Prelude:
It arose from the depths of the ocean, a large, black form of indescript sex. As it laborously swam it's way to the land, a form became apparent. Vaguely humanoid in appearance, what noticeably gave it's inhuman appearance away were the seven snakes that wriggled and writhed in the place of hair on the thing's head. In the light of the full moon, their eyes looked like many faceted red rubies, sparkling ominously as the beast stood, finally, on the shore. It patted the snakes, as if consoling it's young, and then spoke a few words. In the place of what had been the beast, now stood a black robed mage of white hair and leathery, wrinkled face of an older man. Smiling widely, showing many teeth that were too white and sharp to be natural, he waved his hand to conjure a large, snake-headed staff. Gripping the staff, he walked off into the forest, in the direction of a sylvan elf village called Quintessa.
*****
Coronna Kin'stasari, minstrel of
the high elven town of Solstari, was sitting alone in the outlying woods,
tuning her lyre. Tatras, her faithful cooshee, sat by her side, watching
her as she strummed some minor chords. She was trying to compose
a piece for her sisters' wedding. She was marrying a noble elf from
the family of Krichasa, and the young bard was trying to think of something that
would be grand enough for such an occasion, but was having troubles.
"Ahh, Tatras, what am I to do?" she wondered
aloud, looking down at her companion. The cooshee gave her a look
of bewilderment, as cooshee are not song composers, and then returned to
studying the forest. "Maybe if I start it in a different key. . .
" she thought, plucking the lyre and starting her tune again.
Coronna could not know that the spectre was behind
her. Tatras gave no warning bark, and the elf was engrossed in her
music, too bent on getting her song right to be wary of the forest.
This forest had always been a safe place for the high elves of Solstari.
Today, however, that would change, as Coronna's lifeless body was left beside
the corpse of the very animal whose duty it had been to protect her, the
youngest of the Kin'stasari family.
*****
Ravennos Silverblade halted his snow white steed
in front of the Raven's Nest, the reputed best inn in the town of
Aklarond. Dismounting and handing the reins and a gold piece to a
nearby stable boy, the paladin walked into the inn.
"Raven!" a bright call came from one of the corners
of the room as he entered and hung his cloak on the wall. Stooping,
he caught the young woman who came hurtling out of the crowd and flung
herself at him. Ravennos smiled as he lifted the girl up and set
her down again.
"It is good to be home again, Sarina." he
said, looking at the bright-eyed teenager. "Where is your mother?"
he asked, looking around the inn. The girl laughed and pointed to
the bar.
"She is arguing with Saroz again." she said, giggling
as Ravennos crept up behind the flame-haired woman who was engaged in an
argument with an older man with spectacles. She looked to be losing.
"Yes, I know, but if you enhance the metal by folding
it again before you cool the weapon, the blade will be stronger. . . "
she was saying as Ravennos placed a gauntleted hand on her shoulder.
She jumped five feet in the air and looked around angrily, reaching for
the sword at her hip that she had given up at the door.
"You! You scoundrel!" she cried joyfully as
she gave the warrior a hug that he felt through his armor. Lunari
was a strong woman, in fact, she was the best swordmaker in Aklarond.
In addition to designing all of the weapons that she produced, she could
also weild them with the best of warriors.
"Saroz, you old crow, I told you that it was unwise
to argue with my wife." Ravennos commented, clapping his old friend
on the shoulder. "She has more tenacity than a red dragon with a pound
of gold." Lunari took this in stride and let out a racous bout of
laughter. Saroz only smiled secretively.
"Perhaps she and I could discuss the finer craftings
of swords at a later time. It is long past the time at which I should have
retired." Saroz conceded, flashing Sarina a wink. The child
giggled as Saroz went off to his permanent room at the inn. Ravennos
sat down in his vacant spot.
"So, how were your travels? " Lunari asked,
ordering another round of ale for Ravennos.
"The rebellions in Kartakan have died down, but
the wizards in the Darktower Mountains are still refusing the priests of
the Lords of the Light entrance into their library to scribe down
thier new research." he explained, taking a long draft of his ale.
"But surely my travels are boring, what has been going on here?"
"Nothing much. The only thing notable is that
the city watch has reported seeing more monsters about, but I say that
is not so unusual after a night of the full moon." Lunari shrugged, downing
her mug in one draft. There were few that could best Lunari in holding
their liquor. "Other than that, it's been pretty slow around here,
I would say." Ravennos was just about to send Sarina to her room,
as it was getting late and the inn was getting rowdier, when five men burst
into the inn, carrying a sixth on his back. The men looked haggard
and wild-eyed, and the man they were carrying seemed to carry all of his
blood on his clothing, instead of in his body.
"You must help Rayden! He's been attacked by a vampyre!"
One of them exclaimed, as the others cleared off a spot on one of the tables
and laid their friend on it. Ravennos looked at Lunari, motionng
to Sarina. She nodded and whisked the girl out of the room as Ravennos
joined the crowd that had gathered around the fallen man. Aklarond
was seeing action now, he thought grimly.
*****
It is good to be like the mist. The mist can conceal all, and all who enter the mist may become confused and forget their way. The mist is secretive, like the catfoot, yet it is also as dangerous as the red wyrm. I am a part of the mist, and it knows me and we are traveling companions. I pass among the mist, and it does not harm me. It is good to be the mist.
*****