside and checked in with the inn keeper and payed him some gold for the night. Shortly after he headed up to the room that the inn keeper had told him and found his bed. He set his axe and bag on the floor and looked around. He walked to the window as he could not sleep and looked out it towards the south to the docks, waiting for his love.
"Why is it retreating?",someone shouted from over the side of the ship
"Maybe...it's full...or had it's fill...whatever it is....let us go!",someone else shouted.
The captain, who seemed to have survived the attack, ran past the injured Croktin, to the ship's steering wheel.
"It'll be back!",he shouted,"But by that time we'll be gone!"
Croktin crawled over to the mast he was laying against before with his hand grasped tightly around his axe. He leaned himself up against the mast and began to pull off some off his under garmet and then began to wrap it around his leg. Some hours passed when a man from up above shouted out,"Land spotted!"
"Finally...",muttered Croktin in pain as the drew nearer to a port town. They had finally arrived in the North. The land of Facias. Croktin stood up and limped to the cabin in the ship. In the Cabin he looked about for his things and found his bag. He pulled it up over his shoulder and grunted as the extra weight put more pressure on his wound. He slowly walked down the deck and then looked back up at the captain.
"If ye see Belegi, or thee lady dwarf. Tell her this message. Tell her that Croktin has gone to thee local inn not to far from here. He will be waiting fer her there and he is plannin' on stayin' the night as it is not to smart to wonder outside a town at night.",Said Croktin to the captin.
The captain simply nodded and waved Croktin on. Croktin walked down gray cobblestone streets, past all the wooden homes with straw roofs, and some with wooden ones. And then he came upon a two story wooden building. He quickly went inside and checked in with the inn keeper and payed him some gold for the night. Shortly after he headed up to the room that the inn keeper had told him and found his bed. He set his axe and bag on the floor and looked around. He walked to the window as he could not sleep and looked out it towards the south to the docks, waiting for his love.
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Croktin Skullcrusher
- Posts: 29
- Joined: Fri Jul 18, 2003 7:09 pm
- Location: United States
Croktin rubbed his sleepy eyes as he woke up in the morning. He found himself fallen asleep against the window sill where he had been waiting for quite some time. It seemed that she had not shown up. Perhaps something had come up across her path that stopped her from heading to the inn or perhaps she was still on the ship gathering some things before traveling. What ever it was she was not yet there. Croktin stretched his arms far and wide from his body and he gazed out the window. The sun light of the early morning shined brightly through that window sill. Birds fluttered around as they went to their nests a few last times before the bitter cold would be coming in soon. A bird that Croktin could not see from a distance came flying up over head. As it came closer down to town, Croktin realized what the bird was. It was one from Facias, sent out by the king or one of his men.
"What be this?",Croktin said thinking aloud.
Croktin grabbed his things and ran down the stairs from the upper level of the inn. He nodded to the inn keeper and turned to him quickly and spoke obviously in a hurry."If a female dwarf of the sort walks in her, tell her to head North past this town...I'll be heading to Facias...I fear I can not wait any longer. Tell her Croktin said this."
And with that he was running outside. The man seemed to have nodded in agreement that he would do so. Outside Croktin looked up to the bird and called for it. It spotted him and recognized him and then soared slowly down to the ground in circles and slowly landed on his shoulder. Attached to it's leg was a letter. Croktin untied the letter off of the Hawk's leg and unrolled it. His lips pursued the words out silently but in his head he spoke them aloud:
Dear Croktin,
I fear I am strucken down with a very bad illness...and I fear I may be dying...My son, Hebar Goldenhearte, will take the throne once I have passed on to the realms of Irmorom...I'm not sure if I will make it much longer...my failing health...is slowly killing me. I do not know if I will live much longer, but it would be an honor to see the young dwarf I had took in nearly sixty years ago after his father and mother died. Croktin if you get this soon, then I wish to see you once more. It has been forty years since we last seen eachother, I would like to see how much you've grown...
Sincerely,
Shezar Goldhearte
With this Croktin quickly rolled up the letter and looked around. He saw a stable not to far away and ran over to it. Inside he found a man sleeping in a chair with a pipe sticking out of his mouth and a mild stream of smoke floating aloft from the pipe. Croktin shook the man likely and he came about to his senses. He looked to Croktin with a questioning look on his face.
"I need a pony...or a small horse if ye do not mind. I can rent one from ye.", Croktin said.
The man nodded and pointed over to the horse. "Just be sure to bring her back when you are done...you seem to be a dwarf of Facias. I can trust you.",the man said and nodded over to the horse.
Croktin nodded back and walked over to the small horse. He mounted it's back, and he swayed a little bit but the horse started off in a trotter out of the stable. The horse seemed to know exactly where to go. It headed straight out of the town, and through the meadows, and after a few miles they went through a snowy plain. The mountains by this time were high and near. Croktin knew this region well as he had been here many times forty years before. He guided the horse up the side of the mountain onto a rocky trail and then onwards to a small cave, more a crack, in the mountain side, and dismounted the horse. He walked into the crack, barely able to fit through without a squeeze and looked around. He was again in the same place that he had been nearly forty years ago.
"This place be thee same still...",Croktin said as he gazed around the tunnel.
Croktin walked further and deeper into the tunnel with a torch he had picked up from a few yarns past the entrance and walked further and further into it. After what seemed like thirty minutes or so, of a walk through the tunnel, he came to a stone bridge, that of one that seemed to have been constructed so long ago. It went over a deep dark chasm far beneath the bridge. Across it there was the magnificent gates of Facias. The barred gates were made of steel. They had been kept polished and looked new from over the ages, and next to them were the guard houses, where several heavily armored dwarves stood. Croktin slowly approached the gates as he looked up and down the gates. He felt something inside him, that told him, he would have a good time with his visit back to his homeland.
One of the guards walked out, his deep crimson red beard glimered in the darkness. The shineness of his armor reflected the light from Croktin's torch. He nodded to Croktin and smiled warmly.
"Long time no see...old Friend..."the dwarf said. He gestured to the gates and Croktin followed not saying a word. Many a dwarf knew Croktin in Facias from forty years ago. He was the dwarf to venture out into the world from Facias, as several others had done before him, but he was mostly known from what his father and mother were in Facias. Which is another story. The gates opened slowly...and Croktin entered for the first time in a long time.
"What be this?",Croktin said thinking aloud.
Croktin grabbed his things and ran down the stairs from the upper level of the inn. He nodded to the inn keeper and turned to him quickly and spoke obviously in a hurry."If a female dwarf of the sort walks in her, tell her to head North past this town...I'll be heading to Facias...I fear I can not wait any longer. Tell her Croktin said this."
And with that he was running outside. The man seemed to have nodded in agreement that he would do so. Outside Croktin looked up to the bird and called for it. It spotted him and recognized him and then soared slowly down to the ground in circles and slowly landed on his shoulder. Attached to it's leg was a letter. Croktin untied the letter off of the Hawk's leg and unrolled it. His lips pursued the words out silently but in his head he spoke them aloud:
Dear Croktin,
I fear I am strucken down with a very bad illness...and I fear I may be dying...My son, Hebar Goldenhearte, will take the throne once I have passed on to the realms of Irmorom...I'm not sure if I will make it much longer...my failing health...is slowly killing me. I do not know if I will live much longer, but it would be an honor to see the young dwarf I had took in nearly sixty years ago after his father and mother died. Croktin if you get this soon, then I wish to see you once more. It has been forty years since we last seen eachother, I would like to see how much you've grown...
Sincerely,
Shezar Goldhearte
With this Croktin quickly rolled up the letter and looked around. He saw a stable not to far away and ran over to it. Inside he found a man sleeping in a chair with a pipe sticking out of his mouth and a mild stream of smoke floating aloft from the pipe. Croktin shook the man likely and he came about to his senses. He looked to Croktin with a questioning look on his face.
"I need a pony...or a small horse if ye do not mind. I can rent one from ye.", Croktin said.
The man nodded and pointed over to the horse. "Just be sure to bring her back when you are done...you seem to be a dwarf of Facias. I can trust you.",the man said and nodded over to the horse.
Croktin nodded back and walked over to the small horse. He mounted it's back, and he swayed a little bit but the horse started off in a trotter out of the stable. The horse seemed to know exactly where to go. It headed straight out of the town, and through the meadows, and after a few miles they went through a snowy plain. The mountains by this time were high and near. Croktin knew this region well as he had been here many times forty years before. He guided the horse up the side of the mountain onto a rocky trail and then onwards to a small cave, more a crack, in the mountain side, and dismounted the horse. He walked into the crack, barely able to fit through without a squeeze and looked around. He was again in the same place that he had been nearly forty years ago.
"This place be thee same still...",Croktin said as he gazed around the tunnel.
Croktin walked further and deeper into the tunnel with a torch he had picked up from a few yarns past the entrance and walked further and further into it. After what seemed like thirty minutes or so, of a walk through the tunnel, he came to a stone bridge, that of one that seemed to have been constructed so long ago. It went over a deep dark chasm far beneath the bridge. Across it there was the magnificent gates of Facias. The barred gates were made of steel. They had been kept polished and looked new from over the ages, and next to them were the guard houses, where several heavily armored dwarves stood. Croktin slowly approached the gates as he looked up and down the gates. He felt something inside him, that told him, he would have a good time with his visit back to his homeland.
One of the guards walked out, his deep crimson red beard glimered in the darkness. The shineness of his armor reflected the light from Croktin's torch. He nodded to Croktin and smiled warmly.
"Long time no see...old Friend..."the dwarf said. He gestured to the gates and Croktin followed not saying a word. Many a dwarf knew Croktin in Facias from forty years ago. He was the dwarf to venture out into the world from Facias, as several others had done before him, but he was mostly known from what his father and mother were in Facias. Which is another story. The gates opened slowly...and Croktin entered for the first time in a long time.
Belegi leans over the rail, obviously she is seasick. Her pale face has lost all her merryness, after the dreadful journey she´s looking forward to have solid ground underneath her feets once again.
Her eyes search the deck of the little ship, she already caught news of Croktin´s fast departure but she thinks that he´ll come back, soon.
"Aye, little lady!" the Captain yells as catches sight of Belegi.
"Your dwarven friend with the sharp axe has left the ship some time ago... Appearently he was in a hurry. He wanted me to tell you... Ahm... He said that he will wait for you at the local inn."
Belegi beholds the Captain with stern eyes, her mind full of thoughts. Quickly she gathers her bag and her belongings and runs down the ramp onto the unknown lands she never roamed before. Her eyes wander around and she beholds the docks, the crowd of fishermen offering their catches and the grim faces of the soldiers of this land. She pulls her cape tight and marches towards the direction the Captain mentioned, her boots making crushin noises on the road that will lead her to her eternal love. At least that is what she hopes.
Her eyes search the deck of the little ship, she already caught news of Croktin´s fast departure but she thinks that he´ll come back, soon.
"Aye, little lady!" the Captain yells as catches sight of Belegi.
"Your dwarven friend with the sharp axe has left the ship some time ago... Appearently he was in a hurry. He wanted me to tell you... Ahm... He said that he will wait for you at the local inn."
Belegi beholds the Captain with stern eyes, her mind full of thoughts. Quickly she gathers her bag and her belongings and runs down the ramp onto the unknown lands she never roamed before. Her eyes wander around and she beholds the docks, the crowd of fishermen offering their catches and the grim faces of the soldiers of this land. She pulls her cape tight and marches towards the direction the Captain mentioned, her boots making crushin noises on the road that will lead her to her eternal love. At least that is what she hopes.
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Croktin Skullcrusher
- Posts: 29
- Joined: Fri Jul 18, 2003 7:09 pm
- Location: United States
Croktin's eyes grew wide as the lights from lamps that shone down from torches that lined the walls in the massive cavern that he had just entered. It had not changed much but being back in his home made him feel good for some reason. The dwarf with the red beard turned around and looked at Croktin and nodded down the cavern. In the Cavern there were tunnels that branched off them to other areas, many to mines, family halls, and storage areas. The dwarf continued to walk down the large tavern. Croktin followed him silently as he looked at the faces of new and old dwarves alike that gazed back at him as he passed. Some recognized him while others had no idea who he was.
"We are almost to thee king. Ready yerself to appear before his son. His soon will be waiting for you for now. You will need his permission to see his father. His majesty is lieing down in his bed in thee royal chambers where he rest.", the guard said as he bowed slightly."Good luck to ye and just follow this tunnel here to enter thee royal chambers. Farewell. I must return back to my post."
With that the red bearded dwarf turned around and walked past Croktin. Croktin gazed over his shoulder and saw the dwarf walk with a loud clank clank from his metal boots tapping the rocky floor as he walked on. Croktin turned his head back to the tunnel and started to walk down it slowly. He took a torch off the side of the wall and gripped it tightly in his metal guantlets. His breath bounced off the walls and seemed to come back to him as the cold drafts of the tunnel blew a little harder. A few minutes passed and a blinding light became visible. Croktin dropped the torch as he shielded his eyes from the light. He squinted and tried to look what there was or what he had come upon, but to no avail. A loud voice came out upon Croktin and overwhelmed him soon after.
"Who goes there?",the voice said.
"It is I...Croktin Skullcrusher",Croktin said in a slightly trembling voice, for some reason.
"Enter into the courts of Facias. We've been expecting you.",the voice said agian. Croktin obeyed it and began walking slowly forward into the light with his hands over his eyes..slowly.
"We are almost to thee king. Ready yerself to appear before his son. His soon will be waiting for you for now. You will need his permission to see his father. His majesty is lieing down in his bed in thee royal chambers where he rest.", the guard said as he bowed slightly."Good luck to ye and just follow this tunnel here to enter thee royal chambers. Farewell. I must return back to my post."
With that the red bearded dwarf turned around and walked past Croktin. Croktin gazed over his shoulder and saw the dwarf walk with a loud clank clank from his metal boots tapping the rocky floor as he walked on. Croktin turned his head back to the tunnel and started to walk down it slowly. He took a torch off the side of the wall and gripped it tightly in his metal guantlets. His breath bounced off the walls and seemed to come back to him as the cold drafts of the tunnel blew a little harder. A few minutes passed and a blinding light became visible. Croktin dropped the torch as he shielded his eyes from the light. He squinted and tried to look what there was or what he had come upon, but to no avail. A loud voice came out upon Croktin and overwhelmed him soon after.
"Who goes there?",the voice said.
"It is I...Croktin Skullcrusher",Croktin said in a slightly trembling voice, for some reason.
"Enter into the courts of Facias. We've been expecting you.",the voice said agian. Croktin obeyed it and began walking slowly forward into the light with his hands over his eyes..slowly.
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Croktin Skullcrusher
- Posts: 29
- Joined: Fri Jul 18, 2003 7:09 pm
- Location: United States
The light shined brightly as Croktin walked up a few stairs from the tunnel behind him and into a new hallway. Croktin blinked once or twice and his eyes slowly adjusted to the new environment. A few figures in front of him started to become visible and more on the sides started to come into shape. Suddenly Croktin realized who they were as his eyes focused on. There were more heavily armored dwarves with delicately shaped axes of all sorts. Many of their axes had different designs. In Facias, those designs represent the family of the dwarf. The most delicate axe in the whole city would of course by the kings.
"My father would be expecting you, Croktin.",the voice of a young dwarf said from in front of Croktin.
Croktin gazed up at the source of the voice and saw a dwarf wearing a crown of a prince with a dark brown beard. It was braded into five knots down to five rows of brades. His eyes were unusually green for a dwarf and the stared down at Croktin with Curiousity.
"Aye...I've been writing him from where I have came...back on an isle south from here which has thee city of Silverbrand in it.",Croktin said in acknowledgement.
"Good...I see as I have read the letters to my father...I have not seen you for nearly forty years dear Croktin. Where have you gone and what have you done?",the dwarf in the crown said.
"T'is a long story...and I wish to save meh breath...Hebar ye've changed quite a bit as well...perhaps if ye show me to your father I'll tell both of ye what has happened to me over thee years. Where is he as of now?",Croktin asked as his brown eyes scanned the four dwarves standing next to Hebar.
"Aye...well he is in the royal chambers. Follow me. I wish not to be escorted. Thank you fine guards for your concern.",said he as he waved his hands to his guards before one even suggested it.
Croktin nodded and followed Hebar as he stood up. Hebar walked down the few stairs that the throne he was sitting on rested. He walked to the right and down into a tunnel. It must've led to the royal chambers. Croktin found himself moving forward with his bag banging against his chainmail and his axe moving up and down as he moved forward. He had entered the tunnel to which he would see the dwarf he had not seen in a long time.
"My father would be expecting you, Croktin.",the voice of a young dwarf said from in front of Croktin.
Croktin gazed up at the source of the voice and saw a dwarf wearing a crown of a prince with a dark brown beard. It was braded into five knots down to five rows of brades. His eyes were unusually green for a dwarf and the stared down at Croktin with Curiousity.
"Aye...I've been writing him from where I have came...back on an isle south from here which has thee city of Silverbrand in it.",Croktin said in acknowledgement.
"Good...I see as I have read the letters to my father...I have not seen you for nearly forty years dear Croktin. Where have you gone and what have you done?",the dwarf in the crown said.
"T'is a long story...and I wish to save meh breath...Hebar ye've changed quite a bit as well...perhaps if ye show me to your father I'll tell both of ye what has happened to me over thee years. Where is he as of now?",Croktin asked as his brown eyes scanned the four dwarves standing next to Hebar.
"Aye...well he is in the royal chambers. Follow me. I wish not to be escorted. Thank you fine guards for your concern.",said he as he waved his hands to his guards before one even suggested it.
Croktin nodded and followed Hebar as he stood up. Hebar walked down the few stairs that the throne he was sitting on rested. He walked to the right and down into a tunnel. It must've led to the royal chambers. Croktin found himself moving forward with his bag banging against his chainmail and his axe moving up and down as he moved forward. He had entered the tunnel to which he would see the dwarf he had not seen in a long time.
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Croktin Skullcrusher
- Posts: 29
- Joined: Fri Jul 18, 2003 7:09 pm
- Location: United States
Croktin gazed up and around the hall's ceiling and walls as Hebar led him closer and closer to the royal bed chamber. He made out that they were rune shaped markings all along them, where ever they went. Hebar walked up some carved stairs in the ground and came into a round room. Several heavy looking wooden doors lined the round walls. Most of them looked nearly centuries old. Croktin breathed in the dusty aroma of the air of the underground.
"Here we enter, the great family hall of Facias...my family has inhabited this for over five millinium now here in Facias...perhaps the Goldenhearte's rule will end in these next few centuries.",Hebar said as he walked over to a door on the far right.
"This is yer father's room?",Croktin asked as Hebar opened the door slowly and set a foot inside.
"Yes...he may be asleep but either way he'll be happy you're here. Come with me.",Hebar said as he stepped further into the room."Father...there is someone here to see you."
Croktin looked about the stone walls and noticed that many more rune markings were all along them. Hebar had already made his way over to his father's side by the time Croktin made it over. Croktin looked down at the old dwarf whose white beard was hanging down past his chest to his belly. He wore delicate robes even though he was in bed. His hazel eyes looked up at Croktin as he approached him. He eyed Croktin solemly and then turned his gaze back to his son.
"Are you sure...this is him, my son?",Shezar said with a sputter.
"Yes my father, I am sure."Hebar said nodding to Croktin.
"Aye...then...it has been many a year...since I last saw him as a little lad...",Shezar said as he wheezed a little.
Even while being sick the old king looked stronger than ever. Croktin smiled slightly and walked over to Shezar's bedside. He nodded down to him and kneeled down shortly after that.
"It is I, my king. It has been nearly forty years...",Croktin said nodding a little.
"Aye...it has...I think...you've grown much into a young dwarf. If you would've came back...only ten years earlier...we would've had a big feast to celebrate...your coming of age..."Shezar said.
"Aye...well...I was in thee east...workin' in thee mountains there fer a livin'...That was nearly thirty years ago when I started to work there. After I found my way there that is...It seems ye 'ave kept Facias under a strong respectable leadership...",Croktin said smiling a little more.
"That I have...but enough about the past. I think that I shall live. I have called upon you though to see you once more. I learned that you were in the Southern islands from a fellow dwarf not to long ago...so I sent you a dove. It seems you have come quickly to see me even though I am in my bed resting because of a common cold...I'm not really dying...",Shezar said with a big sheepish grin on his face.
"Ye aren't...? I'm confused.",Croktin said with a bit of truth.
"I called you here with this excuse to see you once more. You see...I want to see the Skullcrusher family once more here in Facias...and I want to see them grow again...Croktin will you please return to Facias after these long years?",Shezar asked with a whole hearted smile.
"I...I'd have to....to think about that....meh king...",Croktin said with a solemn look coming upon his face.
"It'd be nice if you did.", Shezar said as he sat up in his bed.
"I do not know...I must think this over...first let me go and think about this over a week...or so...I have another home now...it is called Silverbrand...and I have something else...there...something meh heart is very close too...I don't think I could...", Croktin said as he stood up once more.
"I'd understand Croktin. You have another home away from here...hmm...well I'd be delighted if you could stay at least a week with us dwarves here in Facias. We'd like to see you once more...for a while at least.",Shezar said with a smile.
"That...I can do.",said Croktin with a grin on his face.
"Good...well now it is time to get some rest...you can sleep in a room next to here...I think I will as well...good night to you Croktin and my son.",Shezar said one last time and he rolled over in his canopy bed and closed his eyes. Croktin followed Hebar to a room next to his fathers and after a quick good night, Croktin found his head on a pillow. He wondered where exactly Belegi was at that moment. Thoughts of her ran through his mind as he quite soundly fell asleep with her on his mind. He had hoped she'd show up soon so he could see her once more and embrace her once more...
"Here we enter, the great family hall of Facias...my family has inhabited this for over five millinium now here in Facias...perhaps the Goldenhearte's rule will end in these next few centuries.",Hebar said as he walked over to a door on the far right.
"This is yer father's room?",Croktin asked as Hebar opened the door slowly and set a foot inside.
"Yes...he may be asleep but either way he'll be happy you're here. Come with me.",Hebar said as he stepped further into the room."Father...there is someone here to see you."
Croktin looked about the stone walls and noticed that many more rune markings were all along them. Hebar had already made his way over to his father's side by the time Croktin made it over. Croktin looked down at the old dwarf whose white beard was hanging down past his chest to his belly. He wore delicate robes even though he was in bed. His hazel eyes looked up at Croktin as he approached him. He eyed Croktin solemly and then turned his gaze back to his son.
"Are you sure...this is him, my son?",Shezar said with a sputter.
"Yes my father, I am sure."Hebar said nodding to Croktin.
"Aye...then...it has been many a year...since I last saw him as a little lad...",Shezar said as he wheezed a little.
Even while being sick the old king looked stronger than ever. Croktin smiled slightly and walked over to Shezar's bedside. He nodded down to him and kneeled down shortly after that.
"It is I, my king. It has been nearly forty years...",Croktin said nodding a little.
"Aye...it has...I think...you've grown much into a young dwarf. If you would've came back...only ten years earlier...we would've had a big feast to celebrate...your coming of age..."Shezar said.
"Aye...well...I was in thee east...workin' in thee mountains there fer a livin'...That was nearly thirty years ago when I started to work there. After I found my way there that is...It seems ye 'ave kept Facias under a strong respectable leadership...",Croktin said smiling a little more.
"That I have...but enough about the past. I think that I shall live. I have called upon you though to see you once more. I learned that you were in the Southern islands from a fellow dwarf not to long ago...so I sent you a dove. It seems you have come quickly to see me even though I am in my bed resting because of a common cold...I'm not really dying...",Shezar said with a big sheepish grin on his face.
"Ye aren't...? I'm confused.",Croktin said with a bit of truth.
"I called you here with this excuse to see you once more. You see...I want to see the Skullcrusher family once more here in Facias...and I want to see them grow again...Croktin will you please return to Facias after these long years?",Shezar asked with a whole hearted smile.
"I...I'd have to....to think about that....meh king...",Croktin said with a solemn look coming upon his face.
"It'd be nice if you did.", Shezar said as he sat up in his bed.
"I do not know...I must think this over...first let me go and think about this over a week...or so...I have another home now...it is called Silverbrand...and I have something else...there...something meh heart is very close too...I don't think I could...", Croktin said as he stood up once more.
"I'd understand Croktin. You have another home away from here...hmm...well I'd be delighted if you could stay at least a week with us dwarves here in Facias. We'd like to see you once more...for a while at least.",Shezar said with a smile.
"That...I can do.",said Croktin with a grin on his face.
"Good...well now it is time to get some rest...you can sleep in a room next to here...I think I will as well...good night to you Croktin and my son.",Shezar said one last time and he rolled over in his canopy bed and closed his eyes. Croktin followed Hebar to a room next to his fathers and after a quick good night, Croktin found his head on a pillow. He wondered where exactly Belegi was at that moment. Thoughts of her ran through his mind as he quite soundly fell asleep with her on his mind. He had hoped she'd show up soon so he could see her once more and embrace her once more...
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Croktin Skullcrusher
- Posts: 29
- Joined: Fri Jul 18, 2003 7:09 pm
- Location: United States
Croktin awoke a while later after being led to bed. He found himself yawning as he stared up at the ceiling. He felt weighed down more than ever as he had forgotten to take off his chain mail before falling asleep. He found that he was more than tired the night before when he had fallen asleep. Many sounds had filled the night before. Many along the lines of water dripping against the cold stoney floor somewhere off in another corner of the room or possibly outside in the great circular room. Another strange sound such as the tap, tap, tap, against the walls was heard. Croktin had guessed that it was the sounds of shovels and pick axes being swung down hard against the dark gloomy halls far off that traveled through the walls. These sounds had echoed over and over until Croktin finally had fallen asleep. Perhaps it was the repeated rythems themselves that sounded as if a lullaby to him that made him fall asleep. Nevertheless, he was used to it.
Croktin quickly turned his head to the door as it creaked open. From the doorway a head popped in. It was Hebar's.
"It is good to see you were awake, Croktin. My father had sent I to wake you up as we have ordered a feast for you since you have come back to Facias. It is time for celebration for a while. You can tell all of us who wish to hear, which is most of us, about your journies out of Facias. The great hall is down past the royal chamber. It is a straight path from the circular room down the hall from wither we came. Parallel to this hall's entrance is another. Enter that one and follow it. You'll eventually come upon the great hall. Many will be waiting there for you. My father is already in his finest robes and awaiting your company there. I shall take my leave. Hurry now!",said Hebar, and with that he turned around and closed the door and walked away.
'I was begginin' to feel a little hungry...,' thought Croktin to himself.
After a few minutes of struggling to get up, he heaved himself to his feet and stood up. He looked around and grabbed his belongings that he had laid beside the bedside the night before. He grabbed his axe that layed against the wall and strapped it to his back. After he had finished preparing himself he walked out of the room and entered the circular hallway.
With this he followed Hebar's instructions and walked further and further down the hall and emerged into the Throne room. There he spotted the parallel entrance to the hall. He looked at some of the guards in there and nodded to a few and then entered the other hall across from him. A minute or so later he appeared into a brightly lit great hall. Many a table sat there in rows from left to right. All the chairs sat on one side to where they faced a main table up on a risen platform of marble floor.
Many of the chairs were taken by either male or female dwarves in casual dress. Of course, casual dress for the dwarves of Facias were that of robes. Many of the men had their beards braded into fine knots just as Shezar had. Croktin seemed to have been the only dwarf there that had not 'dressed' up for the occasion. He felt rather awkward walking into the halls of his forefathers not knowing how to dress for the occasion. He seemed to have forgotten the ways of Facias, as he had been nearly forty years away from his birthplace.
"Croktin, fellow, up here!",shouted Shezar with his loud booming voice.
Croktin looked up at the head table and saw Shezar sitting there. He was wearing fine and elaborate robes that looked silky in the light that various lamps and torches gave off. His beard, too, was knotted together. His seemed to have been the fairest of them all. His son sat on his one side, and on the side of his son, sat another male dwarf. He had looked younger than Hebar. Croktin made his way through the bustling room up to the head table. Many eyes followed him and many whispers sprouted up all around him. Overall it was an awkward moment. Croktin finally found his seat next to Shezar on his other side where an empty chair had sat. Shezar turned his head to Croktin and smiled a little as he seemed to be ready for a speech.
"You seem to have forgotten the ways of dressing for feasts. But no need to worry. You are fine. Of course you have moved and perhaps the customs there are different than those of here. Well now...before I begin to speak with you we can talk to the people...",Shezar said as he nodded out to all the other dwarves, whom had now quieted. They seemed to have been hushed and ready for their king to talk. And so Shezar was getting ready to do. He stood up and looked down sternly at all of his people. He opened his mouth to speak...
Croktin quickly turned his head to the door as it creaked open. From the doorway a head popped in. It was Hebar's.
"It is good to see you were awake, Croktin. My father had sent I to wake you up as we have ordered a feast for you since you have come back to Facias. It is time for celebration for a while. You can tell all of us who wish to hear, which is most of us, about your journies out of Facias. The great hall is down past the royal chamber. It is a straight path from the circular room down the hall from wither we came. Parallel to this hall's entrance is another. Enter that one and follow it. You'll eventually come upon the great hall. Many will be waiting there for you. My father is already in his finest robes and awaiting your company there. I shall take my leave. Hurry now!",said Hebar, and with that he turned around and closed the door and walked away.
'I was begginin' to feel a little hungry...,' thought Croktin to himself.
After a few minutes of struggling to get up, he heaved himself to his feet and stood up. He looked around and grabbed his belongings that he had laid beside the bedside the night before. He grabbed his axe that layed against the wall and strapped it to his back. After he had finished preparing himself he walked out of the room and entered the circular hallway.
With this he followed Hebar's instructions and walked further and further down the hall and emerged into the Throne room. There he spotted the parallel entrance to the hall. He looked at some of the guards in there and nodded to a few and then entered the other hall across from him. A minute or so later he appeared into a brightly lit great hall. Many a table sat there in rows from left to right. All the chairs sat on one side to where they faced a main table up on a risen platform of marble floor.
Many of the chairs were taken by either male or female dwarves in casual dress. Of course, casual dress for the dwarves of Facias were that of robes. Many of the men had their beards braded into fine knots just as Shezar had. Croktin seemed to have been the only dwarf there that had not 'dressed' up for the occasion. He felt rather awkward walking into the halls of his forefathers not knowing how to dress for the occasion. He seemed to have forgotten the ways of Facias, as he had been nearly forty years away from his birthplace.
"Croktin, fellow, up here!",shouted Shezar with his loud booming voice.
Croktin looked up at the head table and saw Shezar sitting there. He was wearing fine and elaborate robes that looked silky in the light that various lamps and torches gave off. His beard, too, was knotted together. His seemed to have been the fairest of them all. His son sat on his one side, and on the side of his son, sat another male dwarf. He had looked younger than Hebar. Croktin made his way through the bustling room up to the head table. Many eyes followed him and many whispers sprouted up all around him. Overall it was an awkward moment. Croktin finally found his seat next to Shezar on his other side where an empty chair had sat. Shezar turned his head to Croktin and smiled a little as he seemed to be ready for a speech.
"You seem to have forgotten the ways of dressing for feasts. But no need to worry. You are fine. Of course you have moved and perhaps the customs there are different than those of here. Well now...before I begin to speak with you we can talk to the people...",Shezar said as he nodded out to all the other dwarves, whom had now quieted. They seemed to have been hushed and ready for their king to talk. And so Shezar was getting ready to do. He stood up and looked down sternly at all of his people. He opened his mouth to speak...
Slowly Belegi makes her way on the frozen cobble path towards a tall wooden building, smoke comes out of its chimney in huge clouds. All around the inn the land almost looks dead, nature has fallen asleep for winter, but the inn looks just like an island of merryness. It´s about sunfall and dim light shines through the windows of the inn. Belegi paces up a bit as she becomes aware that her love awaits her in this building that seems to invite her to enter.
Obviously build by humans, the door is made of large, bare wooden boards and opens with a loud sound. Belegi immediatly is hit by a emerging cloud of smoke that has its origin in the countless pipes of travellers sitting around the fireside, heating up their shaking bodies. The smoke drives tears to her eyes, but these tears are also thoses of sadness; there is absolutely no dwarf among the travellers. Passing the lobby, Belegi heads for the innkeeper who stands behind a counter made of massive wood, it´s almost as tall as Belegi.
"Greetings, little lady of Facias, how can I help you?" the innkeeper snarls.
"Ui, hullo to you. I´m an alien to these lands and my feet are almost frozen. But this is not why I came here. I lost my... my intended... well, I lost another dwarf, his name is Croktin Skullcrusher. Could you tell me in which room he rests?" Belegi replies.
"Urr, Grotin you say?" the innkeeper replies bored.
"Croktin!" Belegi shouts angry, her eyes looking stern as if she encounters a villain at the gates of Silverbrand, a look only known to her foes.
The innkeeper jerks and his eyes catch sight of Belegi´s chainmail, hidden underneath her red cape.
"Forgive me, I almost forgot... He left a message for you. Your friend has left in a hurry, he had a strange glimpse in his eyes. It was just like he was going to a funeral. Head north, dear dwarven lady, to the caverns of Facias and you´ll find your friend."
Belegi listenes to the innkeeper and all of her face gets pale, even more pale as it was during the passage on the ship. Croktin left her behind twice.
Obviously build by humans, the door is made of large, bare wooden boards and opens with a loud sound. Belegi immediatly is hit by a emerging cloud of smoke that has its origin in the countless pipes of travellers sitting around the fireside, heating up their shaking bodies. The smoke drives tears to her eyes, but these tears are also thoses of sadness; there is absolutely no dwarf among the travellers. Passing the lobby, Belegi heads for the innkeeper who stands behind a counter made of massive wood, it´s almost as tall as Belegi.
"Greetings, little lady of Facias, how can I help you?" the innkeeper snarls.
"Ui, hullo to you. I´m an alien to these lands and my feet are almost frozen. But this is not why I came here. I lost my... my intended... well, I lost another dwarf, his name is Croktin Skullcrusher. Could you tell me in which room he rests?" Belegi replies.
"Urr, Grotin you say?" the innkeeper replies bored.
"Croktin!" Belegi shouts angry, her eyes looking stern as if she encounters a villain at the gates of Silverbrand, a look only known to her foes.
The innkeeper jerks and his eyes catch sight of Belegi´s chainmail, hidden underneath her red cape.
"Forgive me, I almost forgot... He left a message for you. Your friend has left in a hurry, he had a strange glimpse in his eyes. It was just like he was going to a funeral. Head north, dear dwarven lady, to the caverns of Facias and you´ll find your friend."
Belegi listenes to the innkeeper and all of her face gets pale, even more pale as it was during the passage on the ship. Croktin left her behind twice.
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Croktin Skullcrusher
- Posts: 29
- Joined: Fri Jul 18, 2003 7:09 pm
- Location: United States
Meanwhile, during the times of the feast, in the inn that Belegi stood in, a figure walked in a time after her. He was short, and stocky, the stature of a dwarf. Alas, it is not Croktin, but someone else. He walked over by the counter in which Belegi was talking to the innkeeper, and nodded to several other people along the way. He seemed to have been minding his own business when suddenly he heard the name "Croktin" pop up from the female dwarf's mouth. He pivoted his head to the right where Belegi had been talking to the innkeeper.
"....Head north, dear dwarven lady, to the caverns of Facias and you´ll find your friend.",the innkeeper had said to her.
The other male dwarf from across the room heard this and saw her face turn pale, as pale as the fresh snow that was falling outside. He turned to her and walked slowly over to her. He seemed to have been that but of an old dwarf. He looked as if he had seen many winters. His beard was a grayish color and his bushy brows were nearly white as the clouds in the sky could be. He seemed to have known alot. As he came upon Belegi and the innkeeper he looked down at his feet, now that he had heard the name, he had a look of sorrow and worry in his eyes.
"Excuse meh miss...You search for Croktin...Skullcrusher right? I received word...from meh king back in Facias about a week ago...that Croktin was comin' with a guest back to Facias...I think thee king set up a sherade for us all to see dear old Croktin...but...alas...I think something has...Well let me say it this way...on the way here from Facias...I took the forest instead of the open plains...the forest are dangerous themselves but thee snowy plains are filled with horrors...many dangers such as wild men, kangliers, and other things such as Troll's wander about...but when I emerged from thee forest on meh way here....I saw...a group of trolls standing over a carcass....it was fresh no doubt..."
"I stayed there for thee night and after that they had lost interest in thee thing and left...I walked up to him and it was a dwarf...his beard was brown...his eyes were brown...and his head was brown...He looked like a dwarf to me and he looked very much like thee Croktin I remember from many years ago...except fer thee beard of course...but...I jes thought ye'd like to hear that...I'm sorry about that...", the old dwarf said as he looked down at his feet again.
This dwarf had his eyes fixed together with a look of symphathy for Belegi. He had hoped that she would understand what he was speaking. He only awaited for her reactions to his story. But little did this dwarf, or Belegi know, was that Croktin had made it to Facias...but another dwarf had met his doom in the snowy plains of the North.
"....Head north, dear dwarven lady, to the caverns of Facias and you´ll find your friend.",the innkeeper had said to her.
The other male dwarf from across the room heard this and saw her face turn pale, as pale as the fresh snow that was falling outside. He turned to her and walked slowly over to her. He seemed to have been that but of an old dwarf. He looked as if he had seen many winters. His beard was a grayish color and his bushy brows were nearly white as the clouds in the sky could be. He seemed to have known alot. As he came upon Belegi and the innkeeper he looked down at his feet, now that he had heard the name, he had a look of sorrow and worry in his eyes.
"Excuse meh miss...You search for Croktin...Skullcrusher right? I received word...from meh king back in Facias about a week ago...that Croktin was comin' with a guest back to Facias...I think thee king set up a sherade for us all to see dear old Croktin...but...alas...I think something has...Well let me say it this way...on the way here from Facias...I took the forest instead of the open plains...the forest are dangerous themselves but thee snowy plains are filled with horrors...many dangers such as wild men, kangliers, and other things such as Troll's wander about...but when I emerged from thee forest on meh way here....I saw...a group of trolls standing over a carcass....it was fresh no doubt..."
"I stayed there for thee night and after that they had lost interest in thee thing and left...I walked up to him and it was a dwarf...his beard was brown...his eyes were brown...and his head was brown...He looked like a dwarf to me and he looked very much like thee Croktin I remember from many years ago...except fer thee beard of course...but...I jes thought ye'd like to hear that...I'm sorry about that...", the old dwarf said as he looked down at his feet again.
This dwarf had his eyes fixed together with a look of symphathy for Belegi. He had hoped that she would understand what he was speaking. He only awaited for her reactions to his story. But little did this dwarf, or Belegi know, was that Croktin had made it to Facias...but another dwarf had met his doom in the snowy plains of the North.
Belegi almost collapses and only the reaching hand of the overbringer of dreadful mares prevents her from falling to the ground, crying and sobbing. All the crowd inside the lobby of the inn beholds the pitiful bundle that was once the proud and merry dwarven maiden.
“This can´t be…” Belegi mutters.
After minutes of awful silence, Belegi slowly rises and her eyes meet the eyes of the surrounding peoples. Stern and grim her face has turned and despite of her small size no one dares to behold her any longer. Without a further word she steps towards the door and leaves the inn into the darkness that now lies ahead in her life. Watching her back the peoples within the inn can catch sight of a single tear, falling down into the snow and leaving nothing behind but a small crater.
Without a destination she prowls the plains of this foreign land, all her hopes one for good.
“This can´t be…” Belegi mutters.
After minutes of awful silence, Belegi slowly rises and her eyes meet the eyes of the surrounding peoples. Stern and grim her face has turned and despite of her small size no one dares to behold her any longer. Without a further word she steps towards the door and leaves the inn into the darkness that now lies ahead in her life. Watching her back the peoples within the inn can catch sight of a single tear, falling down into the snow and leaving nothing behind but a small crater.
Without a destination she prowls the plains of this foreign land, all her hopes one for good.
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Croktin Skullcrusher
- Posts: 29
- Joined: Fri Jul 18, 2003 7:09 pm
- Location: United States
The land that Belegi had began to cross upon was that of which the corpse the old dwarf had found had laid upon. And still it was there, as the old dwarf has not bothered to touch it. If Belegi would come upon this, she would find that it would not be that of Croktin. The corpse's cheek bones were to high to be that of Croktin and his browns were bushier than his own. The beard was longer apparently than Croktin's and seemed to have been shaped into a different style.
Back in Facias Croktin had found a seat next to his king and the food had been served. Shezar had given a long speech abouth ow grateful he and Facias were to have Croktin back amongst them for the time being. He had bidded them all good tidings and soon all of the dwarves had began to eat. Croktin himself could not stop but think about what he had done earlier and if it was right to do what he had did. He had left Belegi alone without telling here how to get to Facias or anything. He was too worried to stop and wait. Now he found that he was worried for her. Shezar turned his head to Croktin and cocked an eyebrow up, after he had stopped laughing.
"What is wrong my dear old Croktin?",he asked curiously.
"I'm jes worried...let us not speak of it fer now and enjoy our food.", Croktin said to Shezar
"Very well...let us eat.",Shezar said. He nodded to Croktin and turned back to his son and started to talk again. Croktin continued to eat slowly until his attention was brought up to the door. An old looking dwarf, the same one from the inn back in the port town, appeared.
"Ah...glad to see you could join us. Have a seat Hemlin",Shezar said.
"What is all this merrymaking for my king?",Hemlin asked.
"Didn't you hear? For the celebration of the return of Croktin right here beside me."Shezar said.
As Hemlin heard this his eyes grew wide in disappointment and fear.
"What is that look for Hemlin?",[/i]Shezar asked slowly.
"Well...the most peculiar thing happened to me...",Hemlin went on to explain....
Back in Facias Croktin had found a seat next to his king and the food had been served. Shezar had given a long speech abouth ow grateful he and Facias were to have Croktin back amongst them for the time being. He had bidded them all good tidings and soon all of the dwarves had began to eat. Croktin himself could not stop but think about what he had done earlier and if it was right to do what he had did. He had left Belegi alone without telling here how to get to Facias or anything. He was too worried to stop and wait. Now he found that he was worried for her. Shezar turned his head to Croktin and cocked an eyebrow up, after he had stopped laughing.
"What is wrong my dear old Croktin?",he asked curiously.
"I'm jes worried...let us not speak of it fer now and enjoy our food.", Croktin said to Shezar
"Very well...let us eat.",Shezar said. He nodded to Croktin and turned back to his son and started to talk again. Croktin continued to eat slowly until his attention was brought up to the door. An old looking dwarf, the same one from the inn back in the port town, appeared.
"Ah...glad to see you could join us. Have a seat Hemlin",Shezar said.
"What is all this merrymaking for my king?",Hemlin asked.
"Didn't you hear? For the celebration of the return of Croktin right here beside me."Shezar said.
As Hemlin heard this his eyes grew wide in disappointment and fear.
"What is that look for Hemlin?",[/i]Shezar asked slowly.
"Well...the most peculiar thing happened to me...",Hemlin went on to explain....
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Croktin Skullcrusher
- Posts: 29
- Joined: Fri Jul 18, 2003 7:09 pm
- Location: United States
Hermlin had finally done told the story of what had happened back at the inn in the port town. Croktin found his mind racing with thoughts of guilt and the such for not waiting for Belegi. By now she had thought he was dead because of some mistakes, and he had to do something to fix it.
"She has left, Croktin. Ye won't be able to leave back for your island until after a few days when the next ship comes in. By this time You should be ready to go ahead home. If ye want to catch her and tell her what happened...again I am truly sorry.",Hemlin said.
Croktin nodded and looked up at his king.
"I will be leaving in a few days...I must go and find her.",he said.
Shezar nodded understandingly.
"It was good to see ye again.",Shezar nodded to him.
The feast had went by and Croktin spoke to many of the dwarves who had not seen him for the great duration of time, and told them many tales of his life outside of Facias, three days time passed and Hemlin approached Croktin. He told him that the ship had arrived and would be leaving in a few hours time. Croktin nodded and went to bid his last farewells to the king and the court. After he had done all this he had started to head out on the tundra through the vast plains of it. He was heading south again.
"She has left, Croktin. Ye won't be able to leave back for your island until after a few days when the next ship comes in. By this time You should be ready to go ahead home. If ye want to catch her and tell her what happened...again I am truly sorry.",Hemlin said.
Croktin nodded and looked up at his king.
"I will be leaving in a few days...I must go and find her.",he said.
Shezar nodded understandingly.
"It was good to see ye again.",Shezar nodded to him.
The feast had went by and Croktin spoke to many of the dwarves who had not seen him for the great duration of time, and told them many tales of his life outside of Facias, three days time passed and Hemlin approached Croktin. He told him that the ship had arrived and would be leaving in a few hours time. Croktin nodded and went to bid his last farewells to the king and the court. After he had done all this he had started to head out on the tundra through the vast plains of it. He was heading south again.
"Arr, we never should have come here" a deep voice mutters.
"I´d prefer fighting myself, but this is not our war." another voice replies.
The plains of the land around Facias are white as the wedding dress of a virgin, yet three dark spots can be spotted roaming the lands. Dwarves they are, wielding axes and shields, bearing the escutcheon the people of the Seven Mountains.
"What is that?!" one the dwarves yells and he points at something that seems to be two bundles of clothes underneath a tree, one brown, one red. Coming closer, they recognize that both of the seems to be people as well.
"Heyda! Who is that? Can we help the both of you?" the third voice yells.
There is no reply at all. As the dwarves of the Seven Mountains approach the bundles from behind, suddenly one of the bundles moves and turns around. Looking into the sad eyes, full of tears, of a relatively young dwarven maiden, the three dwarves immediatly feel sorry.
"It´s not him. It is not him. But where is he?" the red bundle mutters.
"Hur? What are you talking about?" the dwarf with the deep voice replies.
The red bundle of clothes arises and stiffenes. She removes her hood from her head and her locked hair is full of little ice crystals, shining like tiny stars on a clear dark midnight sky. She beholds the shields of the dwarves and nods suddenly.
"So, you come from the Seven Mountains to the lands of Facias? Tell me, what do you want here in this lands of misery?" Belegi speaks with firm voice.
"Arr, how do you know... We came here to find two dwarves from a distant city called Silverbrand. We are messengers of an old dwarf who´s origin are the Seven Mountains, he asked us for this favor due to the fact that his city tends to be drawn into a war. He needs every axe home to crush the foes of his realm." the dwarf with the deep voice, obviously the leader, announces.
Belegi just nods in return.
"Per chance, have you met a dwarf called Croktin Skullcrusher and another dwarf called Belegi Zahar? We come from the great city of Facias and we were told that they never arrived there although her arrival was announced for the last week."
Belegi just nods again.
"So, this Croktin has never arrived in Facias you say? What about the king of Facias... Is he cured from his illness...?" Belegi asks, her face showing no emotion at all.
"Arr, cured? Illness? The king of Facias is not ill at all we were told. There is a celebration prepared in his halls, I seriously doubt he´s ill." another one of the dwarves who remained until now replies.
"So, you found Belegi Zahar and it seems like you won´t find Croktin. We were split up and I was told he was killed." Belegi says, pointing at the dead dwarf lieing in the snow.
"But this is just someone who looks like Croktin... Almost a look-a-like. Now you tell me he never got to Facias and that the king is not ill at all. I don´t know what I shall believe." Belegi adds and thoughts run through her head. What if Croktin arranged all this to get rid of her? What if he planned to split up with her? What if all this was... ridicilous thought she decides, but the truth is hidden to her.
"Arr, so you are that Belegi?! Are you kidding?! Tialdin told us to look for a masteresse of the axe that makes even demons shake and shiver, but not for someone... female like you. You don´t seem to be a woman of the axe. But that doesn´t matter now. We have urgent news. There is a war erupting on your home island and the town of Silverbrand is endangered. He wants you and this Croktin to return to your home immediatly." the leader of the dwarves reports.
"Oh, I see. Then... I... I come with you. Maybe it´s better this way. I think you won´t find Croktin when even I can´t find him. Lead the way to the harbor." Belegi sadly says.
So the party heads for the harbor again and after some bribery the captain of a ship can be convinced to change his route so he is able to drop off the dwarves at the harbor of Troll´s Bane. On the trip back, Belegi stays up most of the nights and stares at the dark, silent sea, lost in thoughts and arguing with herself if she did the right thing. So ends her journey to the foreign lands, regretting that she ever started this dreadful journey at all. But at home a little surprise waits for her...
"I´d prefer fighting myself, but this is not our war." another voice replies.
The plains of the land around Facias are white as the wedding dress of a virgin, yet three dark spots can be spotted roaming the lands. Dwarves they are, wielding axes and shields, bearing the escutcheon the people of the Seven Mountains.
"What is that?!" one the dwarves yells and he points at something that seems to be two bundles of clothes underneath a tree, one brown, one red. Coming closer, they recognize that both of the seems to be people as well.
"Heyda! Who is that? Can we help the both of you?" the third voice yells.
There is no reply at all. As the dwarves of the Seven Mountains approach the bundles from behind, suddenly one of the bundles moves and turns around. Looking into the sad eyes, full of tears, of a relatively young dwarven maiden, the three dwarves immediatly feel sorry.
"It´s not him. It is not him. But where is he?" the red bundle mutters.
"Hur? What are you talking about?" the dwarf with the deep voice replies.
The red bundle of clothes arises and stiffenes. She removes her hood from her head and her locked hair is full of little ice crystals, shining like tiny stars on a clear dark midnight sky. She beholds the shields of the dwarves and nods suddenly.
"So, you come from the Seven Mountains to the lands of Facias? Tell me, what do you want here in this lands of misery?" Belegi speaks with firm voice.
"Arr, how do you know... We came here to find two dwarves from a distant city called Silverbrand. We are messengers of an old dwarf who´s origin are the Seven Mountains, he asked us for this favor due to the fact that his city tends to be drawn into a war. He needs every axe home to crush the foes of his realm." the dwarf with the deep voice, obviously the leader, announces.
Belegi just nods in return.
"Per chance, have you met a dwarf called Croktin Skullcrusher and another dwarf called Belegi Zahar? We come from the great city of Facias and we were told that they never arrived there although her arrival was announced for the last week."
Belegi just nods again.
"So, this Croktin has never arrived in Facias you say? What about the king of Facias... Is he cured from his illness...?" Belegi asks, her face showing no emotion at all.
"Arr, cured? Illness? The king of Facias is not ill at all we were told. There is a celebration prepared in his halls, I seriously doubt he´s ill." another one of the dwarves who remained until now replies.
"So, you found Belegi Zahar and it seems like you won´t find Croktin. We were split up and I was told he was killed." Belegi says, pointing at the dead dwarf lieing in the snow.
"But this is just someone who looks like Croktin... Almost a look-a-like. Now you tell me he never got to Facias and that the king is not ill at all. I don´t know what I shall believe." Belegi adds and thoughts run through her head. What if Croktin arranged all this to get rid of her? What if he planned to split up with her? What if all this was... ridicilous thought she decides, but the truth is hidden to her.
"Arr, so you are that Belegi?! Are you kidding?! Tialdin told us to look for a masteresse of the axe that makes even demons shake and shiver, but not for someone... female like you. You don´t seem to be a woman of the axe. But that doesn´t matter now. We have urgent news. There is a war erupting on your home island and the town of Silverbrand is endangered. He wants you and this Croktin to return to your home immediatly." the leader of the dwarves reports.
"Oh, I see. Then... I... I come with you. Maybe it´s better this way. I think you won´t find Croktin when even I can´t find him. Lead the way to the harbor." Belegi sadly says.
So the party heads for the harbor again and after some bribery the captain of a ship can be convinced to change his route so he is able to drop off the dwarves at the harbor of Troll´s Bane. On the trip back, Belegi stays up most of the nights and stares at the dark, silent sea, lost in thoughts and arguing with herself if she did the right thing. So ends her journey to the foreign lands, regretting that she ever started this dreadful journey at all. But at home a little surprise waits for her...
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Croktin Skullcrusher
- Posts: 29
- Joined: Fri Jul 18, 2003 7:09 pm
- Location: United States
Some time later after leaving from Facias, Croktin came upon the town from which he had arrived. A feeling of regret came over him as he looked around in hopes of finding Belegi. There were no signs at all that she had been there. Perhaps she had left back to Troll's Bane. Either way he was determined to get back. He suddenly came upon the docks and looked around for the ship that had brought him. Sure enough it was there. The same crew and captain were all looking down at him.
"Ahoy there, I was wondering where you were, you're little lady friend came by here earlier and borded another vessel over there to set sale down south. I was going to stop her to take her but I just had let her go. Those three she was with did not look to friendly...",the captain said with a gesture of his hand and eyed Croktin up and down.
"I wish to get back south...if that's possible.",Croktin said. The captain nodded and gestured for Croktin to come on up to the ship. Croktin did so and came up and looked around. The crew seemed to have been replaced again with some shoddy looking young humans. They all looked as if they were poor before they had been sailors. Croktin wouldn't be shocked if all if he had knew they were beggers.
"Oh and also, the three were muttering to the lady about war back home...wherever a dwarf like you lives on that island. Perhaps there is something you should look into about this. Well I won't tell you much more as I do not know much more but that is it. We should arrive back in the isles in a few hours. I've added a few more sails and the southern winds are strong tonight...let us proceed!",the captain said.
Croktin only nodded and looked over to the entrance of the cabin. He headed over to it and walked in. He found himself lieing down in a bed with his eyes staring up at the ceiling. Time overcame him and he ended up drifting to sleep. Quite some time later, there was a bump, and Croktin's eyes shot open as he quickly sat up and looked around. The door up the stairs that led down into the cabin was ajar and a head was poked through it. The captain's face it was.
"We are here...",the man said with a big smile. Croktin found himself smiling a little bit out of anxiety and soon found himself off the ship and waving farewell to the captain. It was dark out and the stars twinkled up above as they watched the dwarf walk to the town of Troll's Bane. He found his way back down underground with only one thing on his mind, to look for his love.
"Ahoy there, I was wondering where you were, you're little lady friend came by here earlier and borded another vessel over there to set sale down south. I was going to stop her to take her but I just had let her go. Those three she was with did not look to friendly...",the captain said with a gesture of his hand and eyed Croktin up and down.
"I wish to get back south...if that's possible.",Croktin said. The captain nodded and gestured for Croktin to come on up to the ship. Croktin did so and came up and looked around. The crew seemed to have been replaced again with some shoddy looking young humans. They all looked as if they were poor before they had been sailors. Croktin wouldn't be shocked if all if he had knew they were beggers.
"Oh and also, the three were muttering to the lady about war back home...wherever a dwarf like you lives on that island. Perhaps there is something you should look into about this. Well I won't tell you much more as I do not know much more but that is it. We should arrive back in the isles in a few hours. I've added a few more sails and the southern winds are strong tonight...let us proceed!",the captain said.
Croktin only nodded and looked over to the entrance of the cabin. He headed over to it and walked in. He found himself lieing down in a bed with his eyes staring up at the ceiling. Time overcame him and he ended up drifting to sleep. Quite some time later, there was a bump, and Croktin's eyes shot open as he quickly sat up and looked around. The door up the stairs that led down into the cabin was ajar and a head was poked through it. The captain's face it was.
"We are here...",the man said with a big smile. Croktin found himself smiling a little bit out of anxiety and soon found himself off the ship and waving farewell to the captain. It was dark out and the stars twinkled up above as they watched the dwarf walk to the town of Troll's Bane. He found his way back down underground with only one thing on his mind, to look for his love.