Whitefall to Revalia: The Mage and the Warrior (Closed for Artemidorus)

[Nouh_Bdee]

The mage’s Tower in Whitefall was quiet in the early hours of the morning, and the library was especially so. It was a place for study and reflection, and the few mages who could ever be found among its shelves before dawn were individuals who valued the quiet pursuit of knowledge. This particular morning, Binhagan Blackstone was the only such mage there. At least, he was the only one there until Master Ekron threw open the door, shouting for him and completely ruining the peaceful solitude he’d found.

“Binn! Binn!”

As much as Binn was annoyed by Master Ekron’s always boisterous nature, as the youngest and lowest-ranking mage in the Tower, he held his tongue. It wouldn’t do to create trouble for himself. He scooted back in his chair before standing, softly closing the copy of The Effects of Various Focusing Gems on Conjuration Spells that he’d been reading. He stood up, the sleeves of his loose, deep blue robes falling from his bony elbows to his slender wrists. With his rather low opinion of the older mage, Binn had a hard time not looking down on the man figuratively just as much as the gawky young man looked down at the dwarf physically.

“What is it, Master Ekron?”

The squat, bearded man rubbed his hands together nervously. “Well, Binn, you, see, I...um,”

The caramel-skinned Binhagan raised his eyebrows, wishing he could just ask him to hurry without being rude.

“I may have volunteered you.”

A new voice came from the doorway. “You were going to have to go, anyway, Binhagan.”

Binn looked over to see Master Idelis standing there with an apologetic smile on her face. “This is just much more rushed than we would’ve preferred.”

Master Ekron looked up at the tall, graceful woman sheepishly. “My apologies again, Idelis… I didn’t consider how it might disrupt your plans.”

Master Idelis raised her slender, dark-skinned hand. “We’ll continue our discussion once the young man is on his way, Ekron.”

The rotund old dwarf just nodded at the regal dark elf, who then turned to Binn. “Young mister Blackstone, I’m not sure if you’re aware, but I have been conducting research into the lost artifacts of the Ben’lari. I believe I have located one of their staffs, a powerful relic that I’ve been planning an expedition to retrieve.”

Master Ekron blushed, eyes downcast, as Master Idelis continued. “Last night the King became aware of my plans, and he agrees with my assessment about the necessity of retrieving this artifact. Unfortunately, he disagrees with my timetable.” The dark elf sighed, heavily. “I’m afraid we’re going to have to send you, Binhagan. I argued with him more than I felt comfortable, and the conversation got quite out of hand, and now you’re traveling with one of his paladins.” She paused, a sympathetic look on her face. “I’m sorry, Binn. You’re the only young, fit mage we have, and the only one who could make this journey right now.”

Binhagan was torn. Exploring the world was something he wanted to do, but he didn’t feel ready. He also didn’t want to be saddled with a paladin for who knows how long. Binn preferred to work and travel alone.

“Master Idelis, where is the staff?”

The elf woman winced. “A group of ruins that I believe to be in Revalia.”

“Revalia!?” Binn’s dark brown eyes were wide with shock. Revalia was on the other end of the continent. It could be years before he returned to Whitefall. He ran his slender fingers through his dark, curly hair.

“I know, Binn, I’m sorry. You can understand why I wanted to prepare more.”

Master Ekron had disappeared while they were talking, slinking out of the library unnoticed.

Master Idelis put a hand on his shoulder. “Let me go over all my research with you, and then you’re to meet the paladin at the gatehouse in the morning.

Resigned to his fate, Binhagan nodded, sitting back down in his chair.

 

[Artemidorus]

Sadim of the Crown got to work bridling her steed, Aidoneus, to the cart. Rust, her warforged mentor and head paladin of the royal guard, had loaded it up with supplies at the advice of the king. Food, camping provisions and various other supplies. "Master, how long will I be gone?"

Rust slatted the back of the wagon, and once it was secure, checked Sadim's bridling. His expression was stern, if a bit sympathetic. "A few weeks. You will be escorting the mage two kingdoms over, where another paladin awaits you in South Sufrevale to escort him the rest of the journey."

She looked down at her armored boots, braiding her dark hair so that its would fit better in her helmet. Her skin was a pale green, splattered with freckles, mainly on her face and shoulders. Her father often told her that the other Orcs had rejected her because of her kind face. They had moved to the city of Auburnu when she was very young; and it had worked in her favor. She became one of the first orcs to join the royal guard.

Her ethereal elk stomped his great hooves. Summoning her spectral steed, named after a long forgotten god of the dead, was one of the few magic spells she knew. Absently, she wondered if the mage would be willing to teach her any more.

But a few weeks would put her too close to breeding season, and being on the road during that would be like torture. Sadim was a ball of nerves, pulled taught over her muscles. What if her scent attracted wild orcs? Rust put a hand on her shoulder.

"Just a few weeks. Think of it like a vacation."

Sadim was not thinking of it like a vacation. She didn't want to spend so much time away from the kingdom. Not when she was still trying to build her reputation as a knight. Sighing, she climbed onto the front bench of the wagon, taking the reins in her hands.

Rust hopped up next to her, and they made their way to the meeting place.

 

[Nouh_Bdee]

Binhagan pulled his strap over his shoulder, setting out for the gatehouse built into the castle wall of Whitefall, the city that served as the capital of the nation of Whitefall, both named for the spectacular waterfall that tumbled off the cliff that the castle was built into. That waterfall was one Binn wouldn’t see again for some time to come, along with everything else in his home city.

He sighed, going back over his supplies. Food and extra clothes were all that he needed to bring. A mage had no need for weapons, after all. He was the weapon, should they run into any trouble. Not that Binn was confident about his fighting ability, however. He’s done well in training, but he’d never been in real combat.

His robe was replaced by a more form fitting set of leather pants and tunic, thick to protect him from the more mundane dangers of the road. They were dyed blue to mark him as a mage, and thus worthy of some respect from the populace. It also served to protect any would-be brigands from the spells he would have to cast to protect himself if they decided the slender young man looked like an easy target.

The dirt was soft from recent rains as he stepped toward the gatehouse. There was a wagon waiting there, with an elk’s spirit harnessed to it. Two paladins stood next to the wagon, a large man with a formidable moustache, and a green-skinned orc woman, her long, dark hair tied behind her in a single braid. Surely they wouldn’t send him alone with a woman across the continent. Binn held out his light brown hand to the man. “Binhagan Blackstone. You must be my escort.”

 

[Artemidorus]

Sadim took his hand, sliding into Rust's place as he laughed. She blushed sheepishly, tinting her cheeks a dark red. "Unfortunately, as head paladin, I am at the helm of too many ships. Literally and figuratively. However, I have entrusted my own protege to you."

"Sadim of the Crown." She spook proudly, shaking his hand. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Master Blackstone." Her brows were slightly ruffles in confusion.

The mage looked young... And very cute. He had wide brown eyes and curly hair that made Sadim desperately want to touch it, and she had never really had the urge to touch a humans hair before. She had heard it was softer than orcs, who has thick hair like a horses mane.

Rust spoke up again. "Sadim will only be joining you for a few weeks, until you get to South Sufrevale. I have an older acquaintance in the guard there who will take over the rest of the journey. I do hope that is alright."

Suddenly, her steed swayed, bumping into Sadim and jarring her forward towards Bin. The elk tried to nip at him, but Sadim pushed him back. "Aidoneus what has gotten into you?"

 

[Nouh_Bdee]

Binn was mortified, and also quite concerned about the implications of traveling with a woman. Oh, he’d been around women before. Many of his instructors and classmates at the Tower were women, but traveling? How would they bathe? Where would they sleep? His mind was racing as his nerves seized him.

It certainly didn’t help that this woman was... imposing. Binhagan had never seen an orc woman before, and the sheer brawn that orcs possessed seemed less...complicated on a man. Sadim looked as tall as he was, and with a feminine frame, but much more muscular. Her curvy, feminine hips ended in tree trunk thighs, and her arms looked like they would’ve been slender if not for the small boulders she was smuggling in the sleeves. She looked like she could bend him over backwards, and Binn was confused about how appealing that idea sounded. Especially when she gripped his hand. He held his own, but it was obvious that he was trying and she wasn’t.

His shock was no excuse to forget his manners, so he didn’t. “You have my sincere apologies, my la—“ Binn was interrupted when her spectral elk took offense to his presence, trying to bite him with its ethereal teeth.

He stepped back, admiring the creature. “That is some rather advanced Conjuration. Is it your spell, Miss Sadim?”

 

[Artemidorus]

Sadim's blush deepened as she yanked down on Aidoneus' reigns and nodded. "My adopted father was an elf. When I first told him I wanted to be a paladin he taught me how to summon a mount." She didn't meantion how surprised he was when her steed took the form of one of the giant elks that lived in the forests around Auburnuh. Just the thought made her home sick. "He said all proper knights have a trusty steed."

Her master rolled his eyes at that. "Careful, the thing barely listens, is uncontrollable and doesn't know it's own strength." Rust chuckled. "Sound familair?" He teased.

Binn seemed nervous, be it from the journey ahead of them or her pressence she didn't know. A sheer cold washed over her, reminding her of the prejudice orcs faced among other races. She sincerely hoped that wasn't the case, even though moments ago she had been dreading leaving the city. The thought of the young mage rejecting her company based on her race alone left a sour taste in her mouth. She decided to test the waters.

"It is the only spell I know, master Binhagan. Perhaps during our time together you could show me a few more?" Sadim asked, with a soft smile.

 

[Nouh_Bdee]

Binn was still nervous about traveling with the woman, but the fact that they could talk about magic on the trip would be welcome. It was something the young human was very interested in. He could discuss magic all day without repeating himself, and if the burly woman wanted to learn spells, he would be happy to teach her, even if it was a little awkward.

“O—of course, Miss Sadim. I would be happy to!”

He scratched his head nervously. “I’ve learned some battle magic that could probably be useful to you.”

He straightened his pack over his shoulder. “Is there anything else you need to do to prepare? Or shall we get on the road?”