Delving Into Darknes (Closed)

[Firmhanded_Daddy]

The smell of pipe smoke mixed with the smell of ale, spices from various foods, and too many bodies crammed into the common area. He made it a point to pick out each scent and identify the nearest source even as he read the job listing. Such exercises were what kept his senses sharp and what kept him alive. Allowing his mind to subconsciously process information at the pace of a lightning strike and feed it to his consciousness so he could act on it had saved his life and those of many party members almost as many times as he had pieces of gold in his purse.

Wanted: Extremely capable adventurers to venture into the caverns beneath the Iron Tree forest to the south. Reports of a great evil power is gathering there and after some Scrying, we discovered that the lich Mar’kazdul has been gathering power and forces of darkness. His goal is unknown but he must be stopped at all costs. Platinum rank adventurers or up, please. The reward for successful completion of this mission is double the standard rate, plus a title and appropriate holdings.”

He looked over the paper several more times and contemplated the mission. He didn’t need to do it. Frankly, he didn’t need to do any work anymore. With what he had made plying his trade and during the Godfall war he had all the money he could ever spend, not that he ever showed that fact. He didn’t dress the part of a rich man; sure his gear was good quality, but there were no silks beneath his studded leather, no fancy embroidery along his gloves. The gloves were made of an unusual material, but that was likely due to the fact that they were magical in nature.

All adventurers bore a rank plate on their gear to signify how powerful they were when they were in town. It was a simple piece of metal that one could tuck into armor, or robes after you left the city. He bore a platinum plate with a white slash across it which got him second glances often. Platinum was the highest rank attainable for most adventurers; the white streak signified the adventurer had surpassed normal deeds and performed some heroic feat. What got him the second glance was the number scrawled next to it. It displayed the age the adventurer was when he completed the feat. White slash, twenty-two.

He stepped up to the mission desk and smiled at the young lady who was behind the counter. She knew him immediately, most people there did, if not at least by reputation and glance. She beamed brightly and leaned eagerly against the counter. ”H Hello Mr. Talinar. How can I help you?”

He raised a brow at her and then let out a soft chuckle. “Now Shelia what have I told you? Kriss is fine. I’m no different than anyone else. Put me down for the Iron Forest job. Out of curiosity why are they going so overboard with the reward? Clearing out a Lich should not be a big deal for a well prepared Plat team.”

She blushed furiously, pulling out a ledger and in a flowing script, she placed ‘Krisstoss Talinar’ under another name and then sprinkled some sand on the page to let the ink dry. ”Sorry. You are just a local hero around here. There are not that many legendary ranked adventurers, to think one of them came from our very own streets. To answer your question…Kriss” She tasted the name on her tongue as if sampling a lovers flesh, then continued. ”So many adventurers that would be able to handle this are away pushing back the goblinoid invasion to the north. There has been almost no interest. Only one other person signed up for this mission and we could not sanction a solo foray. With you going along we can finally deploy this job. Which is good, the nobility is really anxious about it. They think that the Lich is using the goblin attacks to draw away most of our strength so that we are vulnerable. So why did you decide to take the job? I know that you do not need the reward.”

He nodded to himself. What she said made sense. One of his good friends and adventuring companions were off fighting on the Goblinoid front as they stood here conversing. The paladin would have been a handy sword to have against a lich. Ah well, he had plenty of things to make up for the loss. “Makes sense. No, I don’t need the money. I was just bored, fighting a Lich seemed like fun. Well thanks for the info, I need to go prep.”

”Fighting a lich sounds like fun?!? By the Gods sometimes I forget the things you have seen. Good hunting sir.”

*******************

Back home he unlocked the front door. There was an extra click in the tumbler as he turned the key, disabling the poison needle trap cleverly concealed in the lock. As he stepped inside and closed the door he locked it again, engaging the trap once more with the lock. A few steps in He twisted a torch sconce that was straight slightly to the left to disarm the spring-loaded spears that would plunge from all angles and impale and shred anyone foolish enough to miss the very large plate on the floor.

Then he went to the back of his home and spoke a long incantation in draconic. The heavy metal door glowed, then unlocked magically. Had he not done so touching the door would have cast a disintegration beam directly at him. He pulled the door closed behind him and there were no windows in this room to shed light, so there were ever burning torches that kept the room lit. This was his armory, where he kept the many magical objects and items he had collected over the years. There were weapons hanging from racks, scrolls in scroll cases, jewelry cases filled with rings, amulets, stones, and shelves filled with potions.

He placed his hand on the pommel of his longsword as he strode among the items, contemplating the upcoming journey. The blade’s handguard and hilt were fashioned into the face and mouth of a lion, making the blade look like one large tooth. The blade was not actually made of gold, but the magic in the weapon made it look that way.

First, he came to an area where there were many short bladed weapons. There was a set of six almost identical daggers. He took four of them an slid them into the cleverly sewn sheaths on his studded leather armor across his chest which made them almost impossible to see.

Then he strode over to the area where the heavier bludgeoning weapons rested. He gripped a small light mace that crackled with energy briefly, then faded, and another which shed light almost like a torch. He tucked them into his belt for now and then made his way toward the area where he stored miscellaneous items. He pulled out a pouch and as impossible as it seemed he put both light maces into the back like some sort of street illusionist.

He already had his dungioneering kit packed, it was always packed. All the tools he would need from magical rope with a grappling hook, to climbing gear, and extensive trap disarming tools. That he set near the door. He scooped up the large backpack that was in the same area where the kit was and moved on toward the jewelry. He pulled off the current rings he had on and placed them in the case. He then pulled out two matching pairs of rings and put one on, tucked the other in his magic pouch.

Finally, he came to the potions and scrolls. He shuffled several scrolls and potions into his bag and a magic wand. Then he walked out of the armory with the pack slung over one arm, the kit over the other and chanted the incantation again. The door shimmered and seemed to almost fuse with the door frame.

He attached the kit to the pack with a series of straps, the bedroll was already tied to his pack. He walked to his storeroom and pulled out several torches and several more sunrods.

****************

All of this done he made his way out of town, not bothering to tuck the plate into his armor, he never really did. It deterred most trouble honestly. It was less than half a day’s walk to the edge of the forest and another two hours until he decided to halt for a brief break. He settled himself on a fallen log and deliberately turned his back to what he had long since detected as someone following him. He loosened his blade in the sheath a little and spoke as if he were talking to the trees. “How long are you planning to follow me? More importantly what are your intentions? I have no desire to spill blood at the moment. Just trying to have a bit of a rest and wait for my partner. So you are welcome to stop lurking about and come join me.”

 

[IllianaTheFallen]

"Oi! Thyra!" Drakkar called from below the tree where Thyra was perched. "Bring yer bow of death and get down from those branches. Yer dame is about lookin fer ya!"

Thyra shook her head, to clear it from the memories of battles and looked down at her Adventuring companion. The Dwarf was the exact opposite of her. Sun-bronzed and fiery hair where she was all over the color of snow except for her eyes which shone a glacier blue. They were the only two people in the human village that were different. He had followed her into battle or led her in turn and she owed him nothing but the utmost respect.

Nimbly she launched from her perch and landed softly on the ground next to him. "What's happening that Einn is looking for me? Has there been a raid from Irrisen again?"

"no, no, we squashed the winter vermin good, we did." His hand rubbed over his chest where he still felt the pain of too many brushes with death. "No the job listings are out and I think she's fer sendin' ya out."

Her only response was a nod as they walked through the village, trailed by her wolf, to the hut she had lived in since her birth. Sure enough her mother was waiting with a look that said she was close to driving her sword through her daughter. "You are done lazing about the village and moping over things done in battle. There is a call for high level adventurers and I am sending you to take it. Your kits are packed. Bring honor home my child."

And with that she had been dismissed. Einn was the fiercest shield maiden in the village of lostholme. There was no arguing with her. So, Thyra picked up her bags and headed out.

********
It didn't take long for someone to wander into the woods as if they belonged there. She assumed this was another adventurer on the same mission but he had the look of danger about him that she didn't like so she trailed him from the trees while Torrulf skulked after him on the ground. All the while Winter Fire was close at hand.

“How long are you planning to follow me? More importantly what are your intentions? I have no desire to spill blood at the moment. Just trying to have a bit of a rest and wait for my partner. So you are welcome to stop lurking about and come join me.”

He had guts, she would give him that. But she was no fool. She stayed in the tree above him and signaled to the wolf to come into the open. Torrulf was a rather large but stupid Timber wolf, but he followed orders well so at her command he stepped out of the trees and sat in front of the man.

"You are a great fool if you believe you could shed my blood with your back turned." her musical voice floated down from the trees even as she aimed her arrow for his neck.

 

[Firmhanded_Daddy]

He could not see her in the tree, she was too well hidden for that, but he could see the wolf as the lumbering beast made an approach. He let out a quiet sigh of displeasure. No sign that he was afraid in any capacity, just slightly deflated by the way this situation was going. The large wolf was not quite as big as a man, but it was nearly there. Magical beasts such as druid companions or those of rangers tended to grow bigger than their native counterparts. As the beast came into view he watched it intently as the hackles rose, and those yellowed teeth bared in a snarl of warning.

He didn’t make a move to draw a weapon immediately, nor did he look back toward the direction of the voice, he kept his eyes locked on the wolf, keeping a respectful watch on the powerful beast. He had heard the stretch of a bowstring as well as that strange mixture of accents. No doubt she had him dead in her sights, but that didn’t concern him, the wolf was more than capable of ripping off a limb if he got too careless or his throat for that matter.

He ran his left hand slowly through his short, sandy brown hair and let out a quiet chuckle. "You are a great fool if you believe you could shed my blood with your back turned.". The words played back in his mind as he teased out what was strange about her voice. He puzzled on it for a long moment, pulling out a single dagger to flip it dexterously between his knuckle like most would do a coin. The blade flashed like lightning, it was almost hard to track with the eye. “So this doesn’t happen very often. Not only do you not know who I am, but you are also a capable opponent and don’t know who I am. Either you live in a secluded place, are not from the human cities, or it is just a random chance.” He paused his words as he mused this over, another blade appeared, and he began to juggle the long bladed daggers high into the air.

“Given what I heard in your voice it may very well be all three. You are elf blooded. I can hear it in your voice, but you do not speak the elf-tongue on a daily basis. Elves that speak sylvan frequently speak common with an accent. They tend to draw out their Ls and Ys. They also make some harsh consonant sounds. You speak with their natural sing-song tone but you have a distinctly human accent. You must live among one of the nearby villages. One of the seafaring folk if I am not misplacing my accents. Good hearty people, intense, good fighters. They have given birth to some of the realms mightiest warriors, including the legendary shield maiden Einn of Lostholme. I had the distinct honor to fight alongside her in the Godfall war.”

The blades stopped caught in his left hand. Blades captured deftly between his knuckles as he reached out to touch his shoulder. She couldn’t see the scar that rested beneath the fitted studded leather armor that started midway between his shoulder and his neck and cleaved at an angle most of the way down his torso. The blow should have killed him, it would have killed him if not for Einn dragging his half-dead body to a healer. Going sword to sword with Gods and Demi-Gods had dangerous side effects. Somehow whatever damage that had been done to vital organs was not serious enough to instantly kill him and a cleric had been able to pull him back from the brink of death.

“I have my back to you for a reason. As soon as we hit the tree line you closed the distance and I heard you. I could have killed you at any point. I let you track me. Even now I could kill your pet here and still avoid your opening volley. You are hidden well enough and I am out in the open, but I have been tracking you with just my ears. Before you launched your second arrow I’d have a blade in your gut. I’m sure you think I’m lying, after all, how can I possibly know where you are just using my ears? You were quite good and muffling your movements after all.”

He had not seemed dangerous before, but Torrulf detected the change in his scent before he acted. The wolf started to spring forward toward the leanly muscled man but amazingly the rogue was quicker. Leaping up and backward into the air he flicked his wrist once and hurled a blade toward the wolf and a blade landed a foot in front of the beast, preventing him from making the leaping pounce he had been intending upon making. Still, in mid-air he twisted and looked almost directly at Thyra and hurled a blade. It twisted end over end rapidly until it bit deep into the tree trunk three branches beneath where she was perched. His display of skill was not over yet. Even as he landed perfectly on his feet he rolled with the backward momentum, making it harder for him to be tracked but also as he rolled he drew the magical long sword from the sheath with a flourish. His other hand flicked toward the dagger in front of the wolf and the blade vanished from the earth and teleported back to his waiting hand.

He was still facing the wolf, back to the hidden archer. “So what is the plan? We going to kill each other? I have an actual paying job to do, I don’t like hurting people who don’t have it coming. I mean you stalked me and threatened me but I can let that slide. I’ve had worse.”

 

[IllianaTheFallen]

The second he pulled his dagger out her aim changed to his hands. He was lightening quick she would give him that. But her senses were faster thanks to her coward father's elven blood.

*“So this doesn’t happen very often. Not only do you not know who I am, but you are also a capable opponent and don’t know who I am. Either you live in a secluded place, are not from the human cities, or it is just a random chance.”* Her eyes rolled as he began to juggle two daggers. Another showboating rogue like her afore mentioned father. Great. Just what she needed for a partner. Dammit. “Given what I heard in your voice it may very well be all three. You are elf blooded. I can hear it in your voice, but you do not speak the elf-tongue on a daily basis. Elves that speak sylvan frequently speak common with an accent. They tend to draw out their Ls and Ys. They also make some harsh consonant sounds. You speak with their natural sing-song tone but you have a distinctly human accent. You must live among one of the nearby villages. One of the seafaring folk if I am not misplacing my accents. Good hearty people, intense, good fighters. They have given birth to some of the realms mightiest warriors, including the legendary shield maiden Einn of Lostholme. I had the distinct honor to fight alongside her in the Godfall war.”

Great so he knew her mother. Well bully for him. Thyra was absolutely unimpressed by this show. Could the man be any more of a bore? Quietly she moved from one tree to the next as he continued to ramble like an idiot, using her own skills now to camouflage her movements so that even with his trained ear he would not hear any sound, Until she was beside him. One learned to be silent as the grave when fighting the Fey and their magical beasts.

“I have my back to you for a reason. As soon as we hit the tree line you closed the distance and I heard you. I could have killed you at any point. I let you track me. Even now I could kill your pet here and still avoid your opening volley. You are hidden well enough and I am out in the open, but I have been tracking you with just my ears. Before you launched your second arrow I’d have a blade in your gut. I’m sure you think I’m lying, after all, how can I possibly know where you are just using my ears? You were quite good and muffling your movements after all.”

Oh now he wanted to speak of her arrows. Too bad he had no knowledge of whom it was he spoke to. He would when she let loose the first of Winter Fire's fury. There were few bows to match it. It's owner was just as legendary to those who knew the stories of the Winter Wars. Thyra had made her own name in those wars, separate from that of her mother. The Winter Ghost was now a story told in Irrisen to children who misbehaved. A sort of boogie man who might come silent as night and burn you alive in a prison of ice.

Her senses on high she felt the change in the air as he launched the first dagger. Torrulf moved to attack but the dagger landed too close and he was forced back on his haunches. It took only a heartbeat for the Wolf to change course, and begin to stalk the Rogue. Before the second blade could leave it's owner's clutch Thyra Let the first shot go. One arrow became two flaming shots aimed straight for the log that had only seconds ago hosted the rogue. The arrows hit their mark instantly turning the log into a large piece of nothing but ice encased charcoal, just as his blade settled into the tree she had been occupying.

She watched as his hand went to the sword and recognition hit her. This was Kriss. Her mother had spoken of his magical sword and the skill it's owner possessed. “So what is the plan? We going to kill each other? I have an actual paying job to do, I don’t like hurting people who don’t have it coming. I mean you stalked me and threatened me but I can let that slide. I’ve had worse.”

So he thought himself high and mighty. Well then, perhaps she should introduce him to his match. With all the grace of her elven blood she executed a barani flip from the branches and landed on her feet in front of him with her weapon drawn and aimed, not even breathing hard as her glacier eyes bore into his.

"The Ulfen of Grungir fear not the talk of fools. If you intend to kill me, Krisstoss Talinar, you should stop talking so much and attempt it. The Queen of Irrisen would pay you twice the platinum of this job for the deed."She said in a bored but deadly tone while Torrulf moved around the rogue to flank him. "However, I promise it would be your last deed."

 

[Firmhanded_Daddy]

The dagger that had stuck into the trunk of the tree without his command vanished and teleported back into the intelligently hidden scabbard on his leather covered chest. There was a giveaway that it was happening, a small flash of light glittered around his third left rib. He stood with his left foot forward, long-bladed dagger in that hand, the glittering golden long sword poised in a straight line above his head pointing the tip directly at her, the flat of the blade aligning with his right eye but not blocking his peripheral vision.

The woman had finally come out of hiding and now he had seen how devastating her weapon and her aim was he could not treat the wolf as the primary threat. He had little doubt that he could drop the animal with a single blow anyway. This woman, on the other hand, would be a different matter. She would be ready for a deceptive draw and may not be caught off guard by it. He could always use the enchantment on his weapon, but he loathed to use that on people. The effect was extremely devastating and he only used it in desperate need, or on evil creatures.

He was no bard, but his knowledge as extensive, especially when it came to weapons of great magical power. He recognized that artifact’s effect and he actually smiled at her. When she spoke, his smile vanished, blue eyes met blue eyes and his normally handsome features darkened. For the first time, something other than calm or amusement stirred on the surface.

"The Ulfen of Grungir fear not the talk of fools. If you intend to kill me, Krisstoss Talinar, you should stop talking so much and attempt it. The Queen of Irrisen would pay you twice the platinum of this job for the deed." The wolf began to flank him and he took note even as he kept his eyes locked with hers. "However, I promise it would be your last deed."

When he spoke again his voice was heavy and thick with barely contained emotion. His deep blue eyes which always seemed to be laughing were now sharp and glittering with anger. “I may be many things child, including a fool but I am no ones assassin! I’ve never done knife work and I never will. I have more honor in my left foot than most people you will meet. I know you think you know what war looks like, you have no idea.”

The wolf finally got too close. Like a viper, his boot came up catching the wolf under the chin, at the same time his elbow came down on the top of the wolf’s head. It was all non-lethal damage so when the wolf crumpled he was just unconscious, but he was felled in a single blow. It was not from overwhelming power, it was from surprise and knowing just where to strike. He knew as soon as he turned his back and attacked the wolf she would launch her own attack so he had prepared for that. The sword had never veered from pointing at her, and he spoke the command word for one of the weapons secondary effects. “Roar!”

The sound of a lion roaring at the top of his lungs split the relative peace of the forest. More importantly, a cone of sound waves erupted from the blade straight toward Thyra. For someone of her significant fortitude it would do no real damage, maybe mess with her hearing briefly, but any arrows loosed would fall limply out of the sky.

He was back on guard after that, walking toward her, anger still burning in his eyes. “Real war bearer of Winter Fire is watching your friends, your family, your home burning all around you. Watching the world you know to turn to ash. Real war makes you glad for peace. “ He was starting to remember things better left in the past and in a flash both weapons were sheathed.

“Tell you what half-elf. If you want to fight so badly, shoot me in the back, I have a Lich to kill. Get the hell out of my way I have wasted enough time on childish games of ego.” He walked right up to her, then brushed her out of his way with a shoulder and moved deeper into the forest. “Your wolf is just out cold, I pinched his carotid artery. Give him a massage just beneath the ears to help circulate the blood and he will wake up quicker. Fire away, great warrior.”

 

[IllianaTheFallen]

Thyra Didn't worry about the wolf so much as the noise coming from his sword. She wondered if he would unleash it. She actually took it as a compliment until he opened his mouth. She never moved during his rant. Never blinked, never gave any indication that she had even heard him. As he pushed past her she pivoted and fired her weapon in rapid succession. Not a single arrow hit the mouthy bastard, but he found himself surrounded by them.

She was already moving toward him with her own Bastard sword pulled and aimed straight at him. She wasn't running just walking in a very confident and pissed manner, She waited for him to turn and face her before she spoke. "My mother was too kind in her regard of you. I wonder did the great Einn of Lostholme tell you how she got so great? I bet not. What you call war, you pompous ass, is what I call life. The Winter witches raided and burned my village more times than I can count looking for magical children to steal and use for their own wickedness. Looking for me." She stopped short and suddenly stabbed her sword in the ground between his feet until she was close enough that he could feel the breath leaving her body. Her eyes had turned from glacier blue to fiery azure. "War is having to kill your own sister because your bastard father sold her to the vermin. Don't presume to tell me about war just because you fought in some skirmish with my mother. I am about as much a child as you are and peace is nothing more than the space between battles."

Abruptly she turned and began plucking her arrows from around him. It wasn't that she needed them. It just wasn't wise to leave evidence of herself laying around if she could help it and he had set her off in a dangerous way. She needed the few seconds to calm down before she truly lost her temper.

 

[Firmhanded_Daddy]

The peppering of arrows didn’t even make him balk, he intended to keep walking until he heard the words My mother. She stabbed the blade between his feet and again there was no surprise reaction, no reaction at all, he didn’t even look down at it. His eyes instead locked on hers as she went about the task of retrieving her arrows. He mulled over her words for a long pause of silence, weighing them carefully. With a force of will, he quelled his anger but the smile and carefree visage did not return.

“So you are her daughter. That makes sense. I knew I recognized that steely gaze and white-hot temper. She broke my nose while we were guarding a pass. She ‘didn’t like the way I was looking at her’.” He laughed ruefully and shook his head. “I was studying her so intently because something was off about her shadow and I couldn’t figure it out. She thought I was hitting on her, turns out she had an invisible stalker hiding in her shadow slightly distorting it. Maybe that was why she risked her ass to save me after I dueled Dem’limogor. “

It was clear he was only half talking to her, he was more musing out loud matching current information with the past. He recalled himself back to the present and looked at her with a soft sigh. “Listen, I know you have suffered and endured hardship. Your people are constantly in a conflict, it keeps their blades sharp so to speak. I doubt your mother speaks much about Godfall though. She was famous even before then, but that was like no other war. The things we saw and did there wounded the souls of the survivors. Killing a God is not something you forget, watching one smite an entire continent is not something you forget either.”

He paused, then looked up at her face. “Many of the most powerful heroes of this age died in that war. Your mother may be one of the strongest mortals left alive. I am sorry for my words. You hit a nerve. Daughter of Einn of Lostholme, Wielder of Winter Fire; what is it you actually want with me? You have tracked me and shown me nothing but aggression when all I did was offer to share my camp with you. Do you truly wish to test me in battle, is that why you are here? I would refuse, but you are her daughter and out of respect if that is what you wish I will oblige you.”

 

[IllianaTheFallen]

“So you are her daughter. That makes sense. I knew I recognized that steely gaze and white-hot temper. She broke my nose while we were guarding a pass. She ‘didn’t like the way I was looking at her’.” Thyra cut her eyes at him as he spoke. She really didn't care what her mother had or had not done. “I was studying her so intently because something was off about her shadow and I couldn’t figure it out. She thought I was hitting on her, turns out she had an invisible stalker hiding in her shadow slightly distorting it. Maybe that was why she risked her ass to save me after I dueled Dem’limogor. “

Just as She plucked the last arrow he finished his trip down memory lane. With a sarcastic tone she bowed "Thyra Einndottir. And yes, that sounds like her."

“Listen, I know you have suffered and endured hardship. Your people are constantly in a conflict, it keeps their blades sharp so to speak. I doubt your mother speaks much about Godfall though. She was famous even before then, but that was like no other war. The things we saw and did there wounded the souls of the survivors. Killing a God is not something you forget, watching one smite an entire continent is not something you forget either.”

Einn had spoken of it to her only daughter. In the form of lectures about being a warrior and not allowing what had happened in war to keep her from life. Einn was a hard woman and an even harder mother. She had sympathy for Thyra's plight and had indulged her somber mood for a few weeks but she didn't believe in remaining in the last battle emotionally when there were battles to prepare for. It was what made her great and she saw greatness in her child, which made her treat her as gruffly as any other warrior.

He paused and for a moment she was stricken with the pain she could see in his eyes. “Many of the most powerful heroes of this age died in that war. Your mother may be one of the strongest mortals left alive. I am sorry for my words. You hit a nerve. Daughter of Einn of Lostholme, Wielder of Winter Fire; what is it you actually want with me? You have tracked me and shown me nothing but aggression when all I did was offer to share my camp with you. Do you truly wish to test me in battle, is that why you are here? I would refuse, but you are her daughter and out of respect if that is what you wish I will oblige you.”

Her head snapped back as though she had been punched. "Did the roar from your sword effect your memory, man? It was you who brought up bloodshed. I was merely scouting the rogue who had gone the same route I needed to take, that looked as if he was ready to rob any who came across him. I may have been raised in a small warring village but one doesn't just trust a rogue. Do you take me for a complete fool?" With an irritated huff she pushed past him and back to the small clearing where they had left Torrulf. "Einn sent me after the lich and as I don't really want to be run through on her sword I came. I didn't know she had sent a babysitter for me again. I just want to get this over with and go back to my village."

 

[Firmhanded_Daddy]

He let out a weary sigh as she replied. "Did the roar from your sword effect your memory, man? It was you who brought up bloodshed. I was merely scouting the rogue who had gone the same route I needed to take, that looked as if he was ready to rob any who came across him. I may have been raised in a small warring village but one doesn't just trust a rogue. Do you take me for a complete fool?" "Einn sent me after the lich and as I don't really want to be run through on her sword I came. I didn't know she had sent a babysitter for me again. I just want to get this over with and go back to my village."

He rubbed at his temples as if this conversation was giving him a headache. “Well Thyra, anyone loaded down with as much equipment as I am carrying has no desire to rob you. More importantly, I was making no effort to conceal myself. How many bandits have you come across travel out in the open, loaded down with goods advertising themselves? I mentioned bloodshed you are correct. I mentioned not wanting any. You know what? Nevermind. We are on the same mission. As to a babysitter sent by your mother, the fact that we are on this quest together is purely coincidental. I took this job out of boredom. I would have done it along but they wouldn’t let me due to guild regulations. Your mother and I have not talked in a few years. I came of my own accord.”

He followed her back to where they left her animal companion and handed her two ornate looking rings. One set with a white stone, the other made from gold, inlaid with silver runes. “Here. Most liches employ other undead as well as necromantic magic. The ring with the stone will protect you from energy draining attacks, the other will prevent paralysis and any sort of effect that would keep you from moving.” He deposited them in her hand and then pointed the opposite direction. “There is a stream about half a mile that way. Last source of fresh water before the crypt. I’ll meet you there. He will need water too.” He motioned to the wolf who was starting to come too.

With that, the rogue made his way out of the clearing and toward the trees. A short trek away the river bubbled along quickly. Kriss was already capping his water skins after having filled them up. When he heard her approach and nodded his head. Of all things he had shuffled out of his pack and was unclasping the buckles that held on his studded leather armor. He shrugged out of the shirt and the padding beneath with a heavy sigh. The sun was warm today and the dark armor was rather warm. It felt good to be rid of it. When she came closer she could see various scars on his sturdy frame. He was not extremely muscular like the men she was used to seeing, his muscle was lean but he was clearly powerful. There was one scar that stood out in horrific detail both on his back and on his chest when he turned around to face her. A single cleaving wound that had been made by lord only knows what. How he had survived the blow was beyond belief. Just where his collarbone met his shoulder the scar started and angled all the way to the midline of his body. Another inch to the right and it would have severed his spine and killed him instantly.

“Like I said, the last source of fresh water before we get to the tomb. I’m going to wash before we go in, if you want to do the same I’ll give you privacy to do so.” He had noted her eyes looking at the ten-year-old scar. When he turned and bent over the river he spoke. “That is what it looks like to survive Leonidas’ power in the hands of the original wielder. I think he died mid stroke and the enchantment stopped and so the blade bounced off vertebrae. The only reason I didn’t get cut clean in half. I had already driven my blade through the bastard’s heart but he had enough strength left to do this.” He spoke in between splashing water over his face, hair, and skin.

“Your mom as I understand it put my insides back on the inside and dragged me to a healer. When I woke up I had some new body art and this sword.” He tensed. He began flashing her several hand signs in quick succession. There was a traditional mercenary version but he was not using that version, he was using the one her people used. The shieldmaiden had taught him much about their culture it seemed. The message translated to ”Being watched. Northeast. Eighty feet. Bird. Shoot. They were being watched by a magical familiar to the northeast about eighty feet off the ground. He wanted her to shoot the bird before it could report back. “There was a tribe of wild elves that hunted these woods. I doubt they are here now though. This time of year most of the game moves to the North.