Hello friends! This is something I've been slowly working on for a while now, and I do mean slooooowly. This story is based on a homebrew campaign that I created for some friends a while back. The characters are all my OC's. For anyone wandering about my "For Monster Honor" fic...give me a minute.
Tokichiro
It was a warm, summer afternoon in the small village of Manhel. The largest structure stood to the north, a windmill that slowly turned in the mild breeze that blew through the village of simple wood houses and barns. The villagers were mostly human, but there were a few peoples of other races living among them. Despite this, Tokichiro Haku still managed to stand out. The dark-haired half-elf walked the dirt roads with his hood down, the afternoon sun highlighting his sharp features and striking, silver eyes. The small scar on his upper lip hinted at his martial prowess, but it was the armor he wore that drew the most attention. Dressed in vtreshian leather samurai armor with royal blue accents, Tokichiro would have appeared as a dignified warrior like his ancestors before him, if the armor's age were not so apparent from the wear and multi-colored sections of older and newer leather. Tokichiro refused to retire his father's armor, though; it had kept him safe for the past two years he had been traveling, it would last until he could find someone who knew how to make his own armor in the vtreshian tradition.
He looked around the simple wooden homes as he passed, looking for any indication of his goal; his information put it on the east side of the village, but there were no markers. As he walked, he noticed a human woman tending to a load of wet laundry, hanging it on a clothesline set in the front of the house. He walked to end of her yard before speaking.
"Pardon me, ma'am," Tokichiro asked, and the woman turned to him, her brow rising at the sight of him. He bent at the waist in a slight bow before he continued, "I'm looking for the carriage for Ruessenham. Would you happen to know where it is?"
The woman looked at him for a moment, confused by his bow and perplexed by his armor, but she raised her hand slowly to point toward the hill just past the village's eastern edge. "Uh … just over that hill near the tree line, can't miss it."
Tokichiro gave another bow, ignoring the woman's confused tone with him, and continued down the road toward the hill. He did not take issue with the woman's reaction to him, plenty of people had been less than polite about the appearance of the armor he wore or the manners that his father had instilled in him. But while the sight of Tokichiro's armor might have been somewhat comical, if not sad, his weapons were far more impressive: a paired vtreshian katana and wakizashi, housed in black scabbards with matching royal blue handle wraps. The weapons were still pristine, having been inscribed with runes to preserve their blades, and any who mocked Tokichiro for his armor quickly regretted it when he drew them. They belonged to his father, too, another gift for when he was gone. The longbow and quiver of arrows strung to his traveling pack seemed trivial when compared to the weapons on his hip.
The people of Manhel did not snicker as Tokichiro passed their homes, following the dirt road to the far side of town. They watched him silently, their eyes empty as he carried on. Some shook their heads as he passed, a look of disappointment creasing their faces before they turned to continue their day. Tokichiro did not speak to them, either; he carried on towards the east, hoping that he was not too late.
As he came to the last hill on the edge of the village, Tokichiro spotted his destination a few hundred feet away, a large, six-wheeled carriage tucked against the tree line with a team of six large horses reigned at its front, a driver sitting high in its seat as white smoke drifted from the pipe he was smoking. Tokichiro pulled out the rolled-up parchment he had received from an innkeeper two towns back, over a week ago.
To all able-bodied warriors and keen minded adventurers,
A great darkness has befallen the noble estate of the Ruessen family. The lord of this land, baron Marsilio Ruessen, has fallen to the traitorous hands of his wife, lady Velossa Ruessen, and her cohorts. This notice, posted and funded by Lethon Ruessen, the current lord of the estate, calls on your aid to vanquish the evil that has risen in his family's ancestorial home. Fortune and danger await those willing to risk life and limb for the justice of the Ruessen Estate and those who have lost their lives to the evil that now haunts the land. If you be willing, seek the village of Manhel, in eastern Stracia, and board the carriage for Ruessenham. All are welcome and needed.
Those who manage to destroy Lady Velossa shall receive ample reward for their heroism and struggles. The last of the Ruessen family treasury is yours for the taking.
Tokichiro looked at the carriage, certain this was indeed where he was supposed to be and tucked the parchment back into the pouch on his belt. Crossing the distance, the size of the carriage dawned on him. It was massive, easily capable of carrying at least a two dozen people. He had never seen such a thing and it spoke just how wealthy the lord of the estate must be. He could not see anyone else in the carriage as he walked to the front. The driver, sitting in the ten foot high seat, was a dwarf smoking from a curled pipe. He was dressed rather carelessly, covered in a red jerkin that looked like it hadn't seen a wash in months. His beard was a dark mass of curls, smoke curling out of its center as he looked down at Tokichiro with a fuzzy brow raised.
"If you're goin' to Ruessenham, get in. We'll be leaving bef're long," the driver said nonchalantly in a rough, gravelly voice.
Tokichiro scowled at his tone but didn't protest as he moved to the folding glass door of the carriage. The dwarf pulled a wooden handle beside his seat and the door folded in half, allowing entry. Stepping up and inside, Tokichiro's spirits for the journey sank lower as the door slid shut behind him. The driver's attitude was bad enough, but the state of the carriage's inside was worse. The floor was spotted with clods of mud and dirt, the seats were worn and ripped in places, and if not for the windows at multiple seats being cracked open, it would have most likely smelled worse than it looked. The samurai did not expect luxury, but he at least expected some decency.
Pushing his disappointment down, Tokichiro took the first seat by the door and opened the window completely to provide the most circulation. Propping his pack and swords beside him, he looked over his shoulder, scanning the back of the carriage. From what he could see, there was only one other person onboard, sitting near the middle section some five seats away. They had their hood pulled up and over their head, the seat in front of them blocking their face from view; although, he could just make out what looked like the points of horns poking through the back of the hood. The person remained still, appearing not to have noticed him enter. Dismissing them, Tokichiro turned and leaned against the ripped back of his seat, glad for the modicum of comfort the carriage provides. He had to travel for a week on foot to get here and his legs were burning with relief.
The carriage remained for another hour before Tokichiro heard the sound of a bell ringing from the driver's seat. A moment later the horses grunted and whinnied just before the carriage began to pull forward. The samurai grunted as the carriage rocked and banged its way down the worn dirt road that cut into the forest to the east of Manhel. The decrepit seat offered little cushion for the frequent hard bumps and jerks from the road. It did not take long for Tokichiro to regret making the journey to the backwater village just to suffer the ride ahead of him. He had the mind to yell for the driver to stop, but he didn't; the innkeeper had told him this contract had been open for over two years now. Many adventurers came here to become stronger and start making a name for themselves. They hadn't been confident that Tokichiro could complete the contract, many had tried, but he was told it could start a good reputation for him in the least.
The samurai had a small reputation in his home region to the west. In three villages he was known as the Peltsman of Moore Hollow, scourge of rabid wolves, rampaging bears, and a small army of goblins. Most of it was overly exaggerated, but he smiled as his memories took him away from the decrepit carriage. He remembered the time he had returned home with the butchered carcass of a bear, just before his father had passed. His mother had been proud, she had been a hunter her entire life, and his father had shown approval. But there was a dark shade in his father's eyes, as if he had expected more. You have the heart of a warrior, Chiro. Do not forget the code I have taught you. A samurai must find peace in the storm but continue to chase it. His father's teachings weighed on him at times, the code most of all.
Not wanting his melancholy to set in, Tokichiro looked out the window to the forest passing by. Nature normally brought him a sense of calm, having spent so much time in it with his mother and father. His mother had taught him much from her days a ranger, and he loved the wilds, but this land seemed to be as warped as the inside of the carriage. The trees blocked most of the light, keeping everything outside the carriage in a dreary shade that seemed to get darker the further they went. Over time, it seemed that the woods themselves were hostile, their trunks and branches twisted and curling in towards the road, as if they were trying to bar progression. Tokichiro did not appreciate this idea.
It was then that Tokichiro noticed something else that disturbed him; growing up, his mother had taught him to listen to the wilds. The sounds of the forest were clues for every excursion. But currently, all he could hear was the sound of horses and the six large wheels of the carriage turning, no birds or other animals in the distance. He remembered his mother's words for this, Silence in the woods means danger, Chiro. The wilds are not meant to be quiet.
Suddenly, Tokichiro was almost thrown from his seat as the carriage lurched to a halt. The cries from the horses were almost deafening as the carriage jerked from side to side as something happened outside. Tokichiro grabbed his swords as the carriage came to a jerking stop, slid them back into his belt, and moved to the sliding door, forcing it open and jumping to the ground. He had little time to realize the situation as he looked towards the horses and saw multiple figures rushing towards him. One such shape leaped for the samurai, letting out a shrill screech.
Acting on instinct, Tokichiro drew his katana in a wide upward arc, the blade finding purchase. The creature screamed as warm, oily blood splattered against Tokichiro chest and shoulder, the body landing behind him with a wet thud. He did not look back to see if the creature was alive, he knew that it wasn't, and his brows knitted together as he finally identified his foes.
They were goblins, that he was certain of, but not like any he had seen before. These goblins seemed to be bigger than normal, their bodies more muscled, but not naturally. Their mottled brown and green skin was stretched over mishappened and twisted bodies as they snarled and hissed at him. There were six of them that he could see, and they were no longer interested in the horses. One of them limped forward, its eyes shining red, and screeched at Tokichiro in some form of animalistic language, brandishing a badly kept sword in an overly muscled arm that hung from a large, swollen shoulder that gave the creature a hunched back.
Tokichiro drew his wakizashi and took his fighting stance, swords crossed at his waist, watching all of them closely. "Your words mean nothing to me, monster," Tokichiro began. "Return to the hole you and yours came from. I do not wish to kill you."
The goblin's face twisted even further, its eyes seeming to grow larger. It rattled off more grunts and screeches, waving its sword around frantically. It then pointed the sword at the samurai, signaling the others to charge. Tokichiro stood ready as the five, twisted creatures rushed toward him, grunting like dogs on the chase. The first one to reach him swung with a crude hatchet, missing as the samurai spun and lashed out with his own attack, the creature sputtering away with a large gash on its chest. The second and third attacked with rusty daggers that dug into his armor, but not enough to harm him. He forced them back but was unprepared as a fourth rushed from the side, clamping its jaws around Tokichiro's forearm. The goblin's jagged, rotting teeth dug into the leather of his bracer with enough force to pierce into his flesh. Tokichiro growled in pain but slammed the pommel of his katana on the goblin's nose, forcing it to let go with a cry.
Tokichiro ducked backwards along the carriage, his arm throbbing as he took his fighting stance again. However, just as the goblin's began to regroup, Tokichiro felt a pang go through his arm and all the way to his head. He swayed to one side, his head beginning to pulse as he realized he had been poisoned.
The samurai watched as another goblin rushed forward, a thick wooden club raised above its head as it squealed viciously. Tokichiro managed to dodge the swing but lost his balance and stumbled against the side of the carriage. The goblins roared loudly as they moved toward Tokichiro. He growled in frustration, his mind screaming for him to get up and recover, but the poison made it difficult as he tried to push himself away from the carriage and stand. He then became aware of the goblin standing next to him, its weapon raised.
Just when he was sure it would have struck him, the goblin began to scream loudly, frozen in its stance. He realized it was the leader, the rusty sword still over its head, its body trembling as it continued to scream. He was then horrified as he watched black ichor begin to drip from the goblin's mouth and eyes. Its screaming turned into a pitched squeak before it stopped completely, the goblin's dripping face frozen in pain as it swayed backward and fell to the ground, the other goblins screeching in confusion.
"There now, don't want these beasties getting too much of you, child," a feminine voice said in a thick accent that Tokichiro did not recognize. He looked past the fallen goblin to see a female figure standing at the carriage's door. She was wearing a familiar looking cloak, the hood pulled back to reveal a humanesque face with marbled blue, scaly skin, a mass of curly blond hair that was pulled back to fall down her to her shoulders in golden ringlets, and a pair of white horns that curved back along her scalp with a third small one pointing forward in the center of her forehead. She released the cloak, showing that she was dressed in a simple white dress and leather corset, holding a staff in one of her clawed blue hands. She raised the tip of her staff towards Tokichiro, the end carved in the shape of a coiling snake, "Stay down, boy. Mama Tempête gonna teach them some respect."
Tokichiro watched as she turned to the goblins, the remaining five watching the blonde dragonborn with malice. She tapped the ground with the bottom of her staff, almost impatiently, before she brought the staff in front of her, gripping it with both hands, and whispered something against the wooden snake. Tokichiro couldn't make out what she was saying, but he did his best to force himself up to aid her before the goblins made their move.
As the remaining goblins finally decided to charge, she did not stop her whispering, seemingly unaffected by the goblins. Before they got too close, she took a breath and blew across the tip of her staff. To Tokichiro's surprise, the goblins came to a skidding halt, screaming in terror as they began to scramble away, nearly trampling each other as they retreated into the woods. The dragonborn chuckled to herself as she moved her staff back to her side before approaching Tokichiro in a calm stride.
"Let me look at you," she said, kneeling down beside him. Her lavender eyes looked him over until she saw the blood dripping from his left arm. She moved to his side and turned his arm over, pain shooting through the limb. Tokichiro gritted his teeth, hissing from the pain, but remained still as she loosened his vambrace. She let the brace fall to his side, revealing the bite. The flesh around the wound was swollen and angry looking and Tokichiro sucked in a breath at the sight of the wound; he was almost sure he would have to cut it off to prevent the infection from killing him.
Mama Tempête clicked her tongue as she shook her head, her golden curls bouncing, "Not good, not good. Nasty vilains with nasty mouths." She laid her staff next to the samurai before taking his forearm in one hand and moving the other just over the wound. "This might sting a little," she said before closing her eyes and muttering softly. Immediately a soft green light began to imitate from her palm.
Tokichiro watched curiously as white fluid began to bubble and leak from the wound, the soreness dissipating as the wound began to scar over within seconds. "Incredible," the samurai breathed as the light faded and she released him. He pushed himself up, his vision clearing quickly, and righted his armor. The dragonborn pulled out an old cloth from the belt she wore, wiping at the blood that covered half of his chest piece and shoulder guard. Mama Tempête wrinkled her nose as she managed to get most of the sludge off, though there was an oily shine that remained behind from the mess. "This will need a proper scrubbin', that's for sure."
Tokichiro sighed, not looking forward to trying to clean the armor later. Though, he stopped thinking about it as she began to circle him, looking him over for anymore spots of mess or wounds. Tokichiro blushed from her concern, she reminded him of his mother whenever he returned home from a hunt in his youth.
The dragonborn nodded as she finished, satisfied that he was no longer hurt. "Seem's you still in one piece. You got a name, cher?"
Tokichiro's eyes went wide as he realized he had not introduced himself properly yet, his cheeks even going red. He clapped the heels of his boots together as he gave a deep bow to the dragonborn. "Please forgive my rudeness. I am Tokichiro Haku, from the village of Moore Hollow." He then rightened himself, keeping in the same stiff posture, becoming aware of the amused look she had given him. "Thank you for your help with those creatures. I would not have survived without it."
Mama Tempête gave a sassy smile as the half-elf relaxed. "Well now," she said in a long, cool tone, "aren't you just bien-élevé." She patted him on the shouldered in a manner that reminded him of some of the older women of his home village.
"Um, bien-élevé?" Tokichiro repeated, unfamiliar with the language she seemed to revert to.
The dragonborn chuckled at his question. "Forgive me, hun. Haven't been away from home this long before. Common's not my first language. I said your momma raised you good." Tokichiro smiled at her compliment and bowed again, shallower, but appreciative. "Ah," Mama Tempête said as he righted himself again. She lifted her skirt so that she could curtsy to him, showing her bare, clawed feet. "I am Séverine Travis Tempête. But call me 'Mama'. Most people do."
Tokichiro cleared his throat, somewhat embarrassed to use such a familiar name with someone he had just met; he hadn't even called his own mother 'mama' since he was a boy. But he did not wish to appear unappreciative. "Yes, Mama. You may also call me 'Chiro' if you wish."
She smiled at his nickname and patted his arm again. "Chiro. Nice. Well now, we should probably find that stubby driver-"
"Who you callin' 'stubby'?" a familiar, sullen voice asked. They both looked up to see the dwarven driver, crouched on his hands and knees as he peered down from the carriage's roof.
Tokichiro scowled at the driver. "You were there the whole time? Why didn't you assist us?"
The driver scowled back as he pushed himself up to stand. "I ain't getting involved in all that; don't get paid enough to do anything other than drive this trash heap," he said, stomping twice on the carriage. "You adventurers might be fine with dying horribly, but not me. I've lived long and I intend to keep doing so."
Tokichiro began to glare at the dwarf, intending to insult him, but before he could even speak Mama Tempête was already by the carriage, her snake-headed staff drawn back as she rapped it against the top of the carriage. The driver jumped at the attack, as the dragonborn began to rant at the scruffy dwarf.
"Cowardly little creature! You coo-yon moochon of a man! You leave us to die while you watch from a perch. I'll pox you good!" said Mama Tempête as she continued to bat her staff against the carriage, the driver trying to interject to stop her from damaging the carriage, as if it would somehow put it in a worse condition than it already was.
She continued to rant at him for a full minute, eventually fully reverting to what Tokichiro assumed to be her native language; he had no idea what she was saying, but he was positive it wasn't pleasant. The samurai watched the tirade both satisfied and terrified, too much so to intervene or join in. When Mama Tempête finished her scolding, she gave three more quick taps to the carriage, a noticeable group of indents left by her staff, and gave one last growl towards the dwarf on the roof before turning to approach the stunned Tokichiro.
"Damned crazy lizard! I hope the Horrors rip you two to shreds. Not enough coin in the world for this shite," complained the driver as he leaned down to examine the damage. Mama Tempête turned at the insult, her eyes flaring in rage. She took another step towards the carriage and, to both Tokichiro and the driver's surprise, spat sparks at the dwarf, the sound of electricity popping between her lips. The dwarf dropped to his knees and covered his head, the sparks bouncing off his clothes and beard harmlessly, but he looked back at her with a noticeable amount of fear. Even Tokichiro was more scared of her now. She gave him another cold glare as she moved away from both of them and reentered the carriage.
"Gods damn this place, this job, this…" the driver said, continuing his cursing as he moved to the front of the carriage, returning to his seat.
Tokichiro looked to the woodline behind him, scanning the subtly threatening area for any signs of further attacks, but he couldn't see or hear anything. All that remained was the continued grumbling of the driver and a few snorts from the newly calmed horses. Satisfied, the samurai did not waste any more time as he returned to the carriage as well, the doors snapping shut behind him, almost clipping his heels. He moved back to his seat, noticing that Mama Tempête had moved to up to the seat just opposite his own. Her arms were crossed, her eyes pinned to the front of the carriage, no doubt glaring to where the driver should be.
"Cowardly bastard," Mama Tempête said as Tokichiro took his seat.
Tokichiro hadn't known many dwarves in his time, but the ones he had met were all rowdy, boisterous, and even rude, but they had all been honorable and brave. Even kind, in their own ways. But the driver was an insult to his entire race. Too all races, even.
"I apologize for that man's rudeness," Tokichiro said, drawing Mama Tempête's eyes to him, her expression softening.
"Don't apologize, cher. Especially not for someone else's failings," she said, her eyes going back to the spot she had been glaring at before. Tokichero nodded, but he felt someone should apologize.
"So, Mama," Tokichiro began, her lavender eyes returning to him, "what kind of magician are you?"
She gave him a soft smirk. "I am a mambo…um," she stalled, her brows knitting together as if she were trying to remember something. "I think the word is priestess. Someone who draws power from the Dieu."
Tokichiro's went wide. "A cleric!" he exclaimed, surprised by the understanding.
Mama Tempête looked at him with a brow raised in confusion, "I don't know that word."
Tokichero couldn't help but chuckle to himself at her confused look. He had met few clerics in his time, most just passing through his home village, but all of them were more obvious about their profession than Mama Tempête. They wore robes or some other symbol of their faith, as opposed to the dragonborn who he would've thought to be just anyone from any other village. But he also knew that many clerics were renown healers and warriors who controlled powerful magic when needed. Though he was not overtly religious, Tokichero was certainly feeling blessed to have met her.
"Um, what other languages do you speak?" Tokichero asked, wanting to understand her religion.
Mama Tempête tapped her chin, glaring at the floor as she thought. "Goblin-speak, Fae, and Elven."
Tokichero's eyes went wide again and spoke in Elvish, "Why didn't you try speaking in elvish before?" What half-elf doesn't speak Elvish, he thought.
Mama Tempête turned to him very slowly, her eyes half closed, her glare filling the samurai with regret as he realized he had been rude. He cleared his throat, making a point to avoid eye contact, "I apologize."
The blue dragonborn hummed before speaking, "Thank you," she began in Elvish. "You shouldn't assume anything about people, cher. It often comes back to bite you."
Tokichero nodded wordlessly but did not hesitate for long before asking her to elaborate on her faith. She explained that she worshiped a pantheon of nature spirits, as Tokichero understood them, called the Dieu. These spirits were not wholly benevolent, but they rewarded those who worshipped them with power and wisdom. From what he could tell, these Dieu respected those who could survive on their own, giving answers and magic in exchange for offerings.
"So, are they Fae? Or something else?" Tokichero asked.
"No, child. They come from the same place, but they are not the same. The Dieu don't like for the courts. The other fairies and such tried to make them follow their rules, but the Dieu didn't care." Mama Tempête explained. "They are the wilds, cher. The wilds only follow the rules of the wilds. Now, they can be persuaded with certain things. Mine has a taste for fine liquors and smokes, but you wouldn't catch him dead in some ballroom or fancy courthouse."
Tokichero arched a brow at her words. "Yours?"
"Yes, mine. There are a lot of them, cher. Some pray to more, others like me focus on just one. The Dieu can be a rowdy bunch when they want to be. And believe me, mine can be a right scoundrel when he wants to. But he likes me, whatever his reasons be."
Tokichero didn't fully understand her meaning. Then again, this was the first time he had heard someone speak of a god they worshipped in such a familiar tone. Tokichero started to ask her more, but the sound of the driver's bell cut him off.
He looked out the window to see that the forest had opened up into a clearing. The sun was already half set, the now visible sky streaked with red and orange. He could see a river several yards away from the road, flowing toward a large stone wall. But he couldn't make out any more details from the window.
"I believe we're arriving," Tokichero said. Mama Tempête sighed in relief.
As the carriage drew closer to the wall, he could make out more detail; more specifically, he could see the large ballista mounted on top of the three story towers along the wall's perimeter. He didn't notice the large, iron siege gate the carriage was approaching until it came to a stop, the sound of old iron scrapping against stone signaling their entry. As the carriage pulled inside, the gate only stayed open long enough for the carriage to enter before slamming back down. The carriage then did a full circle inside what appeared to be the town's square, a large statue decorating its center. When the carriage finished its round, the glass doors slid open, and the bell rang twice more.
"Well, here we are," Mama Tempête said as she slid out of the seat.
Tokichero nodded as he followed her, sliding his sword back into his belt and throwing his pack back on. The two of them exited the carriage to find two figures standing a few feet away from the carriage: a half-elf with blond hair, dressed in finer clothes as well as a Stracian military coat, and a red skinned tiefling, also dressed in fine clothes with his black hair pulled back into a low ponytail.
The half-elf stepped forward and spoke in Common, "Welcome to Ruessenham. I am Lethon Ruessen, your new employer," he began. His tone was flat and yet commanding, giving Tokichero the idea that he given this introduction too many times, but that he had earned the coat he wore. "I will not hash words with you, my family's estate has become a very dangerous region. Our enemies are powerful and have claimed many lives. If you wish to survive, I suggest you find more allies. I thank you for answering the summons." He turned to the tiefling with a gesture, "This is Akxus Nuhlon, my second in command. You will receive commissions and rewards from him. Follow all instructions he gives you and you will be paid has handsomely as the job provides. If there are no questions, you may find warm food and drink at the tavern, there," he said, gesturing to a two story building behind him. "You can also find open beds in the barracks over there," he indicated another, larger building just behind the carriage. "Thank you, again, and welcome to Ruessenham."
Both Lethon and Akxus gave curt nods to Tokichero and Mama Tempête before swiftly turning and heading off into the dark, leaving the two newcomers confused. Tokichero had received less than admirable hospitality in the past, but the town of Ruessenham seemed to be the worst he had ever seen. The idea that he had made a mistake crawled back into his mind as he adjusted the strap of his pack and made his way towards the tavern with Mama Tempête following him.