Drakel
Your greedy little Jewgon!
Where Heroes are Made
For the past few months the Silverhearts were hiring mercenaries and anyone who'd agree to help them with their cause, but after being given menial tasks of little worth they were either let go and paid or quit where few remained. And from this few, fewer still were sought for their skills and asked to join the Silverhearts fully, selected from hundreds to take part in the great quest of the utmost importance by the heads of the company and the Captain. These will be the heroes of the journey, they are proven to not be one of the many spies and are outsiders from the company with distinct pasts and with certain skills that guarantee the success of their mission. And so they were given a new order, a duty of sorts to follow the messenger to their destination.
Within a month, during the night of a new day the new force for the Silverhearts would all finally reach what appeared to be a simplistic, yet large tavern of sorts just off the side of a stone pebbled road. On the side was a large wooden stable large enough to fit over 50 horses and on the side of it was a large wagon, locked up. Around the tavern were several lanterns brightly glowing their simpler light that lit up the bright brown wood of the tavern. The tavern was around three stories, four when including the strangely placed wooden tower in the back corner. The quite square front greeted the group with a single lit round window for the attic. Around it was pitched black from the darkness as the light of the lanterns as they road made it impossible to get adjusted to the dark.
Once inside the group was greeted by a surprisingly filled tavern full of activity across the building. The center of the room was hallowed out on the second and third floors with a railing to prevent anyone from falling. Round glowing lanterns filled the entirety of the tavern, bringing life of light into the already rowdy crowd. Strangely there were four bars, two for each side on the first two floors and in those bars was a single fallen women in each, their four eyes looking around quickly and constantly as they filled mug after mug of ale. A small group of Gira ka children were running around playing in the open floors while others where handling the numerous customers. A strange sight overall as the building wasn't of Gira ka architecture but rather human architecture.
As the group entered the tavern one by one the rangers who brought the chosen few took them upstairs and to the tables on the second floor, right next to the railings, keeping the party close by to one another as they sat near the railing. "Wait here." One would say to party before walking away with the other rangers. An Aelfensi' bard on the above railing adjacent to the party could be heard singing a ballad about the Uldinzar star, his voice describing the legend on the great war that occurred just by searching for it. As his lute strings sang the bard's voice complimented it well. Soon though the singing would end and the lute was no longer played and the next thing the party would know, the elf was no longer there. If an eye was skilled enough, it'd notice one of the rangers whispering to him for a short bit before the bard stopped and disappeared into the crowd above.
And so, for the next half-hour the party was forced to wait, staying in their seat and not even five minutes in and eyes were already upon the group as they waited unknowing what was to come.
Soon all became quiet as the sound of a loud slam of a door hitting the wooden walls filled the entirety of the tavern. With it came the slow yet loud steps of metal hitting the floor, each step grew slightly louder as the figure got closer and closer to the railing. There everyone could see a dark armored figure in an elegantly designed blackish armor. It stood around 6'7 and the bulky look of the armor gave off an intimidating look. No light shined into the almost pitch-blackness within the armor and all of the mages and clerics of the party would have an increased sense of danger coming from the figure. Whispers came around by several within the tavern "Captain Fuenté.' Sir. J. Fuenté.' It's the captain.' Fuenté.' Shut up you fools, don't anger the captain!"
With a loud, booming yet strangely off toned, slightly lighter than what would normally be expected the figure spoke. "To my fellow Silverhearts, today we are to rejoice! We have gotten much closer than any other to finding the Uldinzar! By tomorrow you will all take part in the most crucial duty and if we are so lucky our contractors will pay us well for our find. Let it be known that it is here where our journey finally begins and here where heroes were made. For too long have we searched only to watch friend and foe fall. No more! It will be known that it was us, the Silverhearts who found the great Uldinzar! Thus is the tale of the fabled star!..."
"N'thus why we die for the Uldinzar!" The crowd shouted in response to the figure, cheering as they all but smash their drinks together drunkenly, spilling enough ale on the floor to fill a barrel.
With a nod the dark-steel knight nodded. "You all know your positions and what you all must do." The figure stated, almost commanding that they were all knew their exact part in the captain's plan. Looking down at the table where the party say the figure glared at them. "And for the newcomers, take them up to my office, I want a word with them all." with that the warrior of black steel disappeared before the door slammed shut and almost in that very same instant the bard walked down to the table of the party. "Please, come and see what captain has for ye. Follow (me) to the floor above us all, and meet the captain that you must all see. Else it would end badly, it is your call."
As the group followed the Aelfensi', his features were now more visible and defined. He was a tall man around 8'2 and a clear Laefolsi' with chestnut colored skin and a visible red scar over his right eye and lit and the heavy leaves and small yellow and white flowers hanging from the red and green vines. The dark-brown leather armor along with a bear-furred cape with a leathery hood was worn, a large white rune on the black fur was blatantly visible as were the twin aelfen swords. They were curved with a black vine-like decoration placed onto the silvery shined steel blades that were on the inside of the slight curve. Twin falxs of sorts. With closer inspection it was clear he was no true bard but rather an Aelfensi' that took up singing as he had no sensible magic or chakra.
As the group walked up to the third floor and after passing through a door through the side wall and into a long corridor the group reached a guarded stairway up into the tower above. Already the mages and clerics both feel a strong sense of danger, the mages more-so than the cleric users as they got closer and closer to their destination.
In the above room they could hear Sir. J. Fuenté talking with what was clearly a Gira ka female.
"No 'Uka, you're still too young and inexperienced. What would your ~"
"*Angry rattling* My mothers agreed that I may come!"
"'Uka you're still too inexperienced"
*louder threatening rattling and a stomp of her foot* " You joined the Templar in my age."
"You'll get in the way. What if you got~"
"You need me. I'm trained by mothers." *annoyed rattling*
"That's true but ~"
"Ahem."
As soon as the party walked in the elf made sure the two bickering figures knew the party was there. The dark steel-plated warrior turn around, two blades were kept in their sheaths on the captain's hip, a great-sword and a strange long-sword with a full hand-guard and both were visible to the party. Looking back to the Gira Ka female and nodding the woman known as 'uka stomped out. "Captain, the group you wanted to see are here. They all stand tall and without any fear." said the elf, standing rather casually despite the presence of the captain, uncaring of the knight's rank. With a nod the figure looked at the party.
"I am Sir. J. Fuenté. You're commander and the captain of this expedition." Started the knight, stating quite bluntly their name and title yet avoiding their first name. Continuing the captain stated everything in a more 'a matter of fact' fashion, saying,"You all proven to be trustworthy in the past. I know you don't know much of me and this will be fixed in due time. I however, know enough about you to have made a proper analysis on your skills and abilities along with your loyalty. That is all that matters for your mission." The knight looked around, eyes purely visible now as the figure observed the party members individually before continuing. "As such, I personally selected each and every one of you out of over two hundred, us such you are to be trusted with both crucial information and to handle this important task with me." With that the knight took a step before walking by the group one by one. When the plate armored figure neared the mages they'd gain a feeling of weakness, as though their manna was being drained and worse yet, a feeling of dread as they could no longer feel their magical energy within them. The clerics too had a similar issue though they could still feel their chakra, despite how faint it was. "You'll be following me and my fellow colleague, Lieutenant Valdenfa Thaltuvila, through our journey as a small yet powerful force. Your voice and decisions will matter greatly for we will face great dangers ahead. Assassins, other companies, military forces from some cities we may visit, beasts and even the demons and spirits of the realm. Your reward for this will be one wish from the star each and if that is not possible, a lot of gold thanks to our clients."
As soon as the captain ended, Fuenté was back behind the desk, looking down at maps and papers. "You are dismissed. Rest for the night and drink your fill. All expenses will be handled by the Silverheart Company." The captain started before looking back up towards the group. The knight's cold, icy blue eyes visible as they looked at the party. "Your dorms are on the second floor, the training area is in the basement. A small library and meditation rooms are there as well." Directed the captain before the figure's tone of voice became stern after a short pause. "You will show your utmost respect. We are guests here and the owners are my friends. We will head east at sunrise." A long, hard stare could be felt to each group of the party, almost daring them to show disrespect to the owners and their property. With a wave of the knight's hand the bard guided the party out of the tower.
When the party was finally lead outside the tower and back into the comforting safety of the tavern where all the Silverhearts within the building drank and celebrated knowing that they were close to the star than ever before. The life within was enough to put joy into anyone's heart. Turning around Valdenfa smiled and opened his arms. "Come and rejoice friends; celebrate or rest. Talk to the others as you would so please. Time to know one another and to jest. Hell, train below, show off your expertise. You may go back up to see the captain, or come and chat with me at the bar. It's your choice to go do what you'd fashion. For morning we will be traveling far. " With that and a bow the elf left the party to their own devices, shouting joyously as he made his way to one of the first floor's bars after jumping off the railing.
'Uka could be seen talking with one of the bar maids on the second floor, already having her bags packed and saying her goodbyes to her much younger siblings, a group of about 14 or more surrounding the woman. Below the Aelfensi was getting yelled at by the other bar-maid for his recklessness before he finally received his drink, and above the captain in the heavy plated armor was working in the tower which acted as the officer's strategic center for the silver hearts. And so the heroes of our story, a party chosen and made for one specific job was left to their own devices, and to do as they'd please till morning and it is more than clear that mingling and getting to know some of their own and those that might travel with them is most wise and opportune for this moment in time.
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