A Blood Soaked Coin

[Mason]

Out Of Character (OOC): Anyone interested in a storyboard adventure?

Walking through the doorway of the Empty Bucket Inn, a man of unremarkable grandeur stomps his riding boots on the hard wooden floor. The boots are the first thing that attracts the eye to this man, worn leather boots with highly polished buckles up to the calves. Nothing remarkable to the inexperienced eye, yet significant if you know what a Guilder from the Medoerean Exchange looks like. The man speaks to the Inn's customers with a clear tone of indifference, as if he has spent a long time in the saddle and not enough in slumber.

"I am looking for a small number of individuals willing to complete a task for me. The pay shall be sufficient for the danger involved, and all questions shall be answered before the contract is drawn." He pauses slightly in thought, his eyelids closing for a moment in exhaustion. "If anyone is willing to indulge me, I will be sitting over there." He waves a gloved hand at a side table.

[Raesene Andu]

A man by the bar, dressed in clothes as black as his hair, looks up. Placing his empty glass on the bar, he slowly wanders over. "When you say sufficient, do you mean the pay will be average, or do you mean I can expect to be well paid for my services?"

[Ellaenor Quickhands]

This table was already taken old man!...

- a small figure emerges from the shadow -

..but please have a seat. what is it you brabble about? if it comes to danger and money i am all ears.

[Mason]

"Please, at least allow me to sit before we discuss this matter" The man falls heavily into a chair, barely registering the sudden violent creaking of the wood. "My name is Davies Huxley, and I am seeking a unique artifact stolen from my employers. But before I begin discussing this matter with complete strangers, please allow myself the courtesy of filling my stomach with food." Davies waves a gloved hand at a serving boy. "And feed my horse as well."

"Gentleman." Davies continues, "The pay is good. My employers have authorized me the payment of two regents bars for this artifact. To a realm that is but a pittance; but to a man, that is beyond the dreams of most. The danger is large, but nothing that most seasoned veterans cannot handle. Lastly, the location of the artifact is known, being only two days ride from this very place."[i] With the food and ale arriving Davies looks down with gleaming eyes at his meal. He removes his gloves and promptly begins eating, stopping only to speak briefly, [i]"Are there any questions you wish to ask of me?"

[Mason]

Out Of Character (OOC): I have a few good ideas on getting this adventure moving. If anyone else decides to join in, I figure the more the merrier. Just try and make it a believable entrance into the storyline and i'll be happy.

Additionally, I’ve just added my Avatar. I’m definitely going to have to change it due to the blatant political slogan, but I’m currently happy with the result. When you see the slogan don’t think communism… think socialism (for the commoners).

[Ariadne]

@Mason (and out of Character): You like to stay commoner then? ;)

[Ellaenor Quickhands]

ooc : he will get a better status when he continues the story, we will get to know him better....so more posts, higher status :-)

Sir Davies, in this tavern you have to be more specific. Often travelers stop by talking big words, and talk about high prices.
but you seem to be an impressing figure.

here ([_] have a beer, and tell us your story

[Raesene Andu]

The black-clad man doesn't take a seat, but instead slowly paces around the table looking at Davies Huxley. "So you offer four thousand crowns, a fair sum, but is that each? Or do we have to share this reward with others? For a fair rewards I would be willing to aid this venture, and believe me you need my skills, but if every other adventurer you hire reduces the reward, then I am less certain if I would be involved."

[Ariadne]

A lady with long, fair curly hair and a visible blue mark at her forehead, that runs through her hair, watches the persons at the neighbor table. She seems to show interest, but makes no preparations to move over to it. She wears a red robe with silver ornaments of lightning bolts and a 2 feet sized silver symbol on the back. A conspicuous quarterstaff leans against the wall behind her. She keeps watching the scene...

[Mason]

Davies considers the black-clad man with an inquisitive eye. "I’m sure an arrangement can be made with my employers to increase the payment to two thousand crowns for each individual that partakes in the retrieval." Taking a moment to examine the remains of his meal, Davies takes a breath. "Additionally, there will be treasure along with the artifact that you may claim as your own."

"Now." Looking at the small man, "two days journey from this very spot there is a small keep in much disrepair. This keep contains a gate to the shadow plane that we must enter." Pausing for a moment, Davies looks at each listening face. "Beyond this gate I do not know where the artifact is. Do not fret though, for I carry an emerald that will track it even in the darkest recesses of the shadow world."

[Ariadne]

Hearing >shadow plane<, the Lady at the neighbor table seems to look more interested. After pushing her hair back for a better listening she reveals slightly pointed ears...

[marcum uth mather]

Seeing the ladys interest peeking, a large man in chain mail slightly shifts his chair. He has a 2 long blond braids over each ear and a claymore over his back. A large warhammer sits next to him.

[Sellenus]

The gleaming light of morning's stars, the grass's dew doth glisten
To see the truth beneath the gleam you only need to listen
Here we gather to hear the tale on this very night
Your words, good Lord, are images that which give us sight
Our quest begins here my friends, a fellowship so new
An adventure the seed, of grass our lives, and this new mornings dew.

( the Elven Bard concludes his song)

Please allow me to introduce myself Good Lord, I am Sellenus Arranaseerhinue, Bard of the Blade. Your story, and the adventure sure to follow, is an epic ballad in the making. I would be a fool not to join such a group. Please continue your story, so that we may begin writing its next chapter.

[Mason]

Due to a rather severe formatting of my hard-drive you'll need to give me another twelve hours or so before I continue the story.

Next Edit: Unfortunetly my words were as false as my hopes.

[marcum uth mather]

( the large man aproches the table)
"Does the mission still stand, and are you still looking for help?"

[Lord Eldred]

Mr. Huxley,

I have been listening to your proposition and you may be interested in having someone come along who has actually been in the Shadow World. I am Lord Eldred at your service. However, I have one concern, who gets to keep the artifact?



IT HAS BEEN MORE THAN 12 HOURS THAT MASON'S COMPUTER WENT DOWN, I HOPE EVERYTHING IS OK.

[Ariadne]

The mysterious lady from the neighbour table stands up, picks up her quarterstaff and walks toward the scene.

"If you want to enter the shadow-world, as I heard right, you might need some more people. This is not a place, where surviving is normal. If you still need someone, foolish enough to follow you, I might help you getting where you want and fetch your desired magical item."

[Mason]

Sorry for my incredibly late response, but i'm having some serious problems with my installation. (I'm sure the guys at Microsoft will love reading this. And yes, i'm aware of what your doing). I'll have a working OS up as soon as I work the final kinks out. It'll be another couple of days...

I'm so sorry for making you guys wait this long.

[marcum uth mather]

@out of carector@
Helloooooooooo
!ecos back!
hellp....hello......hello...

[Sellenus]

Well I've never been to the Shadow World, but I wrote a song about it, wanna hear it? Here it goes...

[Mason]

Ok... it's time to bight the bullet. Every time I get back online and remember this story I keep thinking to myself "I'll write another post tomorrow." Well I finally have to admit to myself that this will never happen. I've been lying to both myself and all the great people on this forum for way too long.

Things happen in one's life that make you realise that your current path in life is not the path you want to walk down any more. Mine was the Information Technology Vocation path. Well since I started this post, i've dropped my IT course, and i'm now sitting in limbo land (I have no idea what I want to do with my life). Using the internet on a regular basis is one of those things that comes with the IT way of life, and since I left that road I'm hardly ever on the net these days.

I want to apolagise for stringing you people along for this long, it was thoughtless and mean. I'll never finish this posting simply because my roleplaying and IT days are numbered. You people don't deserve to be constantly told i'm coming back to write another post, it would be just another lie to uphold.

I'm sorry people, I hope you can forgive me. Michael.

[Sellenus]

Me thinks he may be the same goblin who disappeared in the other tavern!;)

No need to apologize, Life Happens.

[Ariadne]

Well spoken, Sellenus...

[Lawgiver]

Originally posted by Sellenus
Me thinks he may be the same goblin who disappeared in the other tavern!;)
No need to apologize, Life Happens.

Perhaps another song to pass the time good sir?
Rising from his seat near the fire, he places a golden coin in the minstril's glass. Having his own glass refilled by the keep he returns to his chair.

[Lord Eldred]

Yes a song. It has been a long time since I have heard a good song!

[Sellenus]

I am honored to perform for you all. This is a ballad that I have learned during recent travels...

Like the wilting leaves
in the Autumn sun,
Another love is dying
even though its just begun.

An echo whispers dying...
Even though its just begun.

Who's at fault, no matter
I had to let her go,
How could I hold such beauty?
How could she ever know?

An echo whispers beauty...
You have to let her go.

The night cannot hide beauty
the starlight shines on through,
Autumn trees free beauty
Each falling leave knew.

An echo whispers beauty...
You had to let her go.

[Lord Eldred]

Tears start to well up in Lord Eldreds eyes as he sings the last verse "I had to let her go" He motions to the barkeep to fill everyones glass. When that his done he raises a glass to Selenus([_]

[Ariadne]

Very nice Selennus!!!

Da capo...

[Sellenus]

I wish I could claim it was one of my own, but alas I cannot. When I heard it recently, it reminded my a a song I heard here in one of these taverns not long ago. To honor that good Lord I commited the song to memmory.

[Lord Eldred]

Do you have any others? That one was very moving!

[Fardo]

I looked at the mirror in the hallway and saw I torned face staring back at me. I could only think of Alia and I thought of here shortly.

"When I first saw you,
My soul awakened.
The flame within started a chainreaction
and blood started to flow through my veins
The only thing I could think off
"why this happened"
The riddle was solved when my eyes met yours
It was then that I realised
Love is truly eternal
But you know what they always say
"Nothing last forever
But then again ...
The immortal flame burns deep in my heart"

a tear sweeps across thine face