A Request from Silver Crown

[GaldorXII]

The smell of alcohol and tobacco filled the Black Crow bar. It had seemed like after the war, business there picked up very quickly as merchants, travelers and guildsmen all stopped by to have a drink, and get into bar fights. The barmaid was scurrying about behind the counter trying to keep up with the vast majority of drink orders she was receiving.

Ruenki, with the straps undone on his armor and his guild's tunic loosened, sat at the edge of the bar's counter and quietly observed the loud and mostly rude people that filled the bar to it's brim.

"What'll ye have sweetey? We got 'lot to drink 'ere." The barmaid's voice was opposite of her body. His skin was tanned and his body seemed to have withstood harsh summers and winters, but her voice was as pure as the air of spring and the rivers of Starfall.

"Just eh Short Ale 'lease ma'am." Ruenki's voice was clearly rasp, but that was nature of his kind. Their voice sometimes came as bubbly harsh and leathery, most didn't take to time to notice and most just didn't care.

A few seconds later the woman slides a small mug down to Ruenki, who in response pulls out a coin and lays it on the counter. The coin makes a light metallic plink and is quickly slid down the inside edge of the counter and seamlessly falls into the barmaid's hand. With sheer delight she runs up the to Taldorian and presses her lips on his forehead, placing the solid platinum into her coin purse.

Ruenki smiles lightly and tilts back the mug of short ale, swallowing it's warm liquid body and sighing in relief as the fine fluid hits his gut. But a stinch that catches the paladin's nose turns the good feelings of his gut into a twisting turning fight to keep the ale down.

A man, not too tall, but also not tall enough, wearing rags for cloths and covered in a foul stinch that could gag a Halas Ram, places his unclean hand on Ruenki's shoulder plate.

"Excuse me sir, are you the Malathian Paladin Ruenki?" The gristled hand seems the slip from the shoulder plate, leaving a slug trail of human oils and dirt.

The paladin looks to the man, his face is beaten and his body torn to shreds under his cloths, you can clearly see this man had problems on his way to the bar, either he'd been taken by bandits or he'd just left the arena and gone in without armor.

"Aye, I'm the Taldorian you seek." Ruenki's face turned from disgust to worry as the man lifted his other hand, which had lost 3 fingers and still clasped at a letter sealed with the mark of a Silver Crown signet. The man, upon releasing the letter collasped, causing the entire bar to look for a moment, laugh, then return to their delights.

Ruenki's face grew grim as the seal became more familiar. This was a seal from a Silver Crown Priest.

Looking down at the body Ruenki stood, noticing that the form was now a corpse. This man had travel an unknown distance to deliver a message of such importance that he willingly gave up his life to make sure the message was delivered.

"Ma'am," Ruenki addressed the barmaid," Do you know if the Inn nearby has rooms?"

"I'd guess so, 'ot seen many 'o 'ere." The barmaid's voice was sweet still, but was hastened by the demand for drinks from the new drunkard of the bar.

Ruenki clasped at the man and lifted him up, carrying him out.

Making his way down the pathways Ruenki gently opened the Inn's doors and looked to the keeper," Do ye have any rooms 'till open?"

"We've three, ye be needing two? One for you and one for ye friend?"

"No, One will do. And a mug of ale, with some bread if you don't mind."
"Sure, I'll be right back."

The innkeep vanished behind a wall and could be heard talking to some one in the back, but the inn keeper's business was nothing to bother Ruenki who carried the corpse to a table and propted him in the chair, if the Innkeeper knew the man was dead he'd call the guards, tarnishing Ruenki's standings with the Newport Guardsmen.

After the Innkeep's return and Ruenki had his fill of the ale and bread he retired to the rented room, which he also paid with a platinum piece when the price was only a few silver.

Ruenki tried hard to bring the corpse back, but his ties to the soul were long gone and not even Althuna could bring the dead body back to life after the amount of time that had passed.

So, in accordance with his teachings, if a body can't be returned, return it to the planet. So, after concentrating for a moment, the magic flowed from Ruenki's body and into the corpse, turning it into dust and letting it vanish into vapors in the thin air.


Now the time had come to read the dead messenger's letter. Ruenki pulled it to his face and broke the seal that held it shut.

Dear Ruenki Mendinflop,

I've sent this letter as a request from a greifing mother. Our messenger was instructed to deliver this at all costs, and was told to use puppetry magic if he died.

We've learn that this woman lost her husband during the war, and now the spirit of the husband seems to be attacking the family and Silver Crown soldiers in the area. Our efforts have been rendered useless and we're calling on a known Paladin of Malathian religion. The buildings around Goblin Skull Mountains have been under attack by this and several other spirits and we humbly ask that you assist us in our time of trouble.

If need be, boat fare and lodgings will be provided on your arrival, we've also arranged for a decent reward for the return of the greiving woman's husband's locket, which is believed to be the source of his anger.

Please respond within the next sevennight. You can contact the Wizard's guild in Newport for a messenger.

-Silver Crown Officer Mcliso


Placing the letter down on the bed Ruenki shakes his head. These days have been strange. After the war, many spirits are roaming around causing troubles and their angry for their deaths. Most are just lost and can't find the way, while others seek revenge on those who sent them to battle.

" I must go."

Ruenki's lips were dry, his heart was sore after reading the letter.

Strapping his armor on and tightening his guild tunic Ruenki downed the last of the ale and put the second loaf of bread into a pouch on his side. He checked to make sure that the white shield of his was still clipped onto his back and that the sword was sheathed under it before exiting his room and walking out the front door of the Inn.


The travel would be a good day and a half's boat ride, and atleast two days journey to the mere outskirts of Kaladim and the camps of Silver Crown.

The paladin made his way past the Newport bank, bumping into several other adventurers as he made his was into the Magician and Wizard's guild. Paying a good price of ten platinum pieces to send a magical whisper to the Officer of the Silver Crown.

Packing provisions for his trip, Ruenki sits at the docks, waiting....

 

[GaldorXII]

"'Ey, ye be the one looking to depart from the boat at Goblin Skull?"

A gruff man, who's bear could fight for rites of land against a dwarf staggered down the ramp and into the makeshift bar that was housed under the deck for travellers.

"Aye, I'm looking." Ruenki's glance was stolen from his tome and his tankard of ale as the man's glare seemed to pierce his soul.

"The ye best be leaving now, oth'r wise yill be left swimmin' to the docks!"

The man slide by the Taldorian, shifting his frame to take a seat at the counter, downing a drink he'd plainly grabbed from the behind and under the counter.

Ruenki stepped foot on the soil of Goblin Skull Mountains, this area was know well for the roaming goblins and drakes. His blade grew brighter indicating do him that there was a massive amount of disturbed spirits nearby.

Stepping into the small building that housed the Silver Crown Healer, Ruenki's eyes met those of Sergeant Destrick and then the healer's.

"We've prepared a blessing for you from our healer, should keep wondering spirits at bay until you find the woman's husband or what ever is causing the problem." Said the Sergeant as the Healer's eyes glazed over with the mystical wisdom of Althuna and Ruenki's armor flashed and the metal became heavier and stronger.

Ruenki handed the healer several gold for payment only to get pulled away by the Silver Crown soldier.

"We've learned that the spirit has been skulking around a group of goblins, we're not sure of their location, and he's been helping them with their raids on the settlers here at the Mountain docks," The Sergeants voice was scaley for a barbarian. His heavy hair looked like it hadn't been washed in a while and the cold sea breeze didn't make the clumped move even the slightest.

"And ye are planning on me going to dispatch the band of goblins controlling the spirit?"

"Aye, yur well practiced in the holy arts, well past the skill level of the Silver Crown healer that we've got here. I've arranged for a settler to take you into their shelter for the night, and anything you need from the merchants here will be free till the morrow."

Ruenki nodded and made a small blessing praise to Malath in thanks to the Sergeant's assistance.

"But, our time is short, and we're expecting a raid from the blackscale. We've word that the goblins are going to assist them and if you can take out this band that's controlling the lost spirit, our tacticians beleive that we'll not face the goblins, only the blackscale. You've only 2 moons to complete this, or we'll have our own come in, and we're not wanting to bring higher-ups to this neck of the woods."

Ruenki nodded in agreement," I shall dismiss the spirit if he becomes hostile, and remove the goblin's leader from his platform of power. Malath shall see me through my errand."



The first night came, and after spending a welcomed but slightly uncomfortable night in a gnome settler's miniature house, Ruenki was ready for the morning to come.


His quest had to be dealt with by the end of the morrow sun, or he'd have failed his request.

 

[GaldorXII]

)(Finale of the 3 part RP, A Request from Silver Crown!)(

It had been three suns since his waking morn in the settler's house in the Skull Mountain docks. He'd not had a very filling breakfast, the gnome wasn't the best cook in the mountains. He'd probably wager he'd had better from a drunken dwarf's nap sack.

But the meal wasn't what was on his mind, it was the overwhelming presence of worried spirits. The path before him was invisible to the naked eye, but with the help of a summoned Halo of Malath, Ruenki was easily treated to the tethers that had been left behind by bound spirits they were seeking help in trying to escape what ever prison they'd been placed in.

The sun had reached the top of the sky and was beginning to sink behind the nearby mountain. The trail of the spirits was starting to darken.

With an unseen swiftness Ruenki's Taldorian feet were carrying him at an hastened pace. The paladin was scared and worried something was amiss, and he'd been charged to find out what was wrong and in addition to dismiss the Goblin Chief of his seat in the area.

Day was becoming night and Ruenki's summoned source was beginning to lose it's holy gleam.

Ruenki's body jolted and his hand gripped the hilt of his sword and the inner buckles of his shield as the air was rippled by a hourse scream. This scream wasn't human, but that of a Giant. The creature sounded as if it was in pain, or doing hard labor.

Stumbling to the top of a hill, Rue looked down to a camp filled with Goblins, the night's air was pierce by the giant flame that was located near the middle of the camp. The Chief could be clearly seen sitting near a pike that had various race's skulls impaled by it. The Chief stood, waving a hand, calming the broodlings and highwayman goblins that were in a massive frenzy around the fire.

Something was being planned and had all the goblins in the mountains frenzied for blood and trophies.

The cry of the giant was heard again, only this time it was no more than one hundred paces away.

Two, large-breed Dalayian Ogres appeared from behind a tree line that could hide a small city, followed by two disgusting looking trolls, one with a broken arm that had clearly pulled and almost torn from the rest of his body.

Behind the two trolls came half a score of lizard-men, all with thick chain supported ropes in their hands, they were pulling something, something big.

The tree nearest to the came began to crack and snap at the trunk as a huge hill giant came from the foliage and stomped onto the parading grounds of the goblins.

The troll that had a severed arm could be seem visiting one of the goblin priests and the Chief was making his way over to the Black Scale soldiers.

Ruenki's hearing wasn't as good as other Dalayians but he could some what hear what was going one. The Chief had been planning on making a pact with the Black Scales in an attempt to take the docks and the other Silver Crown settlements in the mountains region with the help of the Black Scale raiders. The nearest Ogre to the Chief was addressed to as Miglot, and from what Rue heard, Miglot was making a proposal to the Chief:

"If you can bring this Giant to our side of the fight, then we'll see to it your reward for overthrowing the Silver Crown is greater than you ever expected!"

Soon after the conversation the Chief grabbed up a scepter and flared it at the giant, who was caught by surprise by the flash from the object. The surprise soon turned to torment as a pure line of goblin magic slammed into the brain of the giant, soon, tearing at the memories and thoughts of the giant, enslaving him to the Goblin Chief's will!

A small spear slide by Ruenki's face and planted itself into the ground by him, sinking into the earth all the way up the shaft till a feather and the sign of the Skull Goblins stopped it from going any further.

Rue whipped around just in time to raise his shield which made a loud thud as a rock club slammed into it. A Goblin Scout had found him. The scout screamed out, calling to the rest of the tribe.

Down below the frenzied goblins, after a wave of the chief's hand, swarmed foward, spears and clubs in hand.

The paladin slid his shield to the side and slammed his flipper into the chest of the goblin. He could feel the hollow bones snap and crackle inside the goblins chest as the greenskin fell back and scurried across the ground to find a hole to die in.

Ruenki slammed his left arm into the grips of his shield and pulled his sword from it's housing with seconds to spare before another goblin spear came hurling towards him.

His blade slashed through the spear sending bits flying as he pulled up his shield dropping another to the ground with little effort. These goblins weren't very strong but their numbers were enough to bring down a longtooth mammoth.

A goblin launched himself onto Rue's sheild, only to be slammed into the ground by the paladin's holy strength. Another goblin swinged an axe at Rue's feet, the blade fell short and stuck into the ground. The goblin let loose of the axe and crawled up to find a leathery flipper slamming into its skull.

Rue's blade made a long and large sweep, spewing gallons of greenskin blood all over the ground. Ruenki's arms bulged as his head snapped back and a yaulp was bellowed from his body. He soon flung himself forward at another mass of goblins, sending a glowing shield through the crowd, slamming and knocking goblins around like small bottle in a bar.

An elite goblin, who'd been painted various colors and sported a decent amount of armor flung himself onto Rue's back, biting and clawing at the paladin's armor. Rue slammed his blade into the ground and reached up with his now free right hand, and grasped the neck of the elite and brought him down to the ground with a mighty sling that could crack even a gnoll's hardest bone.

The elite screamed in pain as Ruenki reacquired his blade and slid it through the guts of the goblin and secured it into the earth before yanking it free.

Another score of goblins were making their way up the hill to where Rue was scouting on the tribe. With a pause and a small prayer Ruenki's shield flared white and grew larger. Rue secured the shield up in a ramming position and jumped down the slope of the hill.

Goblin's heads and bodies were being slammed and pushed away by the shielded Taldorian as Ruenki glided down the hill, his shield breaking more bones than his sword had during the fight.

Seconds later Ruenki was at the farthest tent of the goblin's camp and swung his shield to relieve it of the green blood that covered it's holy metal skin.

The Chief was clearly pissed as he slammed his scepter into the ground, several tents came crashing down as the hill giant made its way towards the intruder.

Ruenki's sight was filled with the image of the Giant, who was also accompanied by a couple of the lizardmen who were clearly wearing Black Scale Raider colors and emblems.

With a shout Rue's skin turned darker blue and became harder as the favor of the gods encased his armor, and valor filled his form.

A pillar of light began to form around the paladin as his blade shines and soon exploded in a holy fire, that wreathed and swirled around the metal of the weapon. The blessings of Althuna and Malath alike were both shining down on Ruenki in this moment of battle.

The Giant, still a bit behind the faster moving Lizardmen was blinded by the sudden light and left dazed.

But, in the moment of light the Lizardmen's eyes blinked, resisting the effects of Ruenki's blessings, making their charge proceed uninhibited.

The first Lizardmen met Ruenki with a swing of his blade. The metal rang loudly off the edge of the shield and was quickly riposted by the Soulfire ripping into the Lizardman's flesh, spewing his innards on the ground, leaving him with nothing but a limp and lifeless body.

Ruenki's Soulfire was brighter than ever and a ring was heard from the blade, the ring was copied and relayed by a ring from something around the Goblin Chief's neck. It was the Amulet!

The Paladin's quest was within sight, but several blockades kept him from attaining it. Rue's thoughts were cut short as the second of half a score of lizardmen made a stab at Rue. The dagger landed and sank into the armor on Ruenki's arm but the blade was stopped by the thick chainmail underneath the plate.

With a holy fury, Ruenki head butted the lizardman and sent him tumbling backwards. The Soulfire pointed at the Lizardman, sending a bolt of light into its chest, leaving it dead and unwanted by any scavengers.

Two Lizardmen had made their way to the Paladin and were making frenzied sword swipes that were easily deflected by the skilled templar.

Ruenki spun, sending his shield into the skull of one blackscale soldier and and blade into the side of the other, by this time the fourth raider had made his way to Ruenki.

The paladin roared at the raider as he slammed his flipper into the ground, making the wrapping of his ankle and flipper shine with the power of Gaia!
A tremor sent the raider flying into the fire in the middle of the camp.

Pulling his blade from the dying Lizardman Ruenki sent the pummel of the newly freed blade into the temple of the fifth raider and carved a gash into the chest of the sixth.

The half score of Lizardmen lay dead or dying around Ruenki's feet, with the exception of the one who was ablaze and sizzling in the camp.

By this time the Giant had stopped the pain in his eyes and could continue the commands of his master, the Goblin Chief.

The ground shook as the enraged giant surged to Ruenki. His small stature was nothing compared to the Giant's.

Ruenki sliced his Soulfire into the ground, sending a blade of energy souring up to the giant, searing and slamming into its chest, but made no obvious progress at stopping the thing.

The giant's hand came crashing down next to the paladin who was almost crushed if he'd not rolled away an instant before the bare hand came down on his head.

Ruenki sheathed his sword, and made several hand gestures which ended in a flash and a ball of light that soon ended it's flight at the giant's head, leaving him stunned slightly.

Rue used his innate Taldorian feature of jumping to launch himself to the back of the giant, who soon commenced a struggle to grab hold of the Paladin who clung to his back like a bug.

The Soulfire's blaze grew brighter was Ruenki could clearly see the spirit within the giant.

No wonder this thing was so easily controlled by the Chief. This giant possessed the spirit of the widow's husband!

Ruenki now knew that the pact the chief made with Blackscale was a game where the goblins cheated to win.

This had gone far enough.

Ruenki made summit at the neck of the creature and unsheath his blade, sinking it into the spine of the giant and twisting furiously.

But as the blade's metal vanished completely under the giant's skin a massive hand clasped around Ruenki, tearing him from the back of the giant and slinging him into a nearby tree.

Ruenki's body slides down the trunk of the tree and lazily plops onto the ground.

The Taldorian's mouth spurts blood, and his armor is clearly bent and somewhat broken. But with a prayer, Ruenki snaps a seed and a visible aura of smell sinks into his nose and the blood dries from his body, the Divine blessing fills Rue, cleansing him of everything evil, even pain.

Rue stands to his feet and shuffles his shield back to it's correct placement on his arm. The Giant's eyes have glazed over with rage as it hurls itself at Ruenki.

The Taldorian brings his shield up and a aura envelops his body, his shield turns to light, pulsating in his hand. Ruenki jumps into the air and he and his shield become one spear of light that spearheads its way through the giant's body, removing the troubled spirit and leaving the empty corpse behind. The soul is quickly absorbed into the glowing shield and the corpse of the giant falls to the group, creating a tidal wave of dust and rocks.

Through the cloud of dust Rue charges at the Chief, and with almost no resistance, Ruenki's right fist burrows deep into the goblin's skull instantly removing the life from the body.

The two blackscale Ogres grin at Ruenki and vanish. They were higher ranked soldiers and weren't about to get into a fight that would clearly expose their efforts to take down the Crown.


The spirit within the shield shimmers and breaks free of the glowing aegis on Ruenki's arm, soon after, it sinks and binds with the amulet that lies in Rue's palm. Walking from the tribal grounds, Ruenki rips his Soulfire from the limp body of the giant and resheaths it in his belt and clips his now metallic shield to the back of his breastplate.


It was a moon's travel back to the docks. Ruenki knew his time for the quest was up, so his travel wasn't stopped by sleep or hunger and he arrived at the docks the next morn.

The Sergeant approached Ruenki and shook it hand, placing a heavy bag of coin in his hand. Ruenki explained the situation and the Sergeant's face turned grim. He said he'd report this to the higher ups, but Ruenki already knew it wouldn't leave the mountains.

The widow was filled with joy and happiness to get back the amulet, and even more joy to know that her dead husband's spirit was now bound to the jewelry.


His quest was done, and he was now on the next boat back to Newport.