Round table tales
Heavy clouds loomed over head, winds howling as a storm approaches.
A lone traveler trends the dirt road, pacing steadily toward his destination at the far side of the beaten road.
The Traveler wore a heavy cloak, dark leather boots kicks out from the heavy layers of his dirty cloak with every step he takes. A strong gust of wind threw off the hood which the traveler pulled over his face revealing his long pale face, & long white grayish hair. Many scars ran along his face, telltale signs of one who's seen a fair share of battles for several lifetimes. Each marked an encounter, especially the 4 inch long one that runs from middle of the forehead to right side of this nose, barely missing his right eye.
A veteran knight that once served the old King, he has since traded armor for a simple crock. Only his scars, the ever ringing in his left ear and his trusty sword reminded of his past. Along the steel blade of the sword was numerous chips and dents, each telling the story of tough battles with dangerous monsters. Like the time he faced off a angry black dragon with claws as big as a small hut or an towering ogre wielding a tall pine tree or even fireball spitting hydras. The sword was bestowed upon him by the goddess Athena for his valor in saving the city of Greece from the Cerberus, a fearsome 3-headed dog like monster with 9 tails, each with a snake head at the end.
Noting the foreboding weather, the veteran reached for his hood to pull it over his head. ..
Only to suddenly pause, his battle honed instincts nagging at him of danger. A faint rustle from a brush several feet ahead, a glint of steel and faint whispers confirms his senses. "Amateurs." The knight murmurs as he spots five armed men huddled on the sides of the road, then a sixth figure twenty feet further down the road to the far left peeking out the side of a stout oak. The veteran offered a silent prayer to his guardian deity, the goddess Athena and approached the ambush with steady measures steps, wary of traps these men, likely bandits may have set to snare the unknowing traveler.
As the veteran approaches the thicket one of the men hid in, the man reveals himself. Brandishing a worn long sword, the man rests it over his shoulder and address the veteran.
"My my, who do we have 'er, yer be travelin' by yerself sire?"
As the man spoke, he signals for his companions to come out of hiding. Sure enough four more came on to the road. The man furthest from the veteran motions for the rest to stay their weapons and approaches within talking distance. Seemingly the leader of this band, he sports relatively fine equipment, a seemingly unused and new board sword slung casually from his hip in a scabbard, leather breeches, his gloves clean tucked under his belt. Fine woven pants and fine tanned leather boots almost spotless despite the conditions of the road.
He appears far too untouched by the roads to be a robber, the veteran noted.
"Good evening, sire. Excuse Davy here, he is merely eager to greet. My name is Ducont le fleur, a traveler much like yourself on this wretched lands"
Motioning to his men, Ducont introduces them.
" here is Higgs, Boson, Doma and Davy there that sprung himself on you.
The men behind Ducont however didn't take to his casual attitude, all of them had weapons drawn and appear tense, ready to put their weapons to use at the slightest provocation.
The veteran drew his cloak apart, revealing his splendid weapon and rested his hand on the pommel of his finely crafted sword. He curtly bowed, taking care not to take his eyes off these dangerous looking men as he introduced himself.
"The name is Duran, How may I be of service to you fair traveler?"
Ducont steps forward exclaiming loudly, waving out his arms in exaggeration.
"Duran? Duran of Vogelberg? Slayer of the dragons, destroyers of Ogres hordes?"
His brows rises before changing to a skeptical look, "or it's just a common name there." An answer rather than a question.
" Duran is 8" tall, & arms the size of. Tree trunks!" Higgs laughed off.
"And fire came off his breath" remarked Doma Davy bursts out laughing shortly joined by the rest.
Duran remained still. This is not the first time someone laughed off his reputation. While some of his achievement have been vastly exaggerated, he did killed a black dragon, among many monsters. Imposing as he is, he is nowhere near 8" and certainly do not breath fire.
He wasn't always the knightly warrior favored by the gods before, and it began...
Not the least bit agitated by the taunts, Duran remained calm, alert and well aware as 2 of the men slowly circled behind him, cutting off his escape route.
"It would do you well if you just give us all the valuables on you." As Ducont spoke,his smile twists into a snarl. "Not that we wish to be robbers.. if not for that wretched necromancer cult besieging my castle, I would still be having roasted boar meat with endless wine made of the finest grapes in this land." His voice mixed with anger and bitterness.
The knight eyebrows lifted slightly at the mention of necromancer cult. "Is it the 'Black Mushroom' necromancer cult led by the evil witch Adria?" He enquired, his voice turning to be one of great interest.
"Yer sword be fer decoration?!"Davy taunts, long sword over head as he eagerly rushes toward Duran, swooping his blade towards the knight's unprotected head.
Duran caught the blade easily and snatched it away without blinking, staring into Davy's confused eyes.
"I'll like to have a word with your lord, now if you'll excuse me, Davy."
The veteran walked confidently towards Ducont as Davy backs up towards his band, and took out a concealed dagger from his back. "Would you happen to know a person named Timo?!" Duran pressed the band, with which Ducont unnerved, yell for his men to attack at once.
Higgs and boson rushed the knight from both sides thrusting and chopping, Duran slaps the short sword from Higgs hands, caught him by his collar and tossed him at Boson like a rag doll. Higgs and Boson collapsed into a heap, knocked unconscious.
Doma came in fast behind the pair heavy mace in hand, swinging powerfully at Duran's side.
The knight stops the attack with the pommel of his sword, then side steps the tripping Doma as the momentum of his advance pulled him forward. Slamming square into Davy as the wretch tries to backstab Duran.
Duran points Davy's long sword at the two, threw a sidelong glance at Ducont and asks again, so you know Timo?
"Timo, that pokey face ginger ?" Davy steady his footing. " what business ye have of this thug?"
" My only kin left, my younger brother actually" Duran paused before continuing, deciding to play along.
" where can I find him?"
" that son of the bitch took my niece Sharon ran to the Necromancer encampment in the woods" Ducont answered, clearly still very upset about the incident.
" lead me to the woods" Duran reached for a pouch and tossed it before Ducont. The bag jingling of coins made apparent the contents as it dropped to the ground, coins, and lots of it.
" you will get the other half when we reach the place I seek"
Davy picked up the purse of coins and weighed it in his hand as he threw it up and down.
"D'ble tis amount and u got ya'self a deal.. tis will not be enough for all of us.." he say, motioning his head towards his accomplice. "Mor'over you be getting ya'self the best guide for the woods.. we used to hunt there pretty often.."
"Deal." Duran replied coldly, as he watch the rest of the men exchange glances with each other then nod greedily in agreement with their leader, and added
"Let's get moving". "Good, ye landed ya'self a great deal." Davy added, rubbing his filthy hands in glee. He signaled his companions to group up. "The woods' a few days walk from 'ere. 'O we can travel to the nearest town and pick up some horses, then we can reach within a day or two." Davy paused, then hastily adding "Ye will pay for the horses of course."
With their agreement, Ducont hustled his men to the location where Duran spotted a 6th person. Behind the stout oak was a lady of obvious stature, dressed in fine silken toga, jewelry adorns her neck and ears. Duran was taken by disgust however, the lady was hogtied and gagged. Left in a leaning position, all she CAN do is peek around the stout oak she was left at, with her arms, knees and ankles bound she can hardly move.
"Whom might she be and why was she tied up?" Duran asks, holding back his urge to strike the men down where they stood.
Ducont held the squirming lass by her chin and grinned in a lecherous manner, "she's my wife, an adulterous wench, I would sooner have her hung if..."
Ducont took a moment to leer at the woman, ran the back of his fingers slowly and deliberately down her neck, drawing muffled protests from the gagged gal " not for my love for her" pushing the lady back down to the ground, he turned back to Duran, Palm on his face trying to hide the look on his face and hissed "and being such a magnanimous person, I let her live. I had her bound and gagged to prevent her from running off to her lover."
"An obvious lie" Duran thought, the lady's tear streaked eyes hinted of anger for her captors, judging from the finery she had left not robbed of her, she's likely kidnapped not too long ago and probably to be held for ransom or other design of these thieves.
"Step aside!" Duran demanded, right hand on his sword, " I wouldn't ask twice." The men at first turned towards him, then look at one another. "Ye know what, why no kill him then take the other half ?" Yelled Davy to the rest.
"Let's get...OUCH!" Higgs howls in pain as he went on his knee and a flame red blade was at his throat, the flaming brand is not a blade of mortal origin. Blood ran freely from a fresh wound on his left thigh as Higgs pressed on it.
"I only needed one guide" just not too long ago, Duran would have the killed, every of these men, before they even spoke.
Higgs recoils in pain and fear, but not actually badly hurt.
Duran turns his attention to the rest just as Davy came with his long sword leading, his weapon poised to gouge out an eye. Just as before, Duran easily snatched his weapon. With his free hand, Duran grabbed the scoundrel by his collar then soundly knocked the daylights out of him with a heavy elbow strike to Davy's temple, turning to his side as Duran pivots on one heel.
Snapping a sharp kick at Boson, Duran disarms the man. Boson was utterly confused at the lost of his weapon and failed to see another kick that caught him square at his jaw, sending him reeling backwards and failing over Higgs. Davy came crashing into the 2 and the collision knocked all 3 down and out.
Doma came swinging clumsily and Duran used the momentum of of his weapon to misdirect the attack, disarming Doma in the process. Now in close proximity, Duran snapped a quick succession of jabs at Doma, each blow fluidly executed and ending with a clean palm strike to Doma's jaw.
The large man convulses briefly from the multiple hits and collapses groaning.
Outmatched, Ducont knew he doesn't stand a chance and sprinted away just as Doma fell. No further then a couple of paces did Ducont keel over in pain, Duran had taken Davy's dagger and scored a direct hit on Ducont's calf.
Hurt, Ducont couldn't run if he wanted to. Duran caught up to him quickly and kicked his injured leg, drawing a squeal o pain from Ducont.
"Stay put", Duran warns as he threatens to stomp on Ducont's injured leg. With Ducont compliant, he drags him back to the clearing where he 1st found the girl.
Doubling back, 2 swift strikes and he had the girl ropes loose. With an out stretched hand, he offered to help the lass get up.
"Who be you and what business does these thugs have with you?" Duran asked as he gather the men he knocked out to one spot and motioned for Higgs and Ducont to come to him.
With the rope he took from the lass he motions the two men to tie their companions up
The lass took a moment to straighten herself out, regaining composure she spoke.
"These men tried to force me to hand over my property and steal my possessions.
My father is lord sunderworth, decanus of the church. Who are you and what are you doing with these men!"
"Pardon me milady, know not you or your father," Duran bows deeply, and return to Ducont to tie him up just as he finishes tying up Higgs.
I was on my way to meet with an old friend when these men tried to rob me."
I am Elissa sunderworth, that scum you are binding now used to serve my father, if I knew his traitorous nature I would have personally saw him beheaded!
Where be your father now lady Elissa?
The feisty lass shudders and her eyes went red with tears" poppa had been sick for months now, I tried to get him the best doctors but nothing would help... he died.. "Fighting to not break down crying, Elissa focuses on Ducont.
She picked up Ducont's sword, and aimed it's edge at Ducont throat. The sowed swing up and down with her breathing.
"I could end it if you wish", Ducan offering to put an end to Ducont. " it isn't my first, and will not be my last, I reckon."
"Unless you know the way, otherwise I need his help to get me to yo my friend, my bother actually, in the forest. Necromancer stronghold"
Elissa pull back the sword, but not before kicking Ducont on his guts.
" I don't" but I know someone that does, back at my castle. But I would need your help to return. I shall reward you of course"
"I suppose I am not in a hurry, & could do with sleep", Duran nodded
"And a bath!" Elissa interrupted
"Today is my better day." Duran teased, and both broke off laughing.
"But would you him then ?" Duran asked.
" just tied him to a tree and leave him here. If his friends cared about him, they came back to him, otherwise , he can be supper for the wolves for all I care."
With Ducont tied on a tree, the pair travel off toward the Sunderworth castle.
