The names of the towns and some other things all belong to Ragnarok Online. The characters and story are my own creation.
The Greatest Challenge
Prologue: Special Delivery
"Move that thing faster will you? We don't have all day." The burly man's orders echoed across the harbour, as the early morning sunlight began to pour over the rooftops of Alberta.
Dressed all in black, the burly man had a very secretive look about him, but this image was shattered every time he bellowed out an order at his ragged crew. His dark beard was long, almost reaching his chest, his hair was equally as long, and even darker than his beard.
He began to pace up and down along the wooden dock, the noise of his heavy boots causing a nearby beggar to awaken from a drunken stupor with a slight jump.
"How much longer is this going to take?" The man questioned a nearby crewman.
"Should only be an hour longer Cap'n Jassur. We're havin' some problems hauling the 'unit' out of the ship, it's a lil' unstable Cap'n," The crewman turned and pointed to a pulley, it's main arm bending dangerously. "The 'unit' is heavier than we thought it would be Cap'n, so we're attachin' some more support weights to the pulley. I'll try an' hurry it up Cap'n." Jassur nodded as the crewman saluted and ran back up the gangplank on to the ship.
The now-awake beggar tried to listen in on the conversation as best as he could, stretching his neck closer without appearing obvious. Jassur turned to pace some more and noticed the beggar.
"You! Eavesdropping were you? Did your mother not teach you manners as a child?" Jassur's anger was rising, if anyone knew what was in that crate, the population would go wild, and possibly even riot.
"S-sorry sir, I was just stretchin', sleepin' rough sure does take its toll sir, I'm sorry sir, I didn't hear nothin'." Jassur looked skeptical, the beggar bowed his head, looking as innocent and submissive as he could.
Jassur took a step towards the beggar, his massive frame covering the beggar in shadow.
"You tell me what you heard right now, or I'll end your miserable life as slowly as I have time for." Jassur placed his hand on his sword, which rested in its sheath.
"No, no please sir! I didn't hear nothin'! Just somethin' about a 'unit', and it being unstable. That's all I heard, I swear it on me mother's ashes, sir!" Jassur relaxed slightly, he knew the beggar was being honest, and that a crate being hauled in the by the King's men was nothing out of the ordinary. He threw a coin into the beggar's lap. "Just make sure you don't gossip about it. What is in that crate is the King's business, and his business alone."
The beggar bit the coin, then a wide smile spread across his messy face. "Yes sir, thank you sir!" He bowed his head eagerly, then swiftly stood up and took off in the direction of the food market.
"Poor bastard, probably hasn't eaten in days ..." Jassur's anger left him, as he turned back towards the ship.
The crewman leaned over the side of ship, catching Jassur's attention, "Cap'n, we're running unexpectedly ahead of schedule, the pulley held out better than we thought it would. We'll be loadin' the crate on to the carriage in ten minutes, sir." The crewman shouted from the deck of the ship. Jassur nodded to the man and began walking towards the gangplank...