Taselak (SEI)/The quest of Taselak/Chapter 4

Elladar

Valens tells Elladar to get everyone into the dining room, so Elladar quickly goes to the door to the field and calls out, "Everyone! Valens says we need to go to his dining room and wait for him there." Elladar goes back inside and goes to the dining hall. When he reaches it he calls one of the servants to him. "Get me a rag and a bucket of water," he orders the servant, "I need to clean the blood off of my equipment."

Retnuh

Pulling out his green tinted sword out of the monsters chest, he slid the flat sides of the blade onto its fur patched skin. "I hope that's the last.." he said, looking at the other monsters which ran demoraled "..we'll see of.." and put both his swords to slumber "..them".

Gesturing to all by his fingers upto his eyes as a small sign of victory, he entered the house...still rubbing his red hands to numbness. "I dare think Elladar is right.." Retnuh repeated, pointing to one of the open window "..Their hides were thick, which seem to tell they are not from around here..." rubbing his hands in red again "..more over, how in the world did they just appear from nowhere, that to in the middle of a damn city" and bowed to the new arrival.

Erwin

Erwin was waiting in the house when suddenly a man came in and said: "Ok now things have calmed down, please tell me who you are, and what your doing here. Why where you hiding in the woods?"

"My name is Erwin Scratchbuilder. A few days ago I left my family in Rhic to serve Taselak. I have had an uncle who fought on Beluaterra and he told me how evil monsters where. How he saw entiry city's destroyed, because of the beasts. When I walked through the forrest and saw the monsters I wanted to know what they wanted to do so that I could sound alarm or trap them somewhere, but then I saw you fighting against them and I realized that you didn't really needed help."

Dennis

Dennis strides into the recruitment center in Taselak City.

"Who amongst you feels like dying?"

The fresh recruits stare at him in bewilderment.

"I'll ask again. Anyone that feels like dying, sign up with me. I only get madmen who aren't afraid to die."

Most of the recruits in the RC dismiss Dennis as a raving psychopath, but amazingly, 21 men step forward.

"Well sir, as long as they pay's good and we get ale.... It's better than sitting on our butts all day long," explains their leader, a grizzled old veteran who appears to be in charge.

"I can't promise pay, but I CAN promise ale."

The 21 men shrug their shoulders and sign up.

"Good, very good, before you'll know it you'll all be in early graves."

Suddenly a strange beast bursts into the recruitment centre. Before anyone can react, it grabs the grizzled veteran and gobbles him up in one bite. The men's weapons bounce off the creature ineffectively, but Dennis whips out his blade and and slices the creature in half with a single blow.

His 25 men stare dumbly at the dead body of the veteran.

"Ah well," Dennis shrugs his shoulders. "He was just the first one. Now let's see what that monster was doing here."

Dennis and his men march out, determined to find some answers.

Valens

"Erwin you say? Ok I believe you....and actually need to talk to you also."

Valens explains everything about the quest to him.

"Ok now you know that I have something for you. I will be right back, wait here."

Valens once again goes upstairs, to his room. After a few minutes, he returns with another sack and a new axe in hand.

"Here, these are for you. Use them wisely. Now for you to know, exactly where your power is from. As you know I am Platinum, with the power of the Platinum Dragon. You, I see gray. With that, I also see the power of the Rhino. Now please look through the sack, decide if you want to keep my gifts or not and then join us in the dining hall."

Valens turns and walks into the dining hall.

"Ok, once everyone has joined us in here, I will explain how I knew about the monsters."

Erwin

Erwin saw Valens coming back with sack and the axe as Valens gave them to him and said: "Here, these are for you. Use them wisely. Now for you to know, exactly where your power is from. As you know I am Platinum, with the power of the Platinum Dragon. You, I see gray. With that, I also see the power of the Rhino. Now please look through the sack, decide if you want to keep my gifts or not and then join us in the dining hall."

Erwin looked at axe for a moment and kneeled before Valens

"I accept this axe and will use it to help you completing this quest. I shall follow your lead and go where you go. Willing to risk or sacrifice my own life for a higher purpose"

Erwin stood up and followed Valens to the dining hall

Erwin

Erwin was waiting in the dining hall for the other people to arrive when he realized that he didn't looked at all of his new stuff yet, so he opened the sack and searched for his new shield. He pulled it out of the sack and looked at it. It was a big white shield with a silver edge and a grey Rhino on the middle. He placed his schield on the table and searched the sack again, this time he pulled his armor out of it. It was a beautifull silver armor that also was very thick so it could take allot of damage. On the middle of the breastplate also was a grey Rhino pictured. As last he took his helmet out of the sack, this one was the same as the rest of his armor, only the helmet also contained the horn of a Rhino, first Erwin thought it would look silly, but when he tried it on and looked at him in a pool of water he liked the horn.

Happy with his new armor Erwin returned to his seat.

I can't wait to test my new equipment so everyone hurry up inhere so Valens can begin with his explenation about where those monsters came from

Arthur

As Arthur watches the monster retreat he leans on his staff thinking, "I really need to build up endurance with this staff. It's heavier and slower on the swings than a sword is and the spells physically drain me some. I wonder where those monsters came from. I haven't heard anything about monsters being anywhere on SEI." He starts walking over to the manor and hears Elladar call out...

Elladar: Everyone! Valens says we need to go to his dining room and wait for him there.

Arthur walks through the door and heads to the dining room. He sits in one of the chairs and inspects how well his equipment fared. The robes had held up as he hadn't actually been hit but his staff didn't have a mark from the arm-numbing blow. The only signs anything had seen combat was the blood on the tip of his staff and on his chest. He sees a maid enter with some water for Elladar and asks her for some too. She heads off to find some. A minute later she returned and handed Arthur the bucket. Arthur sets about cleaning his equipment and waits for Valens to return from speaking with the stranger.

Valens

Valens looks at everyone in the room and stands at the end of the table.

"Ok everyone. I am sure this has been very confusing for you. First of all, I got a letter from my brother, Shady, from the East Continent. From what it says, there was some troubles up there with monsters but they left the East Continent, and they had more trouble then usual with these monsters. It took them a long time to find the only weakness and once he saw they where leaving towards us he wrote me. I got the letter just in time, as they where arriving. Does that make more sense now? I hope so. The time has now come. Every get what you are going to bring with us, and we will meet at the gate of Taselak. Before we all leave though, is there any more questions?"

Elladar

The maid comes back with the bucket of water for Elladar. Arthur enters the dining room, sees Elladar cleaning the blood off of his equipment, and asks the maid for water also. The maid soon returns and gives the bucket to Arthur. Soon, everyone who had been part of the battle came in. Elladar finishes cleaning off his axe, and startes on his gauntlets. Soon everyone is seated. The man who Elladar had saved came through a side door with a sack in his hand. He sits in a chair and starts looking through his sack of equipment. Elladar smiles slightly at the sight of the stranger's axe. Soon after, Valens walks in through the side door and explains how he had gotten a letter from his brother right as the beasts arrived. Valens then says they need to get everything ready and meet him at the city's gate. He then asks if anyone has any questions. Elladar sits there for a minute thinking, still cleaning the blood off of his gauntlet. He wondered slightly how Valens' brother was fairing against beasts on the East Continent. "I promise I'll never go to the East Continent as long as I live," Elladar promised to himself. The beasts were increadibly tough and he didn't want to have to fight them every day. After a minute more of thought, Elladar asks, "Where will we be going to? I'd like to know if we're going to be able to walk freely, or if we're going to have to sneak around towns in enemy lands."

Ranger

Ranger came into the dinning room after Elladar yelled to come in. Ranger however had quiet a bit of questions for Valens. One of the most important was why these unusual monsters came here to attack them in a city no less.

When Ranger enters Valen starts to talk about where these monsters came from and how he found out a somewhat intensive but none the less exploit in the monsters bodies. After Valens had finished his talk Ranger pipes in.

"Well if you will answer all our questions I have a couple for you. One is those monsters are none of which I have seen in all my journies around the world. I have been in every Island at least once and I have never seen such strong and smart monsters. Also if you had known sooner that those enhanced monsters would come you could have given everyone else a little more warning. The only way I was even a little prepared was their stench. Those things were not of this world and like I said before could not be taken down as lightly as those on the other islands.

Also who told you of these legendary weapons and where to find them. This is one that I am most curious about seeing as we no not if this information can be fully trusted or not. I do not know about the rest of you but I have in my experience wanted to know who gave Valens the names and told him the tales of these weapons for I have been double crossed more than once."

With that Ranger sits down awaiting Valens answer. Wondering to himself if the thing he sensed the night before was still learking.

Valens

Valens listens to the questions, and thinks about his replies. Finally he answers.

Ok I think I can answer them. Our first location is with-in Taselak lands, so we can walk freely. Also, Ranger, I did not have information about these monsters much longer before they arrived. In fact I was reading the letter as they arrived here. Just as they came into sight I was finished reading my letter. As for the legendary weapons and armor...well it's hard to explain but in short I was told by someone who is no longer around. I am visited from time to time to tell me what to do next. I hope this answered your questions, is there any others?

Vallyn

"Aye, I have a question for you."

As he spoke Vallyn stepped through the doorway, his longsword drapping at his hip. The banded mail he wore was worn with age, the best he could afford when he had left his home in Apelen. On his shield an eagle, wings displayed inverted proper, was the only marking of his distant family. Bowing once Vallyn approachedup the group, and asked his question with a slight smile.

"Do you have need of one more blade?"

Valens

Valens turns and notices Vallyn walk in and ask if he needed anyone else.

"Perfect timing, I was wondering when you would be showing up. Come with me."

Valens turns back to everyone.

"I will be back in a few minutes, your all welcome to leave and get ready if you don't have anymore questions. If you do, please wait here."

Valens turns back to Vallyn and they both go into the main room. This is where Valens explains about the quest.

"Ok now you know everything about it. I see something in you, otherwise I would not have told you. Please wait for a second, while I go get something."

Valens walks upstairs to his room and get another sack. Then he comes back down with it for Vallyn.

"Ok....before you open this and see whats inside, I have to tell you more about yourself. First...I see you have powers in you. Your the color of purple, and with that the power of bear. I hope you enjoy my gifts, if however you don't like them you do not need to take them. If you have any questions, come into the dining room. If not, go home, get things you want to bring ready and meet me at the front gate."

Valens walks back into the dining room.

"Ok any other questions?"

Elladar

Everyone sat in silence. Then a man walks through a door into the dining room, and asks if they needed his help on their quest. Valens says, "Perfect timing, I was wondering when you would be showing up. Come with me." Valens takes him into a side room. A few minutes later Valens returns and asks, "Ok any other questions?"

Elladar thinks for a moment, then says, "So Valens, where do all the sacks of stuff come from? Do you have a deal with some great smith? Or does it just appear when you wake up and you think 'Ah, another sack. That means that someone will be joining us today.', because you always seem to have the sacks ready the moment someone arives."

Valens

Valens now turns his attention to Elladar.

"You want to know where the equipment came from? Hmmmm....Well yeah ok, lets go with the smithy thing, that sounds good. Got some great deal to bring in equipment from....ummmm....Beluaterra. yeah that sounds good...haha...ok thats not true, but fun to think up. Anyway, is it very important for you to know?"

Retnuh

"Well, that seems to answer a portion of the questions.." Retnuh said, "..but satisfied!" as he walked towards the door bowing to all the nobles present there for the afternoon "I'd better be getting back soon, my men would be wondering of what happened to me" and left for towards the local barracks.

Mischa

Mischa sighs, leans back and puts her booted feet up on the table.

"I missed all the fun. When are we moving out?"

Valens

Valens looks over at Mischa.

"Ah yes...don't worry we will leave once everyone gathers at the front. Do you have much to get ready before we leave?"

Mischa

Mischa looks at Valens "My Lord Valens, you should know by know, I am always prepared."

Valens

"Well then, Lady Mischa, perhaps we shall spend the day together? As I imagine we will have awhile to wait for everyone to go back and get everything ready then meet us at the front gates to Taselak. What do you say?"

Mischa

"Spend the day together?"

Mischa looks around nervously trying to find an ally so she can have an excuse not to spend some time alone with Valens. She's not sure why, but whenever they get close to spending some time together on their own, she always has an excuse to be elsewhere. Except that time in Rhic. Remembering that time, Mischa smiles and says:

"I would be honoured to spend some time with you."

Valens

"Thats very good news. It is about a good time for lunch, how about we go get some instead of staying in?"

Dennis

Dennis arrives at Valen's house just in time to see Valens stroll out beside his liege, High Marshall Mischa.

They look like they are occupied, so he approaches the others who are streaming out to look for some answers.

"Lord Valens seems to know a lot, so I guess he told you guys something about weird monsters that you all probably just saw. Care to fill me in?"

Elladar

"You want to know where the equipment came from? Hmmmm....Well yeah ok, lets go with the smithy thing, that sounds good. Got some great deal to bring in equipment from....ummmm....Beluaterra. yeah that sounds good...haha...ok thats not true, but fun to think up. Anyway, is it very important for you to know?" Valens says.

"I would like to know. If you have any spare time I would love to here where you got it all from."

Mischa says, "I missed all the fun. When are we moving out?"

Valens uses this as an excuse to avoid Elladar's question, and answers, "Ah yes...don't worry we will leave once everyone gathers at the front. Do you have much to get ready before we leave?"

Mischa answers, "My Lord Valens, you should know by know, I am always prepared."

"Well then, Lady Mischa, perhaps we shall spend the day together? As I imagine we will have awhile to wait for everyone to go back and get everything ready then meet us at the front gates to Taselak. What do you say?"

"Spend the day together? I would be honoured to spend some time with you."

"Thats very good news. It is about a good time for lunch, how about we go get some instead of staying in?"

Elladar sits there while Valens and Mischa plan to spend the afternoon together. When they leave, a silent fury builds up in Elladar because Valens had avoided answering where he got the armor from. Because the host has left, everyone else gets up to start leaving. Elladar stands up and walks to the door.

As he is leaving he sees Dennis, who asks, "Lord Valens seems to know a lot, so I guess he told you guys something about weird monsters that you all probably just saw. Care to fill me in?"

Without anything better to do, Elladar tells him about the beasts that they had fought. "Also, two more men joined the quest, I scared one of them pretty good. A beast was coming up behind him and he didn't see it. I ran at the beast and the man thought I was running at him. I killed the beast by ramming my arm up into its chest and slashing its lungs up.

Vallyn

Vallyn watches Valens walk out of the room silently before opening the gift that was bestowed upon him. He carefully lays out the contents on the floor before him; a heavy bearskin cloak--embroidered with a deep purple trim, a purple tabard with the visage of a bear roaring, and a set of guantlets made of a gleaming metal he was unfamiliar with and a dark heavy leather which he assumed was bear as well. Finally laid within was a pair of sheathed weapons.

Unsheathing them Vallyn was confused at first, as they seemed odd in construction. But then it dawned on him the material they were made of -- Bears claws and bones, and the shear size of the beast these had come from staggered him. A pale bone blade - curved wickedly -- could almost pass as a Dirk. This was claw of the beast and seemed almost impossibly sharp. The second was fashioned from the beasts Femur, a light axe with a sharp thrusting tip and crafted with edges meant to catch blades and turn them aside.

Astounded at the generousity of Valens he sat stunned for a long time, trying to gather himself. Whispering a few prayers to the Elder Gods of Apelen he bowed his head slightly and equipped his new found possessions.

As he had just entered the city at the start of the fighting he had yet to remove his travelling pack and gear, thus he walked back down into the Dining room to join the others and wait till they left for the Gates.

MAVA

with all of our questions answered I head out to the local pub to get ready to move out. "ANYONE WANT TO JOIN ME? FIRST 2 ROUNDS ON ME."

Valens

Valens looks at Elladar, ready to answer his question about the equipment.

"So you really do wish to know do you? Ok well I have an answer for you. The equipment came from me, right from my hands to yours. How did they make it to my hands? That is a secret for right now. I promised I wouldn't say anything....yet."

"Mischa, are you ready?"

Arther

As Valens and Mischa plan what they're going to be doing, Arthur heads back to the Faregyl Inn to speak with Berilac. Upon arriving he finds Berilac listening to a bard tell a tale about a great battle in a far away land. He goes and sits next to him.

Arthur: Berilac, it looks like I'm going to be gone longer than I thought. I don't know if you've heard but a dozen monsters attacked Valens' manor this morning. We were training outside when they showed up. We managed to fight them off but they were very tough. This staff that Valens gave me can shoot fireballs and it took two and a slash in the stomach for one to die. After they died we went inside. Once there, two more people joined our group. We are now gathering what we need and then meeting at the front gate. I don't need much. I'll stop and pick up some food on the way to the gate but that's about all I'll need I think.

Berilac: I assume that my orders are the same until you return?

Arthur: Yes, they are to stay the same.

Berilac: Before you go, you received a message from your brother Tyler in Antoza. He says that he has given up the life of the soldier and become an infiltrator. He has already successfully assaulted 2 enemy Troopleaders and a variety of other things. One thing he mentions is that in his dealings with the, how shall I say it, less than fine people who help him with his tasks, he has ran into the phrase Atra nosu waíse vardo fra eld hórnya quite often. Apparently, many people say it before conducting a meeting. Since you have always been the most knowledgable of the family, he wants to know what it means.

Arthur ponders for a moment. "I think it means 'let us be warded from listeners.' An approiate choice considering his line of work. I wonder if that phrase actually has some kind of magical property or if the people just say it as tradition. It would be handy for sneaking through enemy lands if it was magical." Arthur looks in his bag at his staff and, sure enough, the phrase was glowing on the staff.

Arthur: Send a message to Tyler and tell him what the phrase means. Tell him I send my thanks for the phrase and tell him it will be very useful to me. As for me, I will head to the gates and wait for everyone else.

Berilac: As you wish milord. May your travels be safe.

Arthur leaves the inn and heads to the gate, pondering his brother's choice of occupation and what drove to choose it. He stops in the market section of the city and purchases bread and meat. Soon after, he arrives at the gate to find no one is there yet. He sits down against the wall with his sack tied to him and falls into a light sleep.

Elladar

Elladar wanders through the city trying to waste time until he has to go to the gates to embark upon the quest. He decides to go to a nearby pub. He enters and goes to the bar and orders a drink. Soon Elladar is on his fifth mug of ale. Before he gets so drunk that he can't think straight, he warns everyone in the pub that if they dare touch him or his stuff he'd kill them. He takes another swig of his ale and hears one of the nearby peasants talking about him. "I hear that two days ago, he killed a man who tried to mug him, and just today, he punched a giant monster in the stomach, and slashed out its lungs!" The peasants all look at Elladar and he nods to comfirm the romurs. Nearby peasants start to edge away. Elladar is soon on his tenth mug of ale, he passes out a little bit later.

Valens

Valens, not sure what to think since Mischa did not answer him, decided to go upstairs to his room and change. While up there, he picked up another sack that was sitting near his bed.

"Ah yes....very nice. I wonder who the owner of this one will be. I wonder who is waiting up at the gate so far. Shouldn't be to many, as not much time has gone by. I hope to get out of here soon, those weapons and armor could be of great help to us. If we wait to long, they may fall into the wrong hands."

Just as Valens finished his thoughts he turned to look at what he could wear. He decided that he would stay in his armor, and started walking to the door. A strange feeling came over him though and he went to the window instead. Looking out at the road coming to his home.

Dennis

As Dennis leaves Valen's house, he feels a strange feeling come over him.

Involuntarily, he turns and faces the road.

"What the - ?"

He spies a group of strange beasts marching towards Valen's house. They look exactly like the dead monsters on the ground.

"Not again! I thought we killed them all!"

Turning back towards the house, he cries out, "MONSTERS!"

Drawing his shark-emblazoned blade, he readies for the attack, but surprisingly, one of the monsters starts to speak, "Put your blade down, human, it will do no good. We come not to kill you, but to convey a message. Where is the Dragon? This message is meant for his ears alone."

Dennis looks up and sees Valens staring out of the window.

"I guess that means you. Come on down!"

Naoko

Naoko walked through the door and smiled at Valens. Naoko: "ah, i believe u are the person who will quench my thirst of curiosity. so what is going on?. Why are there dead monsters outside?" Naoko then shut the door and looked about the room talking in the surrounds.

Valens

"You wish to know about the monsters? Well in short, they attacked us, we killed them and others ran a way. We don't know why they attacked us yet, but we will find out, they must have traveled very far to come here. But there is more important things at hand."

Valens explains about the quest and the great weapons/armor they are trying to find.

"Ok next, I have a gift for you."

Valens walks into the dining room, grabs the sack and brings it out to Naoko.

"In here you will find everything you need, but you don't need to keep them or use them if you don't want to. Also, here is your new axe, it is to big to fit into this sack, so I must hand it to you. Moving on, there is something else. With in each person decided in this quest, there is a power. I am the Platinum Dragon, and others are also have their own animal power. For you...I see orange...with in you is the power of the cheetah. Ok, now you know. We are currently gathering at the front gate to Taselak, preparing to leave for the search of these great weapons and armor. Please look through your things, get everything you want to bring together and meet everyone at the front gate."

Valens then heads out to the front door, and meets with Dennis.

Whats going on here? Dennis, who are they?

Naoko

Naoko took the axe. Naoko thought to herself "cheez it is an odd looking axe." It was like two double battle axes joined at the handle and it was made of a some sort of strange mettle lighter than she thought possible. It was a dull grey colour but seem to give an orange glow. Naoko then opened the sack and pulled out a set of armour, it was made out of three parts and boots. The first part was relay fine chainmale top that was like silk to her fingers. The second was a part was pair of trousers that was made of the same strange material. Lastly there was a jacket with hood, it too seemed to be made of this material. It was black with orange streaks that would appear to move and form claws or cheetahs mouths but it was too fast too tell if you were imagining it or not. There was a few other things in the sack which she was sure would come into use when the time needed it. Naoko then looked up and folowed Valens and sees the beast out of the window “thanks a lot I can really use theses, can I go and try these on somewhere... AH MOSNTERS oh they wana talk?”

Valens

Valens looks at the monsters standing before him, back at Dennis, and then again at the monsters.

Valens: Ok, so your here to see me?

Monsters: Yes, you are the one with the power of the dragon? We have come with a warning. If you wish to collect what you seek, then you must watch for what you look for first.

Valens: Ok, so is there any order in which they should be collected in?

Monsters: Yes there is, but we do not know it. We do however, know that you are last. Knowing this we figured that there must be something special about you. So we came in search of you. Once the others found out that we where coming to give you advice, they wanted to kill you before we could reach you. I see you defended yourself very well.

Valens: Ok so I am last, thats good to know. It was not just me who defended against the monsters, but everyone who is in this search with me. It was because we where all together that we won. Can you give the location of any of the equipment we are searching for?

Monsters: Yes, your first search is very close, right in Astin. Don't think because it's close though, thats it is not heavily guarded and hard to find. We must go now, we wish you the best of luck.

The monsters then turn and run off back into the woods. Valens looks at Dennis.

Valens: Well I didn't expect that. Guess we know where will be go first. I will meet you at the front gate.

Valens leaves, and starts heading to the front gate

MAVA

Lady MAVA the time has come. Go to the front gate master Valens is on his way there. UUUUMMMMM, U need me to carry you there,or are you sober enough to make it on your own. Scribe gather my equipment together and if you ever try to embarris me again I will take your head from your sholders!!

Naoko

Naoko finds an empty room in Valens house and puts on her new armour, it fits perfectly. she is amazed how light it is and how free she can move, she knows it can not take a lot of heaver blows but it will be hard to hit her with it on. "i really got to get name for it" Naoko thought to herself as she then put her axe thing between her back and cloak and picks up the sack and empties it into a rucksack. Naoko opens the door and starts on her way to the main gate.

Dennis

As Valens turns to move off, one of the monsters speaks.

"I see you too are one of the Chosen. Yes, that's right. You are the shark."

Dennis warily replies, "Yes, I believe Valens did say something about me being a 'shark'. What's that got to do with you?"

The monster cackles, then answers, "Ah, Dennis. I know far more about you than you will ever know. But right now, I have a proposition to make."

Dennis nods, saying, "All right, let's hear it out."

The monster smiles and holds up a glowing emblem.

"If you touch this emblem, you will be given extraordinary powers. You will become a terror on the battlefield, your men will fight harder, and soldiers will be attracted to you by your charisma alone. But there is a price..."

Dennis raises one eyebrow.

The monster continues, "As with everything, there are two sides. If you are granted this magical strength, you will develop a weakness on your body. If any blow should strike that spot, you will instantly fall dead."

Dennis shrugs and grabs hold of the emblem, feeling it's power flow through him.

"I've always wanted to die in battle anyway."

Laughing, the monster replies, "Dennis, congratulations. You have just become what I believe your people call a 'hero'."