LOFTR "The quest" (closed)

[JonathanBair]

Jon grew up as a half breed in orc community. His mom was a human with a orc father... Jon looks like a human outside, tho he is a good head taller then most humans males. He has the orc frame tho. Jon has short brown hair and blue eyes making him stand out in the orc community. Jon did learn the basics of blacksmithing enough to make simple weapons and repairs to armor. He dose not have the same aggression as most orcs tho. He would rather take the brunt of the fight with his body shield that covers from just above his feet to his chin covering his neck... Jon also made his own long sword on his back, and a secondary short sword on his at his hip for if he gets into a close fight. He would rather use his shield as his main weapon and the short sword. Jon found as he has the frame of a orc he is as strong as them, so a hit to something lighter like a human would suffer from the full body hard impact...

 

[DarkWarrioress]

The days were good to the High Elves who lived in the mountains of Nytalin. Their lands prospered. Food and drink were bountiful as were the herbs used by the kingdom’s Healers. It came to pass that the High Healers had learned of a Sigil in one of the recently found grimoires. One of the High Healers, Talian, had gone to the scholars of the kingdom and left the information in their hands. Days and nights passed before one of the scholars appeared at the doorway to the Healers study. The suggestion had been made by the scholars that Talian should approach the King with the request to retrieve the Sigil. For it had been foreseen that the Time of Men was rapidly approaching. Then it would be time for the Elves to disappear from this current world. The Sigil would open the door the Land Beyond. So, Talian asked for an audience with the King.

On the given day, Talian presented himself to King Yarrick and explained the nature of his visit. The King was reluctant at first. He did not believe that Man and Elf could not share space and time. In the end, he sent Talian back to his study and called for his scholars. The scholars foretold of the ending of time for elves. After much arguing and discussion, it was decided to fetch the Sigil of Antarius. However, to do such would be perilous. There would be perils, for only the worthy would be allowed to enter the crypts of Thisera. In the coming days the King sent for Talian. Talian was charged with finding the party that would enter the crypts of Thisera.

Elenriel, daughter of King Yarrick, was currently having an argument with her older brother.

“But Arithon, I have to go.”

The Elven prince held up his hand as if to stop her from speaking further.

“Enough, Elenriel. You are not going. It is not safe for you. The party will have enough on their hands without having to protect you as well.”

“I can protect myself, Arithon. You know I can. I am the best shot with bow and arrow. Besides, Father will need one of us to go and we both know it cannot be you. You are the heir to the throne. If anything happened to you, it would devastate Father. You know it and I know it.”

“You are not going, Elenriel. If I have to lock you in your room until the party is chosen and have left, I will.”

Elenriel knew that stubborn set to her brother’s jaw. Once he had made up his mind, nothing could sway him differently. So, she gave him the words he wanted to hear but she had her own plans. Plans she kept silent about.

“Very well, Arithon. You will come to regret that decision, I promise you. However, I will bow to your wishes,” she added in her mind…” for now.”

 

[JonathanBair]

Jon had got picked on for a few reasons. Most common is he is a half breed and has the looks of a human. Second is he would rather ram with his shield then use a sword, not that the orc's was known for there sword fighting skills, but using the shield as his mane weapon made him stand out more, lastly is his loved of smoked meat (jerky) ....With Jon being young yet about 18-20 human years old, he wanted to get out and see the country side to see what he could get into...

Jon told the community master blacksmith that he was wanting to wonder a bit, and got released from his community task.. This left Jon free to pack the few things he had, mostly a bed role, his black smith hammer, few bars of iron, and Jerky, with a few magnesium sticks to start a fire... Jon put that all that in a pouch on his left hip, with his large shield on his left arm.. The small close quarters sword hanging from his right hip and the long sword on his back over his left shoulder...

No one in the community was really sad to see him go, and he would not miss anyone really in the community.... Jon spent a few days traveling when he started to get into the lands that was ruled by humans and elf's..... Jon entered his first human small town passing threw. He was shocked that no one really said anything to him, tho he did get a few looks with his size and height... Tho most humans just taken him as a large human.....

 

[DarkWarrioress]

It wasn’t soon after the king had spoken with his scholars that a proclamation was sent throughout the kingdom. It was posted everywhere, calling for adventurers willing to enter the Crypts of Thisera. The rewards were great but the expected perils would be enormous. Those who were willing to risk their lives were to report to the king by a certain date. It did not speak of what would be sought in the crypts, however. This alone made the declaration sound ominous.

In the meantime, Elenriel had not given up on her mission to be part of this quest, no matter what her brother had threatened her with. She knew that going to her father would do little good. He, like his son, had his own ideas of what a woman’s place was and it certainly wasn’t on a dangerous quest. She secretly hid a pack under her bed with all the things she could think of that would be necessary for a trip like this. Evading her brother during this time was another matter. He knew her too well and would see through the indifference she had to don when they were all together.

​

On the day of choice, the king’s hall was filled with Elves willing to go on this quest. The money was great, who wouldn’t? Arithon and King Yarrick were both present. It was the King’s Chancellor who called for silence and order. One by one, each elf stepped up to the Chancellor and when asked their jobs and talents, a young scribe would write all the information down and the person would then be dismissed. It had been decided that a party of five would go. Arithon would be their leader. In the coming days, choices were made. An Archer, a mage, a Healer and two Fighters were chosen. The party was small for the threats they faced, but the king thought it wise for the party not to be large. It would be two or three days before a decision would be posted.

 

[JonathanBair]

Jon was in a tavern when he overheard some folks talking about the quest. Jon made his way over to sign up for the adventure into the crypts. Jon also made sure to mention that he would be willing to go apart of a second group of freelancers if the official quest was limited..

Jon then left the city and camped out in the woods near by as he waited for the day that names would be announced...

Jon seamed to enjoy his time traveling alone... Taking a gig here and there for some money, but did not really care what the job was. Some times labor, some times protection, some times to look big and scary. This quest was looking like the same to him only with a bigger pay out. Jon heard other races would be doing this, and he did not really care if the group was Elf's, Human's, or Dwarf's. He was almost sure he would be the only one of his kind be it full blooded orc or hybrid orc. For now this was just going to be a big payday job for him. For now so far all the jobs was little jobs a few hours works, unless he was hauling goods then that could have been sun up to sun down. tho as soon as the day's work was done and he got payed, then he moved on and forgot about the job... Jon was just being a drifter knowing he did not really fit in with the orc's or the humans. Tho the humans was the better of the two. Just he had no where or no one to get attached to and want to call a place home.

 

[DarkWarrioress]

Arithon was speaking with his father the next morning during breakfast.

“Father, we will need more than the elves you have chosen. The people of our kingdom will not take lightly to only elves being chosen for this quest. Please allow me to choose others, be what they may, to join us. I know you do not wish there to be a large party and I will keep the numbers down, but we do need more men.”

King Yarrick remained silent as he ate, thinking over his son’s words. Then, as he put his fork down, he nodded.

“Perhaps you are right, my son. Our numbers should increase by a few more. I will leave this in your hands then.”

A few days later, the guards posted the chosen ones for the quest. There were sighs of disappointment and shouts of glee as people stepped up to see if their name had been chosen. There were grumblings and mutterings amongst the people, not unexpected though. There was never a way to please everyone.

 

[JonathanBair]

The day of the list being posted, there was a grate flood. All the gates was packed with beings of all the races packed shoulder to shoulder. Seams like all most every one who put there name in for the list had the same idea as Jon.. The roads was so filled no carts could get in sight of the gate, just folks ok foot. The quest volunteers acted like a grate river, where everyone moved as one. The person nearest to the list read off the names and then 2 or 3 rows would move on away from the list. Luckily the city guards had seamed to plan for this river, where the long line entered one gate and exited another. So if you entered on the west side, you would have came in the west main gate on the road and met up with the flow near the town center then the flow would have moved you out the west gate personal doors that would have sent the stream out in the grass to the side of the road....

Jon like so many others did not make the list, as there was thousands of beings that flooded the city to submit there names then disappear for a few days till the day of the posting... Unlike most, after Jon found out he did not make the main list. Jon camped with in sight of the main gate to wait for the flood to end. Jon then went to talk to the head of the guards to make it known he was willing to be apart of any unofficial group. From the sounds of it the crypts will need a few groups to make there away in if anyone would be foolish enough to go in there own independent parties. Jon told the head of the guard where he would be camping and would be glad to host a few others that was crazy enough to join him in a unofficial party.... The loot they could come out with would be more then enough to make up not having royal funding...

 

[DarkWarrioress]

The day the quest started, Elenriel stood behind a nearby tree, a dark cloak was around her shoulders, the hood pulled up over her head, masking her face with the shadows. She watched silently and resentfully as her brother gathered up the group heading for the crypts. She resented that he had gotten his way. Her father had forbidden her to go on this quest, but she was determined and here she was. In one hand she held the reins of her horse. Her bow and quiver were over her shoulder. If she had to ride in the shadows behind the group, then that’s what she would do, but she was going with them. Regardless. Afterall, both her brother and her father suspected others, not on the chosen list, would follow and that was fine with them. It meant extra bodies, ones they didn’t have to pay.

The chosen party had mounted up and simply awaited the order of her brother to ride out. That came soon enough. The only regret Elenriel had was that she had to ride in their dust. Still, she kept reminding herself that she was there, going with them… just as she had promised her brother she would be. Elenriel was under no illusion that if trouble arises, she and several others would get no help from the official party. However, she wasn’t worried. She had faith in her skills.

By the time the sun was directly over their heads, she was more than ready for a stop, but her brother pushed onward for a little longer. When they did stop, Elenriel stopped with them, several feet back and away but still close enough to hear some of them converse. Climbing off her horse, she took her backpack with her, finding a cool spot under the shade of an old tree. Sitting back against the rough tree trunk, Elenriel sorted through her pack and found something to eat while she relaxed and cooled off. She didn’t dare remove her cloak and hood at this point. They were still too close to home for her liking. If her brother found out she was there, he’d send her back home.

 

[JonathanBair]

Shortly after the official party left. There was a few folks that met by the gates that wanted to go as there own group. Jon agreed to join this small group and they quickly set off to fallow the official party. Tho as they traveled thee was some disorder that broke the small party up. The biggest problem was the speed and lack of brakes the group was taking. That removed 3 of the 5 only leaving Jon and one other. The last one only wanted to go after the more valued items and had no interest in the more abundant lesser value items. By night fall all of the group broke off to do there own thing. This was just fine for Jon as he could run faster and harder, to close the gap on the official party.

At night Jon came with in site of the official party's camp and they had already all gone to bed. Jon knew he did not need much rest as most of the time his slower pace for the human comfort was almost a fast but relaxing pace. It wasn't till Jon was by him self when he could go full speed and really put any strain on his body with the half orc stamina being far more then humans, but slightly below full orc's...Jon was about to set up a camp when he noticed a small camp with what seamed to be a single person by them self. Jon made his way over to the single person in this camp and asked "Hello in the camp is anyone awake? May I come into your camp and join you?"

Jon had no clue who he was asking to join, but hoped who ever it was would be a range warrior rather then another short range fighter like him self..... Jon was also very open to traveling with any race as he was expecting most likely for this person to be a human.

 

[DarkWarrioress]

Elenriel moved when the official party moved, stopped when they stopped. By the time the sun was setting in the sky, the official party had come to a halt for the night. On the morrow, they would be crossing over the Zhazret Mountains into the The Severed Highlands. Once they got into the Highlands, she would have to stay close to the party. While she was confident about her abilities, there were stories about The Severed Highlands she would be foolish to ignore.

Elenriel chose not to make a camp as the party, including her brother would surely see the light of her fire, besides, she didn’t need one. Instead, she chose a tree with a sturdy branch high enough off the ground to keep her safe from a predator and keep herself concealed. Stretching out along the branch gave her a good view of her brother’s party. Pulling her cloak more securely around herself, she settled in for the night and closed her eyes.

 

[DarkWarrioress]

By mutual consent, this thread is not working out for either writer. ~closed~