Tunare glided over to where Karana sat meditating bother stared into
the blackness of space and to the small blue spot that they had been
watching over so carefully. She sat by him and he lifted an eye smiling at
her presence. "Norrath" She smiled. "All the dreams we have in store for
its creatures. Karana rose up and spoke; his raspy voice filled her ears.
"Yes that is what I'm working on now." She looked at him oddly. "Rallos Zek
has caused many problems Lady Tunare." The name it's self almost angered
her. Rallos Zek was another God who did not appreciate all life but rather
only the strong. Weak was not allowed in his order. "What has he done now?"
Asked Tunare puzzled at why she did not already know his foul plans. Karana
looked up to her grimly and scratched at his chin. "It isn't what he has
done but what he plans to do that threatens us." He sat down in the
nothingness and began to meditate. "He is going to make the lives of the
barbarians rather harsh. He will send a wurm in time of great power. Blue
as the sky and as cold as the bitter lands of Ever Frost it's self. A cold
hearted devil whose only ambition is to kill and rule." Tunare sighed
deeply feeling the pain that was to be for the barbarians who lived in the
North. They where not the kindest of people but they did not deserve that
fate, not many did. She looked to Karana whose eyes had closed again into
meditation. "What do you plan on doing then Lord of the sky?" Karana opened
his eyes and store at Norrath with a curios yet blank look on his face. "I
will send another" Tunare looked to him "But who Antonio's Bayle, Erud all
these heroes are busy with their lives." Karana stood up and bowed his head
"A oddest of creatures with the heart of his people. A man filled with his
own torment, which no soul can cleanse whose one fulfillment, will be the
vengeance of the ones he loves. A blond haired stranger eyes blue as the
magic he will shoot out, he has been chosen!" And with these words booming
through space a sudden lightning filled the sky of Norrath and the lights
of thunder were thrown around. At that same moment a young halfling awoke
screaming. He looked around his room sweating looking for something or
someone to answer to. He took a deep breath and fell back into his bed. He
ran his hand through his blond hair.
Nictin McFiddle was his name. A very small and very quiet halfling.
He awoke to the sounds of a black crow hawking in the jum jum fields out by
his house. He groaned loudly and stumbled out of his bed. He was the oddest
of creatures really. His blond hair was wild and ran all over his head in
strange streaks. His eyes where a light blue and made him look ten years
younger then he really was. He already was growing small chin hair as most
halflings do at only the age of twelve. It also was a brilliant blond. He
yawned and put on his red collar shirt and brown knee high pants. He jumped
up to reach the knob of his door and stumbled out. Going into the kitchen
he found his mother baking more muffins as if her family hadn't eaten in
days and was as always cheery while doing so. She smiled at Nictin "Morning
Nictin, my you're as slow getting up as a snail ensnared!" Nictin grumbled
and took a seat at the table next to his brother Fydlin who gave him a
smirk and passed him a muffin. Fydlin was even more of a character then
Nictin. His hair was red as fire and he almost looked as if he didn't
belong in the family. His eyes were silver and almost gave him the look of
a troublemaker. "You can't keep waking up this late Nic." Fydlin began "We
only have thirty minutes until warrior practice begins. Nictin almost
chocked, he had forgotten and had not studied the material for the forms of
combat. "Ack, thanks for reminding me now Fydlin lot of good it does me!"
Fydlin smiled "You're welcome and then looked to the door as it cracked
open. There stood Ynaphit the outcast of the family. "Hello everyone only
twenty minutes before I have to go away." Nictin's mother sighed deeply and
hugged her adopted daughter. Ever since she had appeared at the doorstep of
their family years ago she had been an active role in it. She rubbed at
Fydlin' hair "Take care of Nic now would you?" Fydlin smiled sneakily. "Oh
yes I'll take good care of the little shallow head." Nictin gave Fydlin an
angered look and continued nibbling at his muffin. "And Nictin you look
after your father the God's know he needs everyone's help. I can only
wonder what he has been through in the North." Nictin nodded and hugged his
sister. With this parting she waved good-bye and walked out of their lives
forever to begin her career as a bard. Nictin's father was a warrior. His
father's father was a warrior and the line had continued for as far back as
any of them could remember. His father was a very busy man who Nictin had
never had time to actually meet. He was more of just a superior figure he
knew then a father. But Nictin respected him immensely. He was always very
proud of his dad and hoped that he would grow up to be him. He urged for
every chance he got to see him and when he did he couldn't find the words
to say to talk to him. He was one of the most famous people in the halfling
town of Rivervale. Everyone who's anyone knew Rictin McFiddle. Nictin's mom
Salley gasped "Oh my, boys there will be no warrior practice today!" Nictin
and Fydlin looked at her oddly. She smiled happily "Your fathers coming
home today!" Nictin grinned and looked to Fydlin who wore the same face.
The two ran to the door. Nictin did a small flip out the window tripping
over and landing in a flower patch and Fydlin simply flew through the door
and ran toward the bank.
Nictin looked around the town he had grown up in. Rivervale was a
small and easygoing city. It was a trading center where many explorers and
adventures had traveled. Many of them would return to Rivervale in time
almost as if they had lived there their whole lives. It was a very homey
town. Nictin raced toward the bank and turning a corner into a very tall
man. There stood Tyleer RedClaw a paladin of the human city Freeport. The
Paladin grunted at him and through his arm around his neck. "Well if it
isn't the son of Rictin young Nictin McFiddle. You should watch were your
going you might find your self in trouble you little scum." Tyleer lifted
up his fist and Nictin closed his eyes gritting his teeth. "Let him go
RedClaw" A voice called out. RedClaw dropped Nictin and he fell to the
ground. Tyleer looked to the voice and discovered Tulean. Tulean was
another paladin only much more aggressive and appeared friendly to the
short and young. Tyleer knew there was no point at lashing out at Tulean
not only would he wipe him out but he would report his wrong doing to King
Thox of the city of Felwithe home to the High Elf's. Tyleer looked to
Nictin growled softly and walked away angered greatly. Tulean smiled at
Nictin "Hi little McFiddle exited about your father coming back today?"
Nictin smiled "Yes sir." Tulean looked into the distance I'll probly cross
paths with him on the way back to Felwithe I have some mission to attend to
for the King." He patted Nictin on the head and walked out of the entrance
to Rivervale. At that moment Nictin looked to see Fydlin coming out of the
Fool's Gold. Nictin stared at Fydlin curiously. He walked up to Nictin and
nodded to him. "What where you doing in there Fydlin?" Asked Nictin curios.
Fydlin stopped and looked as if he was looking for an answer. "Um well, I
needed to buy some tonics for mom's stand. Nictin looked to Fydlin's hand
to find no tonics but he rather not get into an argument with him so they
continued to the bank. They walked towards a tree and Fydlin gave Nictin a
leg up and both sat in it ready for the show. Halflings stood around in the
streets anxious and exited for the return of the travelers from Rivervale.
Mayor Grooble adjusted him self to the center of the bank along side him
was the leader of the warrior guild and standing under a tree close by was
the druid leader RavenClaw. Sudden much cheering came form the entrance of
Rivervale out from the Misty Thicket. Sparkling confetti flew from the sky
and screams of happiness roared. Nictin stood up in the tree and wove a
hand over his head and squinted his eyes. There stood two barbarians one he
had seen often hair as black as coal and silver armor from his head to his
feet. He other wore a leather uniform and a small bear followed him.
Obviously he was a Shaman. Then a dwarf Nictin recognized as a family
friend Darfe. Then a seemingly louder cheering came and Nictin saw his
father walking in. Grey hair lay on his head and his eyes were as blue as
Nictin's. He wore a tired face and he looked twenty years older then he
was. Aged by the constant battling that he had taken place in. He had a see
through shield that glowed. It was a velium shield and it was almost as big
as he was. The weary adventures stood before the mayor bowed and then bowed
to the public. There service done. Everyone congratulated them on a great
return and as this was happen Nictin and Fydlin finally rushed over to
their father. When they saw him they saw Salley was already in his arms. He
wore a very tired face but it was lightened up when he saw his sons. He
walked over and hugged Nictin. "How have you been son?" He asked. Once
again Nictin answered with only a "Good sir" Rictin chuckled "Stop that sir
junk kid dad's fine." Then he laughed as he saw his other son Fydlin come
up "How the hell are you?" Fydlin laughed about the same as you dad sick of
the routines we have!" The two hugged and the family returned home. Nictin
could only wait to spend more time with his father.