*Note: The first two chapters are the introduction of the story. They take place in a world far, far away, so you won't be seen Mr. Hideyuki Kikuchi's characters until chapter three. The characters of the first two chapters were created for a D&D game I used to play with my brother and my cousin that unfortunately we never finished. The story was originally written in Spanish and I published the first chapter two years ago, but my laptop died and I lost all my documents, so I decided to start again and take the challenge to rewrite it in English. It is not my first language so I ask for your patience. Please read and enjoy.
I The five adventurers
Deep in the forest five adventurers clear their path through the grass and the bushes looking for a place to camp. It has been a long day of hostile encounters with some unwelcoming dwellers of the forest and of course the wild animals that also live there. Luckily they all made it in one piece, but they are tired not just because of their previous encounters, but also because they have been walking for hours. It is late in the afternoon and they are already feeling the urgency to find a clear and dry place to rest.
-Damn! This seems to have no end -, the hoarse voice of a middle-aged dwarf can be heard breaking the silence of the tired walkers. He complains as he helps to clear the path with a long knife. He walks right behind a half-elf that walks ahead cutting off the grass and the bushes with his very sharp sword. The black-haired dwarf is wearing a strong full body armor probably made by him and he carries a double-headed battle-ax strapped on his back, a weapon he had inherited from an ancestor.
-Patience Grim (Grimswald). I can see a clearing right ahead-, says the silver-haired half-elf swinging his sword bringing down everything on his way. Like the dwarf, he's also wearing armor, but his is lighter and made of leather and chain mail. He carries on his back a beautifully crafted longbow and a quiver that appears not to have arrows inside.
-I don't know which is worst, making way through this place or the fact that I'll have to spend a lot of time sharpening your sword Sandhal (Sandhalewind). You are using that beautiful weapon as a worthless piece of metal-, the dwarf complains.
-I have no choice Grim-, answers the half-elf, but he doesn't really pay much heed to what he says.
-Give a little respect to your weapons and the blacksmiths that make them. That sword is not a machete or a stupid farmer's tool -, the dwarf frowns and complains as he noticed the half elf's careless attitude.
-Yeah, yeah-, the half-elf replies. He was used to hearing Grim complaining whenever someone used a weapon for something which it wasn't made for or whenever someone comes to him with a broken blade or armor as a result of its misuse. It's only natural for him to worry about weapons, those of his race are the best blacksmiths and craftsmen of all Finisterra.
Right behind the dwarf a young halfling kender walks paying attention to his surroundings and of course to the conversation of those who are walking ahead of him. To him, it was something normal to hear those two having that kind of argument, but he never misses the opportunity to take part.
-Wow! Sandhal you cut the grass with your sword even better than when you fight with it. Maybe you should change your job and become a farmer-, the kender says to the half-elf. -Hey Grim, are you sure that's not a farmer's tool? I think it was certainly made for that and not to be a weapon for war -, says the young brown-haired kender smiling maliciously knowing that they both were going to be angry and so he waits anxiously for their reply. Unlike the others, he isn't wearing armor, but that doesn't mean he's vulnerable. His cape of invisibility and his skills with the knives amongst other things make him a worthy opponent.
-Go to Hell Rasputin! (misspelling of his name Rahspboudine)-, they both reply at the same time.
-You are both so predictable! Hehehehehe-, the teenage kender laughs.
Grim growls and mumbles something that nobody can understand. "#$%^*&5$#?"
-So according to you I should be a farmer... We'll see who laughs when I plant one of my arrows in your ass! -, Sandhal replies.
-Oh how scary! I tremble with fear -, says the kender making fun of him.
-That's enough kid. There will be no food for you if you keep on nagging -, says Grim.
-But I'm hungry. That's not fair! -, the kender protests.
-I assure you that I will not give you anything that I hunt if you continue to annoy me -, says Sandhal.
-Please don't be so mean. I was just kidding. You guys don't have a sense of humor -, says the kender. He remains silent and looks worried.
Sandhal and Grim look at each other and snicker at how worried the young kender was thinking that he would have to settle for what little he had to eat.
A few steps behind the halfling kender a very tall dark figure follows. The mysterious man is wearing a long black cloak on top of the armor of the same color. It is not easy to see his face because he wears a violet bandanna that covers part of his face. He also wears a black wide-brimmed hat that is adorned with a skull with horns and red eyes. He is wearing a combat belt that holds some of his magic items, and a scabbard holding his demon sword. His long and abundant ebony hair flows down his back reaching his waist. Despite his height and size and the difficulty of the path, his steps are the most silent. His cloak seems to be floating in the air as he walks. He remains silent as the others ahead of him are chit-chatting, maybe because he had nothing to say, maybe because he wasn't interested, or maybe (most likely) because he was planning something sinister.
Right behind him, another tall figure but a little bit shorter follows. A beautiful and shiny magic armor covers her muscular arms, her nicely shaped breasts, and her long strong legs. A beautiful helmet with wings, worthy of the mighty Valkyries, protects her head and covers most of her face. Only a pair of emerald eyes could be seen through the helmet's visor. Her long coppery hair flows down to her waist. A long red cloak and a skirt adorn the armor giving it an air of royalty. A mighty big sword can be seen strapped on her back inside a nicely crafted scabbard. The legend says that the sword once belonged to the King of the Gods of Finisterra and only the chosen one could handle it. The lady looks like a knight or a paladin, but the truth is that she is neither one nor the other. She belongs to the clans of the North, the land known as Barbaria to the people of the other kingdoms. Even though she's a woman, her steps could be felt on the ground harder than the others. She walks vigilant, watching the back of her partners. She could also hear the conversation of those on the front. The silence of the one who walks right ahead of her worries her some. She knows he's not in a good mood, well none of them is, but unlike the others, he could take it out on anyone. She talks to him breaking the silence on purpose so she could interrupt whatever evil thought he could have.
-Hey Sparen-, she says a little loud so she could catch his attention.
-What do you want?- asks the man roughly, for he was suddenly taken off his thoughts. He doesn't even turn to look at her.
-Can you reach to see what's ahead?-, she asks just to make conversation. She could hear clearly what Sandhal said.
The man lifts his hat slightly and takes a look.
-Sandhal is right, there's a clearing right ahead-, he says.
-Good. Finally, we'll be able to rest-, she says.
The man just nods and keeps on walking like everyone else.
Once the tired adventurers reached the clearing they worked diligently to prepare their camping area. Once they were done they could finally relax. They made plans for the night choosing who's going to do the first watch and who's going to take the second turn. Sparen and Rasputin were the lucky ones, so the rest just went to sleep. Staying outdoors was no big deal to them for they were used to have the ground as their bed and the sky as their ceiling.
The night was quiet and all that could be heard were the sounds of the wilderness. The night creatures moved around as they usually did, but they were a little more cautious when they were close to the adventurer's campsite. Some of them were more curious than others getting closer than they should, but they were quickly chased away by those doing the watch. And so the night went on with no event.
The first Sun rays were sneaking through the crowns of the trees welcoming a brand new day. The creatures of the night retire to their lairs and let the daylight creatures begin their journey. The birds were giving their welcome to the new day with their melodic songs that filled the air of the living forest. Their songs served as an alarm clock for the sleeping adventurers who wake up and quickly begin their morning chores. Sandhal and Minerva went hunting while Grim was taking care of things on the campsite. Rasputin takes time to sleep for he had the second watch turn. Sparen was up already. He tells Grim that he's going to explore the area and so his dark figure walks away from the campsite until he's completely out of sight. The dwarf makes good use of his time alone and takes his tools out of his bag and starts to sharpen his knives as well as Sandhal's sword.
A couple of hours later the two hunters returned to the campsite. They brought two rabbits and three squirrels and some berries and of course, they also filled their bottles with fresh water from a stream they found. The dwarf welcomes them and keeps on doing his job. The sleepy kender awakes and when he sees the rabbits and the squirrels, he quickly offers his help to skin the animals and prepares them to be roasted. Sandhal accepts and so they get busy preparing their lunch. Minerva noticed that Sparen was missing and so she asks Grim.
-Where is Sparen?- she asks.
-Yeah, where's the big guy? -, Rasputin interrupts. -By the way, I've noticed that lately whenever I have to watch at night you put me with him.
-I wonder why it is ... -, Sandhal comments.
The young kender did not understand that Sandhal had spoken ironically and says, -That's what I wonder myself.
Grim ignores what the other two were talking about and replies to Minerva, -I don't know where he is, but he said he was going to explore the area.
-How long has he been gone?-, she asks.
-He left shortly after you and Sandhal did-, he replies.
-He's taking too long-, she says a little worried.
The dwarf noticed Minerva's concern and so he tries to ease her up a little.
-He'll be back soon you'll see. There's nothing to worry about lass-, he says.
-All right, I guess you're right I'm worrying too much-, she replies.
Rasputin as usual butts into their conversation, -Relax Minerva. That demon knows how to take care of himself. Besides, if he doesn't come back soon it means we'll have his part of the feast - The kender rubs his hands and licks his lips.
-You only think about food and taking what's not yours -, says Grim shaking his head disapproving.
-Hey that's not true! I only borrow things -, replies the kender angrily.
-Of course and then for some reason you forget to give them back -, says Sandhal as he takes part in the conversation.
-Of course not!-, the kender replies giving Sandhal a dirty look.
-All right, that's enough!-, says Minerva raising her voice.
Both the young kender and the half-elf remain silent, they don't want to see Minerva angry.
-I'm sorry Minerva. Would you like me to go look for him? I'm the best tracker of us -, says the half-elf.
-No Sandhal. We'll wait a little longer. If he doesn't return within an hour I'll go after him-, she answers.
-All right then-, the half-elf replies.
So they went back to what they were doing and waited for Sparen, but the mysterious wizard didn't return.
(( To be continued))