Sup?
Yeah, yeah I know what you're thinking, 'FFS LAWB, you're making ANOTHER story? Just Re-read the Inheritance Cycle and Rewrite the Homeland or post that Remake 'Tales of the Gaming Smith!' you promised us A YEAR AGO!' My reply is… I will! Soon...Probably…?
Anyway, as for the first I have recently gotten to be able to return to the library and as soon as I finish reading the book I checked out-which I have waited nearly 4 years to check out! - I'll check out Eragon and begin the process of reading it, then the next ones.
As for 'TotGS' I have the prologue written and working on Chapter one but I want a Beta reader before I post it as it is my serious story, while this is a semi-serious story by experimenting a writing method to hopefully expedite the writing process.
Now…Why am I writing this, aside from as I said above? Well, inspiration hit and it was too much for a one-shot. Besides I have plenty of those written I'm just too lazy to post. It's in the name people! You get as advertised!
Also! As you guessed this is a FoZ about a D&D character. Who should summon him, Louise the violent pink midget who I the epitome of 'Tsundere', or the much less violent Henrietta who I say I prefer as a character and is all around probably my third favorite character-I like Derf and Colbert more. One's a talking sword and the other is a badass Fire wizard. Need I say more?- and not to mention is probably less likely to get killed by the familiar due to abuse.
On one hand, Louise makes the story simpler as I follow along with what happens. He summons, he's branded, fights Guchie, gets def, saves siesta, fights Fouquet, Etc. Same old story we know with a different character, and probably would get stale other than the curiosity of 'what the hell will he do instead of Saito?' which would let me drop chapters as I re-watch the anime and get them out quicker. Or as I read chapters If I decided to go with the Light Novel instead.
On the other, Henrietta means I can do a 'mostly' (cause NOTHING is original these days) original storyline that's linear to the FoZ plot, as well as a bit more breathing room for shenanigans, and due to my 'experiment' of writing this as if it was D&D (yes, that's the plan) Shenanigans is probably gonna happen which may or may not affect the main story; such as him aiding Louise on their mission to get the letters from wales/save him if possible.
It's up to you, what would YOU guys prefer to read? Cause I'm good either way. I planned on watching the anime again and reading the LN so, yeah. Louise the Tsun-Zero, or Henrietta the princess!
Song is "Health to the Company" by Minstrels of Mayhem
Story.
START!
Ps. Sorry for the long AN; it's damn near 2 pages long!
"Bard"-Talking
'Bard'- Talking
"Fireball!" -Spells with vocal Component.
"Bard" -Talking; Foreign (not Common) Language
Chapter one: Celebrations and Kidnapping.
Third Person Omniscient
The townsfolk were singing songs and dancing with the utmost Jubilation in the street while bands played music. While some danced, others drank and flirted with whoever caught their fancy, male and female alike, while others seemed sad, or just happy to watch over the festivities.
One was an older human, who sat alone at a table, singing along halfheartedly. Hair as brown as mud with numerous veins of gray hair. His eyes are a lifeless and dull green with a massive scar going down his right eye. His face showed a morose emotion. He drank from a flagon and stared at a dagger driven into the wood across from him, with a tankard of some amber liquid in front of the dagger. He raised his flagon and took a small sip.
Another was a man who was an odd sort. His skin was purple in shade and his eyes a vibrant gold. Upon his head was a pair of horns that protruded out and curved back, clinging to his head. He was currently nursing an oddly hand-shaped bruise on his cheek while wondering what he did to piss her off.
Her, being a Drow woman who had a sword on her hip, even during this time of celebration. Her hair is silvery, and her skin the same shade as the tiefling, and her elvish features made her a beauty, if not for her drow heritage she would be considered the most beautiful girl in town, at least in a human settlement. She was decidedly average among the elven races.
Sitting with some others, a Halfling whose hair was in pigtails laughed as she drank joyously with a few others. A toothy grin a mile wide, eyes glistening with tears from laughing so hard, and tankards nearly a third of her size in hand, she seemed to be having fun.
A distance away, A half-elf with blonde locks and steely gray eyes is currently laughing next to two other half-elves. His face was angular with almond eyes, and his face was structured to be ever so slightly narrower in comparison to a human, but much less than elves.
One was taller and built like a mountain with purple skin and Silver hair as well as golden eyes. His face was chiseled, with no amount of facial hair, though it did have a wolfish feel to it, yet still it was clear they were related. the other, a smaller lad, with silver hair, but a Caucasian skin tone like the first, and eyes of ice-y blue. Aside from these differences, he looked identical to the first.
The three acted like brothers. The first laughing and telling jokes, the second stuffing his face with anything he can eat, and the last watching both enraptured and horrified as one ate enough food for a family of 5, and the other telling very bad jokes, about very amazing things.
Near the brothers a few booths away, an elderly red Dragonborn, whose scales have long since dulled in their intensity making him look weak and decrepit among the Dragonborn, but his molten eyes spoke of a power that is only gained through years of conflict. He held a staff in his hand and watched the crowd's as they hustled and bustled, while they sang and dance. Upon his face was a grin which was smothered as he took a sip of wine from a glass.
Finally, there was a man with a wild red mane of hair and emerald green eyes. He wore a white tunic with a blue vest and a bandanna over part of his head. He wore a big grin on his face as he laughed, and drank. Although his tankard was filled with a juice, most likely to do with his current company.
Across from him was a young red-headed girl, maybe fresh into her teens. Her hair and eyes were identical to his, though her face was completely different. While she had some baby fat on her face, where his facial shape was straight and edged, hers was soft and delicate. She held a tankard, also filled with juice, while they spoke and laughed.
These were Albion Bersk, Sheng Lee Xiao, Raveena Bersk, Lilly Boffin, Salazar Regalia and his little brothers, Albus, and Ander Bersk, Rhogar Flare-Wing, and Finally, but not least Johnathan 'Johnny' Rodger and his daughter Merida. Though these people are all important to this world, they are not to this story.
Only one man matters in this tale, and that man is Johnny Rodger.
First Person POV
Soon Night had fallen, and I along with my brothers and sisters in arms, as well as their families if they so choose to have them accompany us, joined us in our shared home. The 'Home' is a small castle that was caught in the middle of the war but had been rebuilt and gifted to us by His Majesty for our parts in stopping the war and making sure we were victorious.
We gathered in our main chamber of the castle, all of us adorned in armor, aside from my daughter, of course, she wore a rather pretty dress that her mother used to have. I was garbed in my white tunic and vest from before, as well as my brown slacks, with the addition of my reinforced navy-blue leather frock coat which had inlays of a nautical theme. On my hip was my cutlass, and atop my coat, I had a brace of pistols. Pepperboxes I do believe they are called. Most only need one, but why reload, when you can draw another?
'Sigh By the gods do I miss her mother…'
Knocked out of my thought by an elbow to the ribs courtesy of my daughter, I saw our… well, the calling him the leader was a bit much. He leads us into battle and gives us plans, but he never bossed us, left the talking to me when it came to the common folk, while the royals and other idiot nobles were left to him, and the not-so-nice folk was left to the dinosaur.
This time I was knocked out of my thoughts by a staff clobbering me on the head, courtesy of the Dinosaur.
"You're thinking aloud again, Johnathan." The Dino-I mean Rhogar said with an annoyed scowl upon his reptilian face.
"Heh, sorry my friend. Got lost in thought about how I'd write this down for tales. I am a bard after all." I apologize to the magician, who nodded his head and turned back to the front. Behind our leader was a row of rectangles, each covered in a red velvet cloth.
Our 'Leader,' Sheng, is standing some ways in front of us and holding a mug. "My brothers and sisters in arms! We are gathered here for a variety of reasons tonight. To celebrate our long sought, and hard-won victory over that madman, as well as to finally take the time and grieve properly." He spoke, his voice was boomingly loud, and clearly, holds a morose tone.
"We lost friends and family in this fight for our lives and freedom! I have taken the liberty of ordering portraits of out companions who are no longer with us to be painted." He approaches a rectangle and tore it off.
We gasp at what we see underneath the cloth.
In the portrait was a tiefling with golden scales along his skin, and held a staff. He was a middle-aged man in flowing robes. He was smiling. The background was a green forest, and he sat upon a stump, amidst a campsite. "Morthos Falrek! A reclusive man who didn't speak much. He was one of our first, alongside me, Albion, and Johnny! I never knew a more powerful sorcerer in all my years!
"He gave his life to stop the Hydra that would have killed us. Like many of us, we were forced to give him an empty casket burial as his body was incinerated when he killed the Hydra. Three cheers for Morthos!"
We raise our own mugs. "FOR MORTHOS!" is our resounding cry.
He moves to the next and grips the cloth, and he yanks it off. A Half-elf with dirty blonde hair, green eyes, and a crooked grin. He held a pair of daggers and had an arm around Albion. They stood in front of a bakery, owned by Albion's family.
"Zevas Deagan! A conniving, yet wonderful friend! He stood fast with us as we faced down many a foe, and fell not from beast but from betrayal, yet we had our vengeance!"
"Damn right we did!" Albion yells, as a proud, and sorrowful, and raging look flashes across his face. Due to the memory, I presume.
We chuckled a bit at his interruption, none the less.
"Indeed Albion. Now, Cheers for Zevas!"
"FOR ZEVAS!"
He pulls down the next. Revealing a goblin, working in a forge, hammering away at a smithy, with an emblem of Moradin hanging from her neck.
"Devmina Flintheart! A goblin who was a dwarf in all but body! She swore like one, drank like one, and crafted like one! She was a good friend to us all, and forged the armor and weapons we once wore, which now are to be gifted to our children! Cheers for Devmina!"
"FOR DEVMINA!"
This time, the person was a blue-eyed man with a messy brown mop of hair upon his head. he was kneeling, in front of what looked like a stain glass window, with the Emblem of his lady, Selune, above him.
"Isaac Richardson! A Paladin of Selune, goddess of the moon! He was not the brightest of our number, but the most passionate! To save his parents, he made a deal with one of the Servants of who we fought. It was with a heavy heart that he turned his sword against us, as it was for us when we drew steel against him." He says and shakes his head softly. "Cheers for Isaac!"
"FOR ISAAC!"
"And last, but not least, our first leader, the one who brought this merry band of misfits together!" he pulls down the final velvet cloth.
The person who he revealed to us was a black scaled Dragonborn, standing at attention clutching his halberd. "Gergen! He was the first one to lead us, and died to save us! He gave his life willing to our greatest enemy just to delay our own destined clash, and for this, we won this war! Cheers for Gergen!"
"FOR GERGEN!"
"THREE CHEERS FOR ALL WHO WE LOST IN THIS HELLISH FIGHT! THREE CHEERS FOR THE ONES WE STILL HAVE, THREE CHEERS FOR US ALL!" His voice was thunderously loud as he now also yelled.
We cried our cheer from the bottom of our souls. clanking our mugs, and all took a long draft. Once we had all lowered our mugs, Sheng smiles at me. "Johnny, would you play a song for us? We would all dearly love to hear it," he asks and I smile.
"Of course. Merida, care to grab my lute?" She nods
"Yes, dad! Can I grab my violin as well?" says with a smile, a pleading one at that.
I nod and before I could say a word, she races off.
It was a few minutes before she returned with my lute and her violin. During this period, we hung up the portraits in the main hall, with name plaques under them.
When she returned I clasp my lute in my hands and smile. Heading to the front with my daughter in tow I can't help but smile, at being able to play music with my daughter.
Once we were in front of the others, I begin to speak. "Here is a song, I always played during the last song of a town, without fail. This is the end of a chapter in our lives, so here it is."
I began to strum my lute, and soon she joins in with her violin.
"Kind friends and companions come join me in rhyme.
Come lift up your voices in chorus with mine.
Let us drink and be merry, all grief to refrain
for we may and might never all meet here again.
So here's a health to the company, and one to my lass.
Let us drink and be merry all out of one glass.
Let us drink and be merry all grief to refrain.
For we may and might never all meet here again.
Well, here's a health to the wee lass that I love so well.
For style and for beauty, there are none can excel.
She smiles on my countenance as she sits on my knee;
sure there's no one on earth as happy as me.
So here's a health to the company, and one to my lass.
Let us drink and be merry all out of one glass.
Let us drink and be merry all grief to refrain.
For we may and might never all meet here again.
Our ship lies at harbor. she's ready to dock.
I wish her safe landing without any shock.
And if ever we meet again by land or by sea,
sure I'm always rememberin' your kindness to me.
So here's a health to the company, and one to my lass.
Let us drink and be merry all out of one glass.
Let us drink and be merry all grief to refrain.
For we may and might never all meet here again.
3x "
I had finished the song with my daughter and my friends began clapping and whooping.
"Good job Johnny! Encore, Encore!" Lilly, a Halfling girl and like a sister to me, yells with a Cheshire grin.
"If you insist. Merida?" I glance at her and smile seeing her nod.
"and a one, and a two and a…"
Together, we play another song called, Haul away joe.
My daughter and I spend the next few hours singing and playing for the others, who also sang along. We kept singing till I needed a break to drink, and eat. Stopping long enough for a servant of the castle to bring me a plate with a bit of food, not a lot as I had eaten in the town's celebration.
I sit down to eat, and I look up. "Does anyone hear that?" I ask as I was hearing a loud humming.
"Yeah, what the hell is that?" Albion asked, as he drew his blades from his hip, which were a pair of short swords.
The others also drew their respective weapons, Sheng his Axe, Rhogar his longsword, Raveena her greatsword, Lilly a pair of hand crossbows, Salazar a sword and shield, while the other two grabbed dinner knives to use as weapons, as I drew my cutlass and moved in front of my daughter protectively, and with my other hand drawing a pistol.
Soon the humming grew louder as a large lime green portal formed a few feet in front of me.
I holster my gun and hold out a hand and I cast Dispel Magic and the portal wobbles but remains. I frown. "It's strong…Rhogar, what do you think?" I glanced at him and he narrows his eyes.
"It's quite similar to the Plane shift spell, but it's also as if it was fused with dimension door, and it's powerful. Very powerful." He informs, and we stiffen.
'Oh great, our luck, A portal to only gods know where.'
I walk to it and poke it. My finger goes through and I pull it out. "weird…" I say with a frown.
"Dad!" my daughter hisses, now hiding behind Ander which gave me the sudden urge to put a bullet in his head. "Don't play with it! Something is gonna jump out and nab you!"
I snorted. 'I've been to the hells, the elemental planes, the fey wild, the Shadow fell, and on each of them I have nearly died a most painful death. I am aware of this, but I am the only one capable of going through and checking it out and handling myself in a close combat and getting back. Not that I'll tell you that. Like your mother, you'd beat the ever-living hell out of me if I so much as mentioned risking my life.'
"Yes, ma'am. Your wish is my command." I sarcastically drawled as I walked to my daughter and Ander, who moved away yelping as soon as I was in face stabbing range as if I just set a fire under his ass. Or stabbed him in the face.
Which I didn't. He merely had his ass bitten by a ferret.
"Arthur! Let go of his ass! You don't know where it's been, you could get the runs from that!" I scold the ferret as Merida attempts to pry the old animal from Anders buttocks, which I soon lightly push her aside to do.
His brothers were laughing, while Albion winced. He's seen what my old companion can do when he's exposed to bare skin, and it is far from pleasant.
Arthur was a brown, almost black ferret. His chest had white fur, and a black fur mask around his eyes surrounded by white fur. Currently, he was in a set of armor I had made for him by Devmina a few years back. The armor is mithril so it's easy for him to wear, and protects him very well.
I put him on my shoulder, even in the armor the wait is nothing to me, and I feed him a small piece of meat and turn back to the lime green oval floating. I raised my hand, and a ring on my hand glowed as I activated its magic.
"Got an idea of what's through there, my old friend?" I asked.
A mischievous voice spoke in reply. "No, but we could always go through. You know how bored I get, and how when I am bored your boots become my scratching post."
"You are the oddest ferret in all of creation," I inform Arthur as I pat him on his armored head. "But you have a point, going inside it is the easiest method to examine it… Not like it's gonna come out and grab someone."
I spoke too soon.
As the words left my mouth the portal sent a green tendril after me. I moved out of the way, yanking my daughter with me. I felt it grab my leg and knock me to the floor and pull me in. I stabbed my cutlass into the floor and was stopped as the magical blade and the stone fought against each other, to see which would give first. Dwarven masonry, or Ancient enchanted steel.
The others rushed in. Sheng roared and hefted his ax which glowing with a golden radiant energy as he struck at the tendril, it passed through and drove down to the hammer of the ax, knocking Sheng off balance.
Other attacks were the same. Silver, Steel, Mithril, and magic had no effect. Not even a damn bullet! That just ricocheted off the wall and got stuck in a wooden chair.
I felt the stone begin to give way. I didn't have long before the stone was cut away, or I lost grip on the sword.
Frowning I look around at the gathered friends, trying to find something that could stop it. I know I don't have much time anyway, so I might as well suck it up.
"Merida!" I call out. My daughter comes to me and sits on her knees. Her eyes are glistening with tears. "Listen to me…I'm gonna go through that portal," I was interrupted by a squawk of protest, but I shut it down by saying her full name in a hard tone.
", I am going through that portal, and I will come back. I can't last much longer, and that thing won't break." I said without question. "So, I need you to be strong." Doing a risky move, I release a hand from the cutlass and reach for my hat.
"No! I don't want to be alone!" the tears fell, she was crying. My heart broke, and I felt guilty, but I could see no other choice. "I'll go with you!"
"Like hell." I refused, making my voice cold, and harsh. "I have no idea what's over there! I can probably survive it. You? Most likely won't." I took my hat and placed it on her head.
"Now." The stone cracked and I was jerked back a foot, the screech of steel on stone painful to my ears. "I, Captain Johnathan Roger, bequeath to you my ship. The captain is the first mate, until either, I return or you pass his standards to be the Captain."
Her eyes widen at what I said. The others, I noted through Arthur's eyes, were wet, and had their heads down. Seems they think I'm about to die. There probably right.
"And as father and captain I give one more order; Live free. Be Merida. Don't live how I did. Be better." I said and grabbed the sword and pulled myself a few inches up, as Merida moved closer, and I kissed her forehead.
"Take care, my little fish."
"Goodbye kid," Arthur said as he leaped onto my shoulder. The magic of the ring still in effect. Huh.
'You're coming with?" I asked the ferret.
"I'm your familiar and my best friend. Besides knowing you, at worst it's a…Squeak squeak!"
I chuckled and patted his head. "Magic's out buddy," I said and I smile. At them all.
"Sheng knows the password to my vault in the Bank. Albion." I said and the other man looked at me. "You take care of my girl. She's in your hands, also keep Ander from sniffing around her or WHEN I come back both of you will be sued as target practice for grape shots." I threatened, with only a small bit of heat. Mostly what I said was to make them laugh, they all did but my daughter and Ander who turned bright red.
"I will, Johnny," Albion swore. "I'll look after her as if she were my own."
They said a few words of farewell, while I was pulled closer, parts of myself through the portal. With a final smile, I drew the sword from the stone and was dragged through.