Arghras' Tale.
Chapter 1
Note: I'm not entirely educated in the arts of medieval times and how it all worked. Im basing most of this on what ive picked up from books, movies, and other things. Please give me tips and advice on how to improve my writing, and keep things as realistic as possible. Furthermor,e im basing par tof this off of a mod i ahve going. - the fan made native expansion for default mount and blade, but im setting this in warbands map. so, keep one handy.
That all being said, i hope you enjoy.
It was dark. Pitch black. His eyes saw nothing. Everything was shrouded in darkness. Things were starting to come to him. His name, that came first. Arghras. His name was Arghras. He began to feel sensation. It was not pleasant. There was a repeated thumping on his chin, and he was bouncing uncontrollably.
Arghras tried to open his eyes, and immediately shut them. They stung horribly, from cold, and something else. When he tried again, he realized there was blood in his eyes. Sound was also returning. There was lots of chatter, and the sounds of trotting horses. He blinked several times, until the blood was gone.
He was tied on the backside of a moving horse, And several other horses and people were going in a specific direction. "What the...?" Arghras muttered.
"Ah, awake, are we?" The person riding the horse said. His voice held a particularly strong Vaegirian accent. "Who are you, where am I?" Arghras asked.
"Your on the ass of a horse, And im the man riding that horse." the rider said, no doubt toying with the captive. Arghras looked around to take in his surroundings. Snow, Lots of snow. There were also tress aplenty. Based on where he remembered himself last being at, and the surrounding area, he was guessing they were a ways outside of Curaw.
"We're near Curaw..." Arghras said. He tried to focus. He recalled where he had last been. He had been a guard hired by the lord of wercheg to guard a caravan headed to sargoth. He vaguely recalled an ambush halfway there, And being knocked out during the chaos.
"Why are we going to Curaw? What happened to my men!" Arghras asked, his voice raising slightly.
"Ah, don't worry. The survivors will be joining you in Curaws slave market soon enough." The rider replied.
"What!" Arghras yelped. He began to struggle against his binds, but they were very tight, tied all the way around to the horses belly. "Ah stop squirmin', You should have known there were dangers traveling the border of two warring nations." The rider Chuckled. "As it is, its better then Tihr's Slave market. Some of the people there will kill you for screwing up even the simplist of tasks."
Arghras cussed violently. "You bastard!" He snapped.
"Everything alright over here, Mahthral?" A new voice said, also with a Vaegirian accent. Another horse, this one armored, trotted up. On it, was a man dressed in crudely made, simple plates of metal, which made a vest. His arms and legs were covered in chain mail. A full-faced helmet shrouded any view of his face.
"None at all, sir." Mahthral said. "Prisoners being a bit annoying, but 'side from that, hes pretty much causing no problems."
"Good. The sun will be setting soon. We should set up camp. Feed the prisoners, eh?" And with that, the second rider trotted off into the crowds of people.
It was a few hours later, and camp had been established. Tents were everywhere, and some of the bandits were taking it upon themselves to become drunk and disorderly. Arghras got something to eat, at least. Not that it was pleasant, and would likely make him sick for a few weeks. It was smelly beef. Likely wasn't very clean, and probably old.
Still, he decided he'd be better off sick then starving. As he ate, he heard a thud, and a grunt. He turned and saw someone. He had just been tossed onto the ground with some smelling beef as well. He lifted his head. A scar down his left eye, a rough scraggly beard, and hair up in a ponytail.
"Tahlor?" Arghras asked. Tahlor looked up.
"Hey, boss..." He said.
"I thought you dead." Arghras said, obviously happy at his friends survival.
"Yeah well, I'd much rather be dead then be where we're going..." Tahlor said.
"Don't say that, friend. We'll find a way out." Arghras replied. Tahlor nodded.
"I just don't want to go back to that lifestyle. I was a slave of the kheregits for 12 years of my early life, remember?" Tahlor said, growing quiet.
"I know. But I got you out of that hell when I joined that siege on Unhun Castle. Even if we both become slaves in Curaw, I'll bust us out." Arghras said. As his hands were bound by rope, he couldn't pick up the beef to eat at it, so be put his face to it, and tore a chunk out, making himself feel rather Barbaric.
They sat in quiet, just trying to get the food down without hacking it up.
The following morning, the city of Curaw came into sight after the cresting of a hill. The banner of Boyar neldara hung above the gates. The forest around Curaw made it difficult to see far. Arghras remembered that the city sold Iron at a rather cheap price, making it a popular trading hub.
The bandits stopped a ways outside of town, and disgusied themselves as traders. 7 bandits led Arghras and Tahlor through the gates. Wanted posters adorned the job boards of the entrance courtyard. Many of them were vague, simple tasks, including hunting down bandit groups, or specific criminals.
"We'll make it out of here." Arghras mouthed. "We will!"