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I would like to point out that I plan to make this long, divided into chapters

Alun Theodore Terod

Chapter 1: On his way

    It was a brisk morning for the 17-year-old Alun Terod.  This was a natural occurrence, considering the town of Drundir was located far from anywhere warm.  Alun hopped out of bed and headed from his sleeping-quarters to the washroom.  Alun quickly splashed his face with water, attempting to wake himself up further.  This day was to be a fabulous day for Alun; he was going to see the Drundir Council about becoming a Hunter.  Alun hurriedly dressed in his most regal outfit and rushed down the stairs and towards the front door of his two-story manor.  As he was about to leave, Alun felt a cold, bony hand on his shoulder.  Alun spun around to find that it was only the family butler.  Kindly, the butler said,

    “Please take care Master Alun.  And do not forget your father’s hat.  He would be proud of you to wear it on this day.”  “Thank you Drogar,” Alun responded to the butler.  “Sometimes I forget these things.  It is a good thing I have you.”  Alun quickly rushed back up the stairs to his father’s old room and snatched the beautiful feathered hat hanging on the bedpost.  While he was upstairs, Alun shouted down,

    “By the way Drogar, I will not be back until late tonight.  After my meeting with the Council I plan to dine with Lorraine.”  Remembering that he was in a hurry, Alun jumped down the stairs and headed swiftly out the door.

    Never the man to be caught off guard while traveling, Alun went into the storage shed and pulled his crossbow and a quiver of bolts from the wall display; taking every precaution is all that concerned him at this point.  Finally, Alun grabbed some rather perforated armor and equipped himself of it, while heading out.  As Alun trudged along the main road, on his way to training he passed through one of the oldest slums in Drundir.  Looking to the left, Alun noticed a forest that seemed endless.  That Freemont elf lives in there somewhere…Alun thought to himself.  As he was in deep thought, a piercing scream disturbed Alun.  As he rushed in the direction of the scream, it became apparent that it was a little girl who was making the cry.  It also became apparent to Alun that a very large man was mugging the girl.  That man…something isn’t right about him.  Alun thought.  Alun quickly took cover around the corner of the building that the girl was pinned against.  The voices soon became audible.

    “Shut up,” The large man yelled, while hitting the little girl.  “Just give me anything of value you have and I will decide if that is enough!”

    “B-but I have nothing!” The girl cried out.  “That sure is a damned shame, li’l girl.  I will have to take something else then hehe.  The man said maniacally.  Realizing what the brutal man was about to do to the unfortunate girl, Alun decided to step in.  Swiftly and skillfully, Alun loaded his crossbow, which he calls Lockheed.  And with that, Alun stepped into view, his black hair blowing in the cold breeze and his passionate, sapphire eyes shimmering in the sun’s glow with Lockheed by his side.

    “Planning on taking advantage of this little girl?”  Alun calmly inquired.  “I guarantee that thy attempts shall be thy downfall!”  Evilly, the large man turned and gazed upon Alun.  “Do not taunt me, noble!  I shall do as I please.  Perhaps I should show you what I mean!”  And with that, the man’s body began to alter.

    “Doppelganger!”  Alun said, rather taken aback.  Quickly, Alun thought back to his childhood.  His family was attacked by doppelgangers while he was away at the Drundir School for Combatants.  When he arrived at home that day, there was one doppelganger left, with many dust piles beside it from its allies.  The one that was left had cornered Drogar.

    “Master Alun,” Drogar had shouted.  “Grab your father’s crossbow and shoot the beast when it is in mid-transformation.  It will show its black heart.  Shoot it then!”  Alun had then gazed at his mother’s corpse.  As Alun began heading up the stairs he inquired as to the whereabouts of his father.  Drogar explained that the doppelgangers must have replaced him while Alun was away.  The sight of his mother’s corpse, combined with the thought of his missing father, drove Alun into an inconceivable rage.  Alun quickly sprinted up the stairs and into his father’s quarters, where he found the crossbow just laying there.  The doppelganger, seeking an easy route, transformed into a jaguar and leaped most of the way up the stairs in pursuit of Alun.  The beast entered the room where Alun had gone to find the young boy armed with his father’s crossbow.  “Ssss,” the demon hissed.  “You only have one shot; such a shame.  I think I shall show my true form and enjoy you for my dinner!”  Alun then knew that his moment was coming.  Then he saw it; the beast began to change.  Alun then saw the heart, a shade of black that was darker than any other black he had seen.  Quickly, Alun fired the crossbow at the doppelganger’s heart.  The bolt flew true to its target, piercing the beast straight through the heart.  Instantly the beast let out a shrill cry and dissipated into a pile of dust, similar to the ones he had seen at the entrance to the manor.  From then on, Alun called his crossbow, “Lockheed.”

---SMACK!  Alun was quickly brought back from his thoughts from a stunning blow made by the doppelganger now faced in front of him.  Alun stumbled slightly, but quickly regained focus.

    “So that is the way you want it…” Alun instigated.  “…Then so be it!”  And with that Alun aimed Lockheed towards the demon’s chest.  The doppelganger, not one to be taken so easily, leaped from one building side, to around the corner.

    “Damn,” Alun stated. “He escaped.”  Remembering the little girl, Alun quickly aided her.  Looking up, the girl said, “Thank you, Sir Alun.”

    “Fear not Lillian.  It is all right now.  That demon shall trouble you no longer.  Please run home quickly.”  With that, the little girl, Lillian, sprinted home.  Alun shook his head, remembering what the doppelgangers had done to his life.  “Someday, father, I will find you…Someday.”




-~-~-~-End Chapter 1-~-~-~-

OOC EDIT: It was supposed to be 17... didnt notice after all this time....

Alun Terod reads over his old post, recalling the day that he posted it and trying to remember exactly why he posted it. After chalking it up to some 'just because' reason, he begins to write:


"People of Trollsbane,
Some of you remember me, well it is likely that very few of you remember me. My name is Alun Terod. I was once hired as a mercenary to take down the elf called Cain Freemont, who was accused of man-slaughter at the time. Though I knew it was in his defense that he did this, I still took the money and began searching. After coming in contact with close friends of his, I realized that if I were to kill this man for his crime, I would be more a horrid monster than he was made out to be.


Slowly, the people changed me; the island changed me. I became more peaceful, less aggressive, and all around a 'good guy.' After a while, I became bored with everyday life in Trollsbane, so I sent a hawk to Drundir with a message basically requesting a means of return to Drundir. It was when I became rekindled with my life that I remembered my true objective: Becoming a Hunter to the Drundir nobility.


After much training and other such things, I have returned, assigned the duty of tracking down Cain Freemont, who was named the hero of Drundir roughly three or four months ago. I am to take him back to Drundir, where he is to stand before the Marquis and become the Captain of the Drundir Knights in place of the now deceased Elridge Callahan. I know that a fair amount of you shall miss him, but my orders are strict and clear. And I shant evade my duties again.

Yours sincerely,
Alun T. Terod,
Drundirian Hunter"

After finishing his writing, Alun rereads his work and edits a few things. Happy with his now perfected letter, Alun hangs the letter for all to see on the town wall and grabs his crossbow, heading out to hunt the undead while keeping his archery skills sharpened.

Cain reads the letter of Alun's and becomes somewhat angry. In a fairly swift method, Cain writes in response,


"Damn it Alun, you shall not even try taking me back to Drundir. I thought you had changed, but I suppose it was just a front to get me to trust you again. You do realize that if I go back there again, I won't be attacked by the nobility of Drundir, but rather the common folk who believe I slaughtered that bandit in cold blood, regardless of whether or not I am made 'Captain.'

Elridge is dead? How did he die? When? He was one of the few who understood my life before I came to Trollsbane. I just hope that Rose Marie Callahan is in a good home somewhere. The gods know she cannot survive all alone.

Regardless of this, I will not go back with you. You'll be taking me there as a rotting corpse before you get your hands on me, alive. Keep your distance, Alun. Magic travels far.

*-~-Cain-~-*"

Cain finishes his message and pins it on the town wall, making sure to wander off into the shadows before moving too much.

To the distinguished Cain Freemont,

You shall return with me to Drundir, lest I be stuck on this island for the rest of my days. They will not let me return without you. You'll come with me. Elridge died, yes. A horde of ogres overtook his encampment while they were sleeping. Apparently there was a traitor in their midst. Worry not about Rose. She is in good hands.

About the people of Drundir: Worry not about the common folk, for they cannot touch you. Your magic easily surpasses their physical capabilities anyway.

Please do not make this difficult. I just wish to return home. I shall close in on you sooner or later, best just give up now and surrender to me so we can leave in the next few days.

Signed,
Alun T. Terod,
Drundirian Hunter