Chapter 2:
Companions For the Road
Rictor was up early the next morning. He looked out the window of his room at the inn, to see the sun just beginning to cast it's golden glow over the fields and forests of the sword coast, driving through the veil of mist that blanketed the land. The paladin sat basking in the light for a moment. The warmth of the sun's rays drove away the last chills of the night and gave him a great sense of peace. As his eyes drifted down, however, he suddenly grew grim. Rictor found himself looking out over the very field were the duel was to take place only moments later. He reached down next to the bed and drew his antique broadsword. The weapon had a keen edge, thought it showed signs of the many battles it had fought. A magnificent engraving of a heron was placed just above the graceful curve of the hilt. The leather binding on the handle was frayed but the blade was straight and strong. This weapon would carry Rictor through this battle as it had carried him through so many others.
* * * *
Rictor came down and found Kaven calmly sitting at the same table as the night before, putting a fine edge on his hunting knife with a whetstone (he had never recovered his thrown axe from the cave). Dyne was sitting in a dark corner nearby mumbling to himself as he studied his spellbook. Kaven did not acknowledge his presence but Dyne nodded and smiled to him. Standing up and closing his spellbook, the wizard said, "well then, shall we? The appointed hour is upon us!" "You're gonna have a time of it" yawned the innkeeper, stepping out of the back room. "Why?" asked Dyne offhandedly. "The whole crimson shield lit out early this morning as fast as they could move they're armored rears." "What?!?" three voices snapped. "They did indeed, I doubt they ever intended to fight you guys any way." "Oh if I ever see them again they're will be quite a settling." Said Rictor. "Then hope I do not encounter them first." Remarked the hunter coolly. "You will both have to wait your turns." Countered Dyne, "for I too would like to finish this affair." "Well since you're all so determined, how bout you three do me a favor while you're out seeking vengeance." Said the innkeeper. "Don't count on it" said Kaven. " I don't do favors" "I'll pay you." "The amount?" "100 gold apiece." "Five" "Two!" "Four. "Three" "For what?" "I leant an item, a wand from my adventuring days, to a friend. He traveled to the ruins two days northwest of here in search of treasure, but I believe he was killed there. If you can retrieve the wand for me the money is yours." Kaven leaned back to think about this. The wand itself was probably worth greatly more than the reward offered, but he could find no use for it himself, and there would probably be no market for it until he reached the metropolis of Waterdeep, many leagues to the north. However, he could use the extra money and this was probably the last stop he could make if he wanted to beat the winter snows north. "I'll take it" he said. The innkeeper turned to the others. "For the three hundred, gold I'm in." said Dyne. "I would be happy to oblige you in return for your hospitality." Proclaimed the paladin.
And so the three strangers became three companions.
Author's note. This chapter sucks a lot. I did in a spontaneous moment and I didn't really have an Idea how these characters originally got together so I had to wing it I'll rewrite all this later so it makes sense.
For people who don't really play D&D Bugbear: a big stupid creature resembling an over sized goblin. Paladin: a holy warrior serving the cause of a good deity.
Companions For the Road
Rictor was up early the next morning. He looked out the window of his room at the inn, to see the sun just beginning to cast it's golden glow over the fields and forests of the sword coast, driving through the veil of mist that blanketed the land. The paladin sat basking in the light for a moment. The warmth of the sun's rays drove away the last chills of the night and gave him a great sense of peace. As his eyes drifted down, however, he suddenly grew grim. Rictor found himself looking out over the very field were the duel was to take place only moments later. He reached down next to the bed and drew his antique broadsword. The weapon had a keen edge, thought it showed signs of the many battles it had fought. A magnificent engraving of a heron was placed just above the graceful curve of the hilt. The leather binding on the handle was frayed but the blade was straight and strong. This weapon would carry Rictor through this battle as it had carried him through so many others.
* * * *
Rictor came down and found Kaven calmly sitting at the same table as the night before, putting a fine edge on his hunting knife with a whetstone (he had never recovered his thrown axe from the cave). Dyne was sitting in a dark corner nearby mumbling to himself as he studied his spellbook. Kaven did not acknowledge his presence but Dyne nodded and smiled to him. Standing up and closing his spellbook, the wizard said, "well then, shall we? The appointed hour is upon us!" "You're gonna have a time of it" yawned the innkeeper, stepping out of the back room. "Why?" asked Dyne offhandedly. "The whole crimson shield lit out early this morning as fast as they could move they're armored rears." "What?!?" three voices snapped. "They did indeed, I doubt they ever intended to fight you guys any way." "Oh if I ever see them again they're will be quite a settling." Said Rictor. "Then hope I do not encounter them first." Remarked the hunter coolly. "You will both have to wait your turns." Countered Dyne, "for I too would like to finish this affair." "Well since you're all so determined, how bout you three do me a favor while you're out seeking vengeance." Said the innkeeper. "Don't count on it" said Kaven. " I don't do favors" "I'll pay you." "The amount?" "100 gold apiece." "Five" "Two!" "Four. "Three" "For what?" "I leant an item, a wand from my adventuring days, to a friend. He traveled to the ruins two days northwest of here in search of treasure, but I believe he was killed there. If you can retrieve the wand for me the money is yours." Kaven leaned back to think about this. The wand itself was probably worth greatly more than the reward offered, but he could find no use for it himself, and there would probably be no market for it until he reached the metropolis of Waterdeep, many leagues to the north. However, he could use the extra money and this was probably the last stop he could make if he wanted to beat the winter snows north. "I'll take it" he said. The innkeeper turned to the others. "For the three hundred, gold I'm in." said Dyne. "I would be happy to oblige you in return for your hospitality." Proclaimed the paladin.
And so the three strangers became three companions.
Author's note. This chapter sucks a lot. I did in a spontaneous moment and I didn't really have an Idea how these characters originally got together so I had to wing it I'll rewrite all this later so it makes sense.
For people who don't really play D&D Bugbear: a big stupid creature resembling an over sized goblin. Paladin: a holy warrior serving the cause of a good deity.