constantine
Volken
Constantine Ilfrey, Wizard Extraordinaire. For a sum i can make you feel as good as it gets.
Posts: 242
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Post by constantine on Aug 2, 2013 7:04:47 GMT
You could feel the fear going through the mob, the murmur of their voices, the restlessness. They were gathered in the main square of the city, uncertain of why they were called but expecting only the worse.
Constantine made his way to the stage set up in the square and ascended the steps. The murmur lessened, the eyes of the crowd started following him, he could feel their piercing gazes, looking for answers. The weather wasn't helping the general mood at all, the sky was dark, preparing for a storm. He turned towards them and they quieted. The silence was surreal.
"My fellow countrymen." He started, unsure how to continue. "I have called you here today to share some news with you." The crowd moved, the murmur could be heard again and then as fast as it appeared it was gone. The gaze of so many eyes was unbearable. But the wizard was not a man to be so easily moved. "I'm afraid that our leader Warden Gunnbjorn is no more." The words spread through the crowd like a wave. They started to get restless, but then they settled and turned their pleading eyes towards the stage. A voice, that seemed to speak for the crowd, could be heard. "What happened? Is he dead?" The holder took a parchment from his robe and started reading. "My investigations show that he disappeared, no blood, no struggle. We also did not receive any offers of ransom. We have no idea what happened to him. He is not the only one to be missing either. The Holder of Shields is also unreachable." He gave some time for the crowd to settle again. "In his absence I have taken the mantle of Warden. I will gather the Council and we will decide the course of action. The first decision will be the election of a new Warden. We will also dispatch parties to search for our missing countrymen. Do not worry. We will prevail. I urge everyone to get back to their houses and jobs. We will double the guards until we find out what happened." The rain started in earnest. "I will not keep you. That was all I had to say. Thank you for listening me." With those words the people started to leave and in a few minutes the square was empty.
Constantine headed for the inn. He needed something strong to drink. This week had been a nightmare. And it all started so well.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 2, 2013 16:38:14 GMT
After an embarrassing time in the forests outside of Veiðimaðurheimian, Sadris returns wet, red with sting marks, and scrapes on his arms and legs walks into the inn to see everyone dancing to a bards tune with the exception of lord Constantine. Sadris requests an ale and sits at the table. "My Lord what has happened to make you so glumb. what has happened in my absence?" Sadris takes a swig of his ale and prepares for what news is to come.
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constantine
Volken
Constantine Ilfrey, Wizard Extraordinaire. For a sum i can make you feel as good as it gets.
Posts: 242
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Post by constantine on Aug 2, 2013 17:30:19 GMT
Constantine looks at Sadris and smirks. "Well at least we aren't the only ones having a bad day. What happened to you my good man?" He takes a swig of ale. "You want to know what happened? Two Holders are missing and we have no idea what happened to them. They weren't killed or kidnapped. They left no message that they are leaving. We are perplexed. The city guards saw nothing suspicious all week. My informants confirm what the guards said. It's a mystery. I have taken charge of the city for now until we gather the other remaining Holders and see what we'll do." He finished his ale and gestured to the innkeeper to bring some more. "And this damn weather is not helping at all." He took the ale form the innkeeper's tray and took a swig. "You better have more of those salts of yours because I'm not stopping until I black out. Tomorrow is going to be a hell of a day."
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Post by Deleted on Aug 2, 2013 17:42:44 GMT
Sadris smiles " i will have one waiting for you my lord and one for myself too probably" Sadris downs his ale and rummages thru his bag and pulls out a wet leather sack and pulls out 2 packages and hands one to Constantine "just add it to water and the woes of today will be lessened tomorrow."
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Post by Effigy on Aug 3, 2013 6:35:38 GMT
The city took Effigy's breath away. After spending 14 years underground in the mountains south of Veiðimaðurheim everything was new to him. He could see the workings of construction all around him and thought to himself the people must have just settled. The smell of a rudimentary sanitation infrastructure filled his nose and made him feel like he was back in captivity, he needed a drink.
As he headed through the streets eyes darted his way and then quickly hid. He couldn't help but notice his vast minority in this populace, not another orc in sight. This pleased Effigy. He approched what looked like an inn, the sign said Skraj Dalgång and depicted a mug and bed. Finally a long earned reprieve thought Effigy as he headed in.
Opening the door a vastly inebriated bard stumbled out whistling the tune of The Elven Bride, A somber tale of love lost, as he slammed into Effigy's chest and dropped his lute.
"Aye, ye..hic..ye bafoon. You be a watchin where you place dem feet...hic. Don't ye know who you be messing with?" He swayed back and forth trying to pick up his lute. "I am Rorric the great, traveller of the seven, no the twelve seas! Stealer of wives and killer of dragons."
"Good. I now able to tell graveman what to put on stone." Boomed Effigy with a snarl.
The bard slowly rose and finally eyed up the massive orc he had the misfortune of bumping into. At a tall stature of 6'8" he towered over the bard. His arms were ripped in muscles and two ivory tusks protruded like daggers from his jaw. Black eyes, black hair, and black skin gave him the sudden thought of a headsman. A shrill rippled down his spine as he quickly gathered his lute in close and scrambled down the street.
Effigy laughed and headed into the inn scanning the denizens of the inn. Finally out of the sunlight his sharp eyes quickly picked up two of his brothers in arms earlier in the day. He slowly wandered his way and took a seat next to them. "Bartender, give me three Ales please," He stopped and thought for a second, "and one for each of these two as well."
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constantine
Volken
Constantine Ilfrey, Wizard Extraordinaire. For a sum i can make you feel as good as it gets.
Posts: 242
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Post by constantine on Aug 5, 2013 19:18:49 GMT
Constantine was still worried about what happened to Sadris. The fight had been dangerous and the hobgoblins almost killed one of them. He felt responsible, he was trying to drown his worries but to no avail. Then he noticed the orc that helped them earlier. He still had that tough guy grin on his face. He wasn't a very bright fellow but he was brave and powerful and he saw that with his own eyes. The orc noticed them at the table and headed towards them. He asked for 3 ales and then bought another 2 for them. "Hello, Effigy. We had a good fight today, eh? We were lucky to stumble upon you. I think Sadris owes his life to you in some part." The orc was looking at him with a puzzled look. He was feeling a bit embarrassed. He took gulp of ale and waited for the other the say something.
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Post by Effigy on Aug 5, 2013 20:04:51 GMT
Effigy was not used to praise. This was the first time anyone offered him a word of kindness. Against all odds he thought he might actually like the old man he was talking to. "I fight well. I know war." The look in his eyes spoke more than his words, they told a story of sadness and loss. "He lives, no? Is good thing. F not angry he help." He was confused though, "How does old man like you get honor?" Everyone seemed to respect Constantine which baffled Effigy, in his society those two old to fight were cast away.
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constantine
Volken
Constantine Ilfrey, Wizard Extraordinaire. For a sum i can make you feel as good as it gets.
Posts: 242
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Post by constantine on Aug 5, 2013 20:29:17 GMT
After hearing the orc call him old, Constantine started laughing. "I'm not that old. I look old because of this beard and all the time I spend worrying about everyone." Seeing the sadness in the barbarian's eyes made his laugh disappear in an instant. "Do you want to know how I get honor?" He stopped for a second thinking how to put this so the orc would understand. "I am shaman. I know stories about which plants are good, which animals are dangerous. Stories of how enemies fight and many other stories of old." His eyes turned softer. "Even a great chieftain needs a shaman to tell him the will of the gods and bless him for battle. In our world sometimes the shamans become chieftains." His face then brightened. "Say, would you like to join our tribe? We can give great weapons, magic weapons. You will fight, and get gold and glory. Our tribe respects warriors that protect their children and women."
He then stopped, giving the orc time to ponder and took another swig of ale.
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Post by Effigy on Aug 5, 2013 20:50:48 GMT
Effigy understood shaman. This man could not be shaman. All his experiences with orc shamam left him hating their kind. Effigy never understood why the blood of infants was required to curse enemies. A hammer in their head was a curse enough. However the way this man described shaman seemed they worked differently on the surface. Never the less he resolved that even if he liked this man he would kill him if ever he tried to sacrifice a child.
When he offered Effigy to join the tribe it caught Effigy off guard. No one ever wanted Effigy. Effigy was mud, Effigy was dirt. But this man was giving him a place, a purpose. Perhaps travelling to the surface wasnt a folley. It took him a few moment but Effigy responded. "Effigy stay. Effigy fight for you. Even shaman have shields, Effigy be your shield."
Effigy wondered when would be a good time to mention there was an orc army under the mountains to the south looking for him. Looking to kill him and probably everyone he's with, and Effigy showed them the way to the surface.
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