PieAndDragon
Duncan T
A New Day
The world around seemed so much different now, everything more dangerous and threatening. Memories of his past life remained, fragments and images of another time. Somewhere were the ones he had called mother and father, and maybe brothers and sisters too. They would not recognise him now.
Maybe that was for the best.
They belonged to another time, and a different path lay ahead of him now. The trials would be many and terrible dangers were guaranteed. But Sun had not granted him a second chance just to squander it in hopeless misery. Some great task lay before him, a chance for glory in the service of the Radiant One.
It was the dawn of a new day.
He kept the name Ra, and his companions respected this. The perspective from his two and a half feet frame was a very different one, and the sound of his voice sometimes reminded others of a yapping dog. He had never encountered a kobold, but understood far more about them than he ever had cared to know. Although he could see deep into darkened places, his eyes were pained by the sun which he worshipped. His skin was covered in small scales, two horns protruded from atop his head and a rat-like tail helped him balance his new form. When around others, he struggled to overcome base instincts, resisting urges to cower away or cause pain for the sake of it. He often found himself studying his surroundings, subconsciously searching for places to lay ambushes or set traps, more perceptive of things hidden or disguised than before.
The Company of Rifter were on their way to the De Marco Estates, where Derris’es family awaited them. Sadly the noble remembered nothing of the De Marcos, his memories having been stolen by pixies from the Forest of the Lakes. Ra had sold most of his former belongings in the town of Tarmswell, buying cast-offs for human children to wear, some armour meant for a small halfling and weapons from a retired gnome. Sam now carried the priest’s enchanted shield, bearing the symbol of Sun is his radiant glory. It would take time to restore his arsenal, but his duties to Sun and the Company of Rifter remained, as binding as ever.
At the Estates, they were welcomed by Campo, the De Marco steward who treated Derris with the respect due a son of the house. The family were away for the visit, but this did not stop the whispers and stares at the appearance of the halfelf and his strange companions. There was something strange about the way the servants regarded the returned noble, but Derris would know nothing of past events unless his stolen memories were returned. Campo told them of troubles at the village of Og’Vihalla, a short way into the Redcloud Peaks. Strange clouds gathered from nearby peaks, giants raided mountain traders and the walls of a former wizards keep had turned blood red. The locals blamed the temple of Earth for their troubles, and Baron Oswald had given the temple a month to sort out the problems before they were banished from his lands. Monies totalling five hundred gold were being offered by the temple as an up-front payment for the Company of Rifter to deal with the troubles.
After a restful night in proper beds, the Company of Rifter left for the mountains, with Derris seemingly glad to be away from hallways filled with his dead ancestors and corridors of whispering servants. Ra rode awkwardly atop his warhorse, frightful of the drop so much further down than before. Later the next day they were at Og’vihalla, having followed a short path into the foothills of the Redcloud Peaks. It was a small place, barely larger than the hamlet of Turvin where their last adventures had begun. The locals were unwelcoming, greeting them with suspicion-filled stares as the Company of Rifter headed for the stone temple of Earth.
The drab-garbed priests of Earth were more than glad to see Ra and his companions, tired eyes showing relief at the sight of the adventurers. It took only a short while for them to relate how Darin, one of their kindred, had proven his ties to the wizard Tealpeck, whose castle stood overlooking the village. But since he moved in, the troubles began, with locals and Baron alike blaming the brethren of Earth. Less than two week remained for them before the Baron’s patience grew short. As Layla was familiar with Tealpeck’s tale, they took the temple’s proffered gold and listened to the enchantress during the ascent to the base of the wizard’s tower.
Tealpeck came to Og’vihalla over three decades ago, selecting a site overlooking the village for his tower. Excited at the prospect of a powerful wizard to with wealth to spread among them, the villagers were never to see much of the newcomer. Castle Tealpeck was built by magic in a just a few years, and although he was known as a benefactor of the Earth temple, the most they ever saw of Tealpeck were his comings and goings via griffonback. After a decade of this, the wizard was seen no more, the griffon songs ceasing and no movement seen among the lofty heights. A spate of kidnappings, caravan raids and thefts were attributed to the wizard, but the Baron would not act and those sent to investigate the tower were never heard from again. Eventually the crimes stopped and the Tealpeck was rarely spoken of again.
From the base of a steep, tall cliff, Ra could barely make out a mist-shrouded balcony, the light paining sensitive eyes. It was there that the first challenge of his new path awaited. Sun was testing him for something and the priest knew a path of glory awaited him. If he stayed true and persevered through all obstacles, then the blessings of the Radiant One would be his.
The world around seemed so much different now, everything more dangerous and threatening. Memories of his past life remained, fragments and images of another time. Somewhere were the ones he had called mother and father, and maybe brothers and sisters too. They would not recognise him now.
Maybe that was for the best.
They belonged to another time, and a different path lay ahead of him now. The trials would be many and terrible dangers were guaranteed. But Sun had not granted him a second chance just to squander it in hopeless misery. Some great task lay before him, a chance for glory in the service of the Radiant One.
It was the dawn of a new day.
He kept the name Ra, and his companions respected this. The perspective from his two and a half feet frame was a very different one, and the sound of his voice sometimes reminded others of a yapping dog. He had never encountered a kobold, but understood far more about them than he ever had cared to know. Although he could see deep into darkened places, his eyes were pained by the sun which he worshipped. His skin was covered in small scales, two horns protruded from atop his head and a rat-like tail helped him balance his new form. When around others, he struggled to overcome base instincts, resisting urges to cower away or cause pain for the sake of it. He often found himself studying his surroundings, subconsciously searching for places to lay ambushes or set traps, more perceptive of things hidden or disguised than before.
The Company of Rifter were on their way to the De Marco Estates, where Derris’es family awaited them. Sadly the noble remembered nothing of the De Marcos, his memories having been stolen by pixies from the Forest of the Lakes. Ra had sold most of his former belongings in the town of Tarmswell, buying cast-offs for human children to wear, some armour meant for a small halfling and weapons from a retired gnome. Sam now carried the priest’s enchanted shield, bearing the symbol of Sun is his radiant glory. It would take time to restore his arsenal, but his duties to Sun and the Company of Rifter remained, as binding as ever.
At the Estates, they were welcomed by Campo, the De Marco steward who treated Derris with the respect due a son of the house. The family were away for the visit, but this did not stop the whispers and stares at the appearance of the halfelf and his strange companions. There was something strange about the way the servants regarded the returned noble, but Derris would know nothing of past events unless his stolen memories were returned. Campo told them of troubles at the village of Og’Vihalla, a short way into the Redcloud Peaks. Strange clouds gathered from nearby peaks, giants raided mountain traders and the walls of a former wizards keep had turned blood red. The locals blamed the temple of Earth for their troubles, and Baron Oswald had given the temple a month to sort out the problems before they were banished from his lands. Monies totalling five hundred gold were being offered by the temple as an up-front payment for the Company of Rifter to deal with the troubles.
After a restful night in proper beds, the Company of Rifter left for the mountains, with Derris seemingly glad to be away from hallways filled with his dead ancestors and corridors of whispering servants. Ra rode awkwardly atop his warhorse, frightful of the drop so much further down than before. Later the next day they were at Og’vihalla, having followed a short path into the foothills of the Redcloud Peaks. It was a small place, barely larger than the hamlet of Turvin where their last adventures had begun. The locals were unwelcoming, greeting them with suspicion-filled stares as the Company of Rifter headed for the stone temple of Earth.
The drab-garbed priests of Earth were more than glad to see Ra and his companions, tired eyes showing relief at the sight of the adventurers. It took only a short while for them to relate how Darin, one of their kindred, had proven his ties to the wizard Tealpeck, whose castle stood overlooking the village. But since he moved in, the troubles began, with locals and Baron alike blaming the brethren of Earth. Less than two week remained for them before the Baron’s patience grew short. As Layla was familiar with Tealpeck’s tale, they took the temple’s proffered gold and listened to the enchantress during the ascent to the base of the wizard’s tower.
Tealpeck came to Og’vihalla over three decades ago, selecting a site overlooking the village for his tower. Excited at the prospect of a powerful wizard to with wealth to spread among them, the villagers were never to see much of the newcomer. Castle Tealpeck was built by magic in a just a few years, and although he was known as a benefactor of the Earth temple, the most they ever saw of Tealpeck were his comings and goings via griffonback. After a decade of this, the wizard was seen no more, the griffon songs ceasing and no movement seen among the lofty heights. A spate of kidnappings, caravan raids and thefts were attributed to the wizard, but the Baron would not act and those sent to investigate the tower were never heard from again. Eventually the crimes stopped and the Tealpeck was rarely spoken of again.
From the base of a steep, tall cliff, Ra could barely make out a mist-shrouded balcony, the light paining sensitive eyes. It was there that the first challenge of his new path awaited. Sun was testing him for something and the priest knew a path of glory awaited him. If he stayed true and persevered through all obstacles, then the blessings of the Radiant One would be his.
. I've decided to keep persevering with this writing, just trying different things 
