A Dark Stranger- Chapter 1
Disclaimer: As much as I would like to own Neverwinter nights I don't so all credit must go to Bioware.
(Authors note: This is a new story states obvious but the character names the same as in Neverwinters hero simply because I can't be bothered to think of another- and I'll probably end up nicking some of the back ground (not the assassin part and I'll change it a bit too) but changing the character (call it an alternate universe). This time it will be written in 3rd person but in brackets will be Leonals thoughts during conversations. It will start in Neverwinter but the story will change a lot from the OC I think. Anyway I'm writing two fanfictions so that if I get writers block on one I can go to the other and vice versa. Please read and review. ends rambling)
The convict sat in cold of the dark cell, listening to the owls' cry of a free world- a world he could no longer be a part of. His bare muscular back revealed many old scars that had been there since his childhood, while his black shoulder length hair hung over a dark, weathered face, that would have been handsome was it not so sunken. The steady drip, drip, drip of the leak on the hard cold stone on which he sat, dictated the pace of the day for the last two years.
The rusting clink of metal revealed that the heavy iron bound door was being opened. A rare occurrence though this was the man was in a deep calm and did not startle. Instead he merely stared expectantly at the door and waited to see what he owed to the pleasure of this visit to his humble abode. The guard towered over him for a moment before speaking.
"You have a visitor" It was minute before he replied. Communication was after all uncommon.
"I thought I was in solitude" He replied, his voice hoarse, and strained as though from lack of use. The guard smirked at this, before replying.
"And scum murderers like you deserve to be… but this is a special visit so to speak. So look sharp, and for your bloody sake be polite."
The prisoner looked confused momentarily, and after quickly masking this, rose from his position on the floor and strode towards the door, blinking in the light that now blinded him.
"We are to wait here until they call for you" The wooden door did little to conceal the sound coming from the inside due to the half elf sensitive hearing.
"And we are quite sure of his sanity" a male voice of contempt spat "This is a mistake."
The wardens followed. "Mostly… he is completely calm most of the time… yet at night you sometimes hear him scream though I know not why" The screams… those dreams that plagued him most nights, and would never fade so long as he lived.
"And this is the man we are to "trust" to save us"
A female's voice countered "We need help, and this is the only person I can find who even stands a chance. In any case he'll be kept well under surveillance." The conversation continued with bickering between the two until the door was finally opened and the half elf stumbled into the room.
"Greetings to you" The female elf spoke. Her beauty radiated around the room, where she sat along side the warden, and two other clerics. "Ah Leonal Bendt, I am Lady Aribeth de Tylmarande, and these are my companions Fenthick moss" she gestured towards the other elf "And Desther Indelayne" (Hmmm definite hostility towards the other- she doesn't like him, but what the hell would the lady want with me. Obviously a paladin- I can tall from the aura) "I have come to you to ask of you a favour, that you may redeem yourself for your crimes" (My crimes. Ha! I have crimes, but not what I've been tried for. My crimes will haunt me forever. I deserve death for them. But remorse for those "murders"? No)
"What exactly is it you want of me?" He spoke coming back to his thoughts. She surveyed him for a moment checking that he was sincere in his question. As a paladin she hated having to compromise with these criminals, but alternatives where thin and few.
"I doubt you know this, but my city of Neverwinter has been struck by a plague. An unnatural plague that cannot be cured (Uh-huh and I would do what exactly? Officiate funerals?) I am training heroes to help my city, and I want you to come and train at the academy- to serve Neverwinter. If you can prove after the ordeals in Neverwinter are over that you can return to society than my Lord Nasher is prepared to grant you freedom, under supervision" The man appeared to consider this for a moment- he didn't really want freedom but he did want to redeem his past, and the likelihood was he would die in the attempt- it was a win win situation
"And why would you choose a convict such as me?"
"Because as ghastly as your crimes are they show fighting prowess, which we need. That and that there is evidence to suggest you would want to redeem yourself." This time it was the younger man, Fenthick who spoke.
"What's the catch?" Leonals face remained impartial. There was always a catch.
There was a hesitation before the old man spoke "Once in Neverwinter a spell will be placed upon you that will inform us of any misdeeds as well as teleporting you back to us where the death penalty will be passed. The same applies should you try to run" He continued his voice harsh and full of threat "On the way to Neverwinter, 2 days travel from here your hands will have to be bound, and you will be constantly watched. After all we can't cast the spell until we're there. So don't get any ideas about running"
"So will you help us?" asked the paladin.
"When do we leave?"
Journeying
The party trundled on through the day across the barren landscape that loomed far in the distance, every step taking them closer to the doom and decay that awaited there arrival. Leonals hands where tightly bound in front of him as promised. It was many hours later that they stopped to make camp. Desther thrust the criminal roughly to the ground (bastard) and he landed on his knees. "Desther, this treatment of someone's whose aid we ask for cannot be tolerated" Aribeth scolded.
At dusk the fire had been set and they sat around, all keeping a wary distance from Leonal. Not that he minded. He cared not about these people, nor did he want anything to do with them. But he wanted to make up for his past, or else pay for it with his blood. They talked amongst themselves for a while, and he was startled when the young cleric spoke to him "Leonal" He looked up "Is it Leonal or do you prefer Leo?" Preference- he had not been asked his preferences in a long time. Strange. "Leo, but either will do?"
"Well Leo, why did you agree to help us?"
"I have things I want to make up for in my past"
"You mean your crimes?"
"In a manner of speaking"
"Is that what you dream about?" The dreams had plagued him, torturing his soul for two long years. That was something he was going to have to be wary of. He would not sleep on this journey. The guards passed it off as insanity, but he suspected that they would not be so easily dissuaded. They seemed to sense by the silence that fell that he was lost in thought.
"Leo? Leo?"
"Where you planning on fighting on this trip?" He asked blankly
"Not as such"
"Well just so you know there a horde of orcs behind you that appear to be planning an attack"
(Authors note: This is just an introduction really. This story is going to deviate a lot more from the OC than my other story. Anyway please read and review)
