Renimil

Renimil is being summoned by the new Queen herself, Anastacia. She is the first compassionate ruler the Saga Lands has ever seen. Renimil didn't think her rule would last very long. You need more than compassion to rule these savage lands. There were rumors of Orcs, other countries, and guilds aligning with the Whispering Tyrant. The Tyrant is a necromancer like Renimil, but the Tyrant wants unlimited power and doesn't care who he killed.

Renimil had seen the horror of what the Tyrant was capable of. If it weren't for his mother, he would be another victim added to his undead army.

Renimil's parents are now enslaved people for the Whispering Tyrant. A shadow of their former selves. Renimil sought vengeance. But lingering thoughts cloud his mind of late. What if he runs into them in his quest for revenge? After years and years of research, he located a tome that may contain a spell to end the Tyrant for good. Luckily for Renimil, it is just on the other side of the border. The Isle of Terror. Sounds like fun, Renimil thinks with a shrug.

Renimil smiles and thinks about the summons he received from the Queen. If the rumors are true of the Tyrant seeking to expand his reign into the Saga Lands, she might send him to The Isle of Terror anyways. He laughs to himself. He is so close he could taste it. He knows he couldn't go alone, and the Queen would send her best. Although their race is a prideful one, he didn't pride himself on having a big house. It is small, only three rooms. His favorite is his laboratory, of course. There are papers and various tomes strewn about. A tattered old dark green armchair patched and re-patched is in the corner next to the small fire pit on the left side of the room.

The back wall is floor-to-ceiling shelves with more tomes and jars containing anything from Elephant tusks to human bones crushed into powder. On the right side of the room was a black table, though, unlike the chair, it looked well-kept. Bubbling liquids and vials of different alchemical solutions about placed about it. Renimil packs up a few vials and turns the burner, causing one of the green liquid-filled beakers to bubble even higher. He walks to the door and opens it. Throwing his pack over his shoulder, he looks around, taking a deep breath. It smells somewhat musty, and something in the air tinges at his nose.

Renimil smiles; this is where he'd found out about the tome. As he walks through the door, the beaker on the table explodes, and the table and its contents catch fire. He is only a few steps out of the house when the fire reaches the roof and sends the whole right side ablaze. He lived in the middle of nowhere and didn't worry about anyone getting hurt. He walked once a week to the nearby village to grab rations for his week. That had been his extent of interaction with people for the past few years. The house would burn fast, and all evidence of him would be gone. Not that anyone would notice. And Ren is okay with that. As an elf, he lived longer than the majority of the people in the village, as many of them were not elves.

After two days of traveling and it rained almost the entire time. Renimil isn't exactly a world traveler. He had packed more potions and vials than food and clothes. Even if he spread out his food, Ren would have to kill something to eat.

Velashu River is nearby. He could fry up some fish and have that for dinner.

Renimil is still on the border of Lurkwood. There was a time not long ago, to him at least, that Lurkwood wasn't the abandoned and cursed forest it is now. It wasn't even called Lurkwood back then. Ren cocks his head, listening to the wind breeze between the trees. He closes his eyes, but they snap open as soon as he does. He hears grunting for only a moment. So small a moment that Ren could have sworn it was just the wind playing tricks. Or something else. For whatever purpose, Renimil heads in the direction he thinks he hears the sounds. After a few minutes of walking and silence, Renimil decides to turn around and go towards the Velashu River. Snap! Crunch! There is someone or something here. He crouches, making himself as low as an elf over 6 feet can. Walking right up to the edge of the sound, shielded behind a row of bushes, he smells burning wood and another familiar scent, burning flesh. He peeks through the bushes and sees a small figure roasting over a fire. Another figure, a little boy, no, a gnome, is struggling with his ropes. A brown cloth muffles his screams. Renimil follows the gnome's gaze. Orcs! Renimil hates Orcs and despises them.

The orcs must be scouting for something to be so far from their hovels. Renimil didn't bother to think about it. It is still light outside, and not many trees. He'll be discovered any moment now. Best to act quickly, he thinks. Renimil calls on his dark magic. His pale green robe and sand color pants disappear behind a whirling shadow of blackness. His brown hair whips back, and his chocolate eyes churn and roll as a beam of yellow-orange light comes forth from his fingertips and hits one of the Orcs.

The big dark green orc reels forward to retch, and he lands in the fire. He rolls out of it but is still lying on his back, moaning, clutching his stomach—the smaller of the two orcs leaps to her feet.

KOSH

The tall elf throws a small orb of fire at the rope around Kosh's feet. After a few moments, he can wriggle free.

Spitting out the cloth in his mouth, he avoids looking at the fire where his new partner-trainee is now a singed corpse. Kosh accesses his situation. He stalks up quietly behind the smaller female orc, who is distracted by the elf. Kosh has only been on one other mission with his young partner. Kosh knew the girl was too young, bright-eyed, and naïve. The world he lives in is one of the dark alleys, black monsters, and drinking. Lots and lots of drinking. Kosh stabs the orc in his kidney on its left side to circle its back and comes in front of the orc. Kosh jumps off a nearby rock to stab the orc in the heart. He kicks off the orc taking his dagger with him, causing the orc to fall back. The orc is dead by the time he hits the ground.

The tall elf walks up to the prone orc. Dark tendrils pierce, point-blank, into its face. The elf drags the orc over the still-burning fire and places the orc just under the other burning corpse. The area now smells of blood, sweat, and burning orc.

Kosh sinks to a knee. He isn't a religious person. But she had been, so he sent the quickest prayer he knew and began to raid the pockets of the orc he'd just killed. The orc only has a few silver pieces in her bag.

A spike snare, some more silver pieces, and a silver-coated pocket watch are in the orc's nearby pack. Kosh looks up to ask if the pocket watch is his, but the elf is already walking away.

Kosh shouts after him. "Wait, does this belong to you?"

The tall elf looks at Kosh's hand. "I'm an elf. What need do I have for an item that counts time?" he responds.

Kosh nods. He places all the items in his pack while looking at the elf. "I'm headed to Thassilon if you're heading that way, and with the direction you were going, I'd say you are. I can help you find your way there?" Before the elf can respond, Kosh puts his hand up. "Please do not misconstrue. I hate to owe anyone any favors. I know my way around these parts and can get you there in one piece."

The elf cocks a brow. "Your friend isn't making it home safe."

Kosh winces, then shrugs. "It takes a lot more than training within the safety of the walls to be anything less than perfect on the open lands. With my scouting abilities, your magic, and both our common sense. Which," Kosh gestures to his singed partner, "she didn't possess. I can't see any reason we shouldn't get there with no lasting scars."

The tall one ponders for a moment. "Can you catch something for us to eat at the river?"

"I said I would scout for you, not act as your damned mother," Kosh says.

The elf noticeably stiffens. Softening a bit, he replies, "Fine. We shall both go down and fish for our food."

"Names Kosh by the way."

"Renimil," the tall elf responds.

Walking in the direction of the river, Kosh leads the way.

It takes twenty minutes to reach the river, and they walk intense silence. Kosh dealt with many races but to trust anyone, whatever their race, could mean death. He only trusted one person, and this elf was not him. He kept his distance and carefully watched his new companion.

RENIMIL

They wake up well before the sun rises from its slumber.

This time was one of Ren's favorite parts of the day. The night is cold and dark, just like Renimil. Kosh and Renimil didn't speak to each other, but Renimil had the feeling that while not being directly looked at, he was being watched by his gnome companion. They stop to rest and eat two more times before reaching the edges of New Thassilon. Even though it is late, the town is still abuzz with merchants packing up their belongings for the night. Kosh, being small, weaves through the crowd effortlessly. Not so much with Renimil. Kosh waits impatiently on the other side of the public.

Renimil finally makes it through. "You have repaid me with your services. I have made it here safely. Thanks to you". He walks past the Gnome rogue with a curt nod and a quick smile.

Shaking his head, Kosh disappears down an alleyway.

Renimil hates crowds. Too many people are brushing up against him. There are some men already drunk, stumbling outside the local bar. Their hands are around women who look of questionable character. The Sleepless Tavern. He could use some real food. Ren walks into the smell of roasting pit pig, the warmth of the roaring hearth, and the merry tune of a bard playing the flute. The bar is quite large and well-kept. There is only one table left open, right in the middle of the room. Sighing, Ren moves to the table, sits down, and places his bag down.

"Drink, room, or woman." A silky voice says. A human female comes to his side. She has flaxen hair with gray eyes. She is average looking to his people and even to himself, with an average build.

"Drink and meat. No need for a woman or a room at this time, maybe later," he says with a wink.

The average girl rolls her eyes and leaves to complete his order.

The food doesn't take long to get. It isn't the best, but it was better than the food Ren and Kosh made. When the average lady returned to give him his tab, he asked where he could find Queen Anastacia.

"The keep is further up the road; you can't miss it." With that, she is gone.

Renimil leaves. There aren't as many people out now and the cobbled-stoned streets, although well kept, had broken jars, bits of wood, and glass on it. Renimil follows the average girl's directions and walks further up the road. The keep is carved out of the front of a mountain. Massive statues flank the walls on either side of the gate. Three soldiers patrol the doors. They are dressed in the usual armor of a knight.

One knight pivots and comes up to Renimil. He grabs Ren's arm tightly, "All business can wait until the morrow, elf."

"I have a missive from the queen herself." Ren looks down at the knight's arm and smirks. The air around Ren grows cold; a black shadow creeps up his leg. The knight quickly lets go of his arm, and just like that, the shadow disappears, and the air warms. "Shall I show you the missive?" Ren's eyes swirl.

The knight, though slightly shaken, scoffs. "Follow me, elf." The knight leads him inside, where an older halfling takes over to guide Ren to the Queen's viewing room. The keep is beautiful. Tall pillars with intricate flowers etched in gold. Blue and yellow flowers in pots line the walls and between every five is a wall fountain with a sun carved into it. There is a grand staircase on the left side of the wall in the back of the keep.

In the middle of the wall in front is a huge stained glass window of a stag and her young.

Renimil walks into the Queen's viewing room. A beautiful woman sits in a chair elegantly carved in the middle of the room. Two men in nobles' attire bicker in the corner on the left, and his gnome friend, Kosh, is stoking the fire on the right.

"You seemed to take your time." The beautiful woman says with the grace of a queen. She is the epitome of calm and serene, so that it would look that way. Her eyes deceive her. They show tiredness and fear. Something Ren is familiar with.

Ren shakes his head. He refuses to think about the past.

"There are rumors of Orcs attacking merchants and wayward travelers. I sent Kosh to confirm those rumors. His report was," she smooths her hair back, "not the news I was hoping for."

Kosh speaks up. "There is another rumor that the last two surviving Runelords have moved over to the Eye of Dread."

"I highly doubt the Runelords would want to share control of the Saga Lands with another. But still, it looks suspicious." One of the noblemen states, pouring himself a drink.

So, we have the Tyrant building an army to overtake the Saga lands and Orcs rampaging Varisia's borders." The Queen speaks softly.

The two noblemen and Kosh shake their heads.

The Queen sighs deeply. She eyes Renimil. "Have you heard anything in your… circle," the Queen asks with slight hesitation.

Renimil can sense her unease around him. He can feel all their unease. Not that he blamed them. The thing that has plagued their lands for centuries is a necromancer, too—a very powerful, evil one. Most of the people in his schooling are. The only reason she summoned him was for his higher than most marks in his education.

That and his past with the Whispering Tyrant. She knew his need for revenge. She was wise despite her younger age. She would use Ren's hunger for the Tyrant to protect her home and people in any way, even if it meant sacrificing a necromancer elf. "The same rumors you've mentioned. The orc attacks, though, are the topic of discussion as they're happening currently."

The Queen ponders him for a moment. "Are you still up for a trip? Kosh, here would be your guide."

Renimil nods at the Queen than at Kosh. He didn't trust anyone, but he had spent a little time with Kosh to know that he could handle his own.

Kosh

Kosh left the Queen's viewing room and went back to his quarters. There was no doubt he saw a glean in the elf's eyes when asked to go into the Dreadlands. He hopes Renimil isn't just another power-hungry monster like the Tyrant.

Entering his room, Kosh thinks about the Queen's last order.

"If he becomes compromised, kill him. We don't need two necromancers to worry about."

"And the book?"

"No one can ever possess it."

Whether Renimil becomes compromised or not. If Kosh had to destroy the book, it would pit Kosh against Renimil. So it looked like killing Renimil was how it was going to be.

Kosh takes off his boots and lays in his bed, resolute on the mission he would have to complete. No matter what.