ccheath776
03-29-2009, 01:44 AM
A flash of lightning outside the window indicated another storm was about to appear, the rumble of thunder that followed shook the interior of the dilapidated house. It wasn’t clear whether the building was ever intended to be used as a house or an old tavern but being that it was many years old and long abandoned it was impossible to tell. However, it served its purpose as a suitable hiding place that sat within a few miles of the port town of Stormreach.
Tchurvul stood inside with a few hired mercenaries pacing back and forth repeating the plans he had made over and over again in his head. It had been over a year since he had treaded this close to the city since he had terrorized and came one step away from taking it over completely. Yet, he had been foiled by the heros that dwelled within the city and now it was under siege again, not by him, but by the plane of shavarath.
He winced after thinking of that name being that the whole problem was mostly his fault. Tapping into the powers of the pillar had drawn the notice of the dark planes general who decided to enter into this world and attempt to take it. In the ensuing chaos he had to run and hide away. His link to the pillar had made him a target for the Generals armies and he was sought after by them. The dark normally did not like challengers to their power.
So he ran away and worked feverishly to sever his link from the pillar and after much trial and error, he finally did. With his safety assured he travelled back, gathered his forces again, and here he stood in his new hideaway after coming up with a new plan to rule the city.
Some in his group began to ask why he bothered with the city, afterall, there were more easier targets but he thought them all fools. This one port city had access to some of the greatest artifacts on Xendrik although they did not know this. If he could take it over he would have a base of operation to explore them and learn their secrets. It was a plan that could eventually lead him to garner enough power to take over half of eberron, but it was the first step that was going to be the most difficult.
After a few more minutes of thinking he turned to the 4 mercenaries and threw a bag full of gold at them, then he spoke sternly.
“There’s your payment, now go. Return when the deed is done so I can give you your next orders.”
The 4 never flinched and only turned out the doorway. He soon heard the horse hoofs galloping off into the distance and then he was alone in the house. Tchurvul never liked to be completely alone but he knew that his most powerful magic had returned to him and any opponent setting upon him would be destroyed. All he could do for now was wait for the mercenaries return and he planned on passing the time by writing more in his spell book and meditating to gain some favor with his evil gods.
He felt his thirst beginning to nag at him so he walked over to his bags and reached in to pull out a flask of wine. It was a nice commodity to have even in the worst of times.
He stood and turned back toward the front door. As he did he heard a dagger being unsheathed and whirled again to see what was behind him. A coin fell at his feet, on it was the symbol of an eagle shrouded in flames. He caught site of the figure that was with him and his eyes shot open in amazement and terror.
“You? Noooo!!!”
His cry broke through the darkness and then faded into the night.
The sun gleamed down onto the path as her footsteps thumped into the ground along the dirtroad that lead into the great city of Stormreach. The glare then caught her gleaming white dragon armor and a bright flash came off the massive sword strapped to her back. Long had It been since she walked this road having been through a years worth of adventures that kept her away. It was all for the best and this day was one she thought impossible after being sucked into a portal and transported to another world. Only after sheer luck had she managed to find her way back.
A few travelers tipped their hats to her as she finally entered the city gates and looked around at the massive buildings. She took in a breath and smelled the aroma’s of anticipation and a hint of fear. She was back, and now it was time to find out who was still around to remember her.
A muscled drunken human sat at the local Pheonix tavern. His clothes were wrinkled and his face had long since seen a good shave. Everywhere on his body was specs of dirt from the times that he spent sleeping in the gutters or back alleys of the city of stormreach. It was a sorry sight to see especially for a former hero that Ret was. All who remembered his glory were long gone or dead. He tipped the cup back to his lips taking in another full gulp and his body wavered back and forth. It looked as if he may fall but he caught himself and sat straight again. He burped and wiped the last of the ale from his lips before slamming the cup back on the counter. The barkeep looked at him with a bit of disgust and then took the glass away.
Ret reached in his pocket but found it empty again and realized that he was done for the evening. It was time to find a good spot somewhere to lay until morning, then he could find some way to make a few coins, enough at least to get him another round of ale. Enough so that it would make the pain go away, the thoughts of his past and the mistake that had cost him all of his friends. He only wished he could apologize for it.
He stood from his seat and staggered through the tavern trying to avoid the patrons before he finally made it out the door. Into the streets vailed by the darkness of night he looked around trying to remember the path to the alley he normally dwelled in. He walked with little to no direction, only trying to avoid stumbling over upon himself. When he turned down a dark ally he heard a fit of laughter behind him.
“Boy, what do we have hear. A dusty old drunk.” Came a voice.
Another voice spoke. “Nahh just looks like a piece of trash to me, blowing in the wind.”
Ret took a deep breath, normally nobody bothered him since he had very little to give and in fact, had nothing. There were 4 thugs looking at him, all with dark cloaks draped on their shoulders and each had a sword in their hand. He spoke back to them.
“Away thieves, I am not worth your trouble. I …have nothing you could want except dirt and bad memories.”
His words slurred out of him as forming a sentence was difficult.
He only heard them laugh back at him. “Thieves? We are not hear to rob you.”
Ret looked back in confusion and then spoke again. “Then what do you want, and why do you threaten me?”
One of them spoke with a dry voice.
“HA!! Do we need a reason? I find clearing the streets of rubbish to be a good enough one.”
They then rushed at him. One whipped his fist across Rets face, the sting was paralyzing and he stumbled to the right and tried to whirl around. He put up his hands in an attempt to guard himself and saw the glint of steel coming at him and prepared for the impending plung.
Suddenly a white flash flew by him and he saw one of the assailants head go flying off his body while another suddenly winced from a dagger that was sticking out of his chest. Both of the bodies fell to the ground and then were motionless. The other two only looked at the figure clad in white armor standing before them with a massive falchion in hand ready to strike. The thugs looked at each other and then bolted back out of the ally way.
Ret looked up at the one who had saved him and shook his head in amazement.
“Terrah? I thought you were dead.”
She spoke back. “Yeah, I get that a lot.”
She smiled and Ret smiled back and then laughed. He then spoke while still muffling his joy.
“At least I don’t have a reason to drink anymore. “
Terrah grabbed Rets arm and began to lead him back to the inn where a warm bed and rest awaited. Terrah spoke softly.
“You had no need to fear. I am no easy kill, I have returned my friend.”
Tchurvul stood inside with a few hired mercenaries pacing back and forth repeating the plans he had made over and over again in his head. It had been over a year since he had treaded this close to the city since he had terrorized and came one step away from taking it over completely. Yet, he had been foiled by the heros that dwelled within the city and now it was under siege again, not by him, but by the plane of shavarath.
He winced after thinking of that name being that the whole problem was mostly his fault. Tapping into the powers of the pillar had drawn the notice of the dark planes general who decided to enter into this world and attempt to take it. In the ensuing chaos he had to run and hide away. His link to the pillar had made him a target for the Generals armies and he was sought after by them. The dark normally did not like challengers to their power.
So he ran away and worked feverishly to sever his link from the pillar and after much trial and error, he finally did. With his safety assured he travelled back, gathered his forces again, and here he stood in his new hideaway after coming up with a new plan to rule the city.
Some in his group began to ask why he bothered with the city, afterall, there were more easier targets but he thought them all fools. This one port city had access to some of the greatest artifacts on Xendrik although they did not know this. If he could take it over he would have a base of operation to explore them and learn their secrets. It was a plan that could eventually lead him to garner enough power to take over half of eberron, but it was the first step that was going to be the most difficult.
After a few more minutes of thinking he turned to the 4 mercenaries and threw a bag full of gold at them, then he spoke sternly.
“There’s your payment, now go. Return when the deed is done so I can give you your next orders.”
The 4 never flinched and only turned out the doorway. He soon heard the horse hoofs galloping off into the distance and then he was alone in the house. Tchurvul never liked to be completely alone but he knew that his most powerful magic had returned to him and any opponent setting upon him would be destroyed. All he could do for now was wait for the mercenaries return and he planned on passing the time by writing more in his spell book and meditating to gain some favor with his evil gods.
He felt his thirst beginning to nag at him so he walked over to his bags and reached in to pull out a flask of wine. It was a nice commodity to have even in the worst of times.
He stood and turned back toward the front door. As he did he heard a dagger being unsheathed and whirled again to see what was behind him. A coin fell at his feet, on it was the symbol of an eagle shrouded in flames. He caught site of the figure that was with him and his eyes shot open in amazement and terror.
“You? Noooo!!!”
His cry broke through the darkness and then faded into the night.
The sun gleamed down onto the path as her footsteps thumped into the ground along the dirtroad that lead into the great city of Stormreach. The glare then caught her gleaming white dragon armor and a bright flash came off the massive sword strapped to her back. Long had It been since she walked this road having been through a years worth of adventures that kept her away. It was all for the best and this day was one she thought impossible after being sucked into a portal and transported to another world. Only after sheer luck had she managed to find her way back.
A few travelers tipped their hats to her as she finally entered the city gates and looked around at the massive buildings. She took in a breath and smelled the aroma’s of anticipation and a hint of fear. She was back, and now it was time to find out who was still around to remember her.
A muscled drunken human sat at the local Pheonix tavern. His clothes were wrinkled and his face had long since seen a good shave. Everywhere on his body was specs of dirt from the times that he spent sleeping in the gutters or back alleys of the city of stormreach. It was a sorry sight to see especially for a former hero that Ret was. All who remembered his glory were long gone or dead. He tipped the cup back to his lips taking in another full gulp and his body wavered back and forth. It looked as if he may fall but he caught himself and sat straight again. He burped and wiped the last of the ale from his lips before slamming the cup back on the counter. The barkeep looked at him with a bit of disgust and then took the glass away.
Ret reached in his pocket but found it empty again and realized that he was done for the evening. It was time to find a good spot somewhere to lay until morning, then he could find some way to make a few coins, enough at least to get him another round of ale. Enough so that it would make the pain go away, the thoughts of his past and the mistake that had cost him all of his friends. He only wished he could apologize for it.
He stood from his seat and staggered through the tavern trying to avoid the patrons before he finally made it out the door. Into the streets vailed by the darkness of night he looked around trying to remember the path to the alley he normally dwelled in. He walked with little to no direction, only trying to avoid stumbling over upon himself. When he turned down a dark ally he heard a fit of laughter behind him.
“Boy, what do we have hear. A dusty old drunk.” Came a voice.
Another voice spoke. “Nahh just looks like a piece of trash to me, blowing in the wind.”
Ret took a deep breath, normally nobody bothered him since he had very little to give and in fact, had nothing. There were 4 thugs looking at him, all with dark cloaks draped on their shoulders and each had a sword in their hand. He spoke back to them.
“Away thieves, I am not worth your trouble. I …have nothing you could want except dirt and bad memories.”
His words slurred out of him as forming a sentence was difficult.
He only heard them laugh back at him. “Thieves? We are not hear to rob you.”
Ret looked back in confusion and then spoke again. “Then what do you want, and why do you threaten me?”
One of them spoke with a dry voice.
“HA!! Do we need a reason? I find clearing the streets of rubbish to be a good enough one.”
They then rushed at him. One whipped his fist across Rets face, the sting was paralyzing and he stumbled to the right and tried to whirl around. He put up his hands in an attempt to guard himself and saw the glint of steel coming at him and prepared for the impending plung.
Suddenly a white flash flew by him and he saw one of the assailants head go flying off his body while another suddenly winced from a dagger that was sticking out of his chest. Both of the bodies fell to the ground and then were motionless. The other two only looked at the figure clad in white armor standing before them with a massive falchion in hand ready to strike. The thugs looked at each other and then bolted back out of the ally way.
Ret looked up at the one who had saved him and shook his head in amazement.
“Terrah? I thought you were dead.”
She spoke back. “Yeah, I get that a lot.”
She smiled and Ret smiled back and then laughed. He then spoke while still muffling his joy.
“At least I don’t have a reason to drink anymore. “
Terrah grabbed Rets arm and began to lead him back to the inn where a warm bed and rest awaited. Terrah spoke softly.
“You had no need to fear. I am no easy kill, I have returned my friend.”