Upgrade your account to a Community Supporter account and remove most of the site ads.
Rocket your D&D 5E and Level Up: Advanced 5E games into space! Alpha Star Magazine Is Launching... Right Now!

Reply to thread

Message: <blockquote data-quote="Funeris" data-source="post: 2813475" data-attributes="member: 22792">Chapter 12: BloodshedMagnus brushed the shaggy hair dangling over his eyes.  He leaned back slowly, allowing a light breeze to cool the beads of sweat that had gathered across his brow.  The mage stared at the pile of scrolls—nearly twenty haphazardly stacked—which sat on the makeshift desk.The breeze silenced the light of the candle eliciting a hoarse grumble from the mage.  He grasped about in the darkness for a tinderbox.  Within a few moments the stubby candle flickered to life, casting its chaotic rays against the dilapidated boards of the old church.  The light was inconstant; it was a pain.  The mage could have produced a better light by drawing upon the fabric of reality, by pulling forth magic.  But, he would probably need every spell for the battle ahead.  Even then, he had his doubts about survival.Magnus glanced down at his most recent work……and was interrupted as Tobias stomped into the room.  The mage frowned and looked up as the paladin set a noisy bag gently upon the floor.“The Oil?” the mage questioned, returning his eyes to the writ.“Yes.”“How many?”“Just twelve pints.”“Any barrels?”“Two nearly full barrels,” Tobias sighed.“Good.  Here,” Magnus thrust a piece of parchment in the holy warrior’s direction.  His eyes were again focused upon the parchment.  Distractedly he murmured, “These are your instructions,” and so he did not see Tobias grimace of annoyance.  Angrily, the paladin sighed and snatched the illustration—a hastily sketched diagram.  Then he lifted the bag off the floor and plodded from the church.Magnus scanned the letter one more time.    Satisfied with the hasty work, he quickly added his signature and sealed the writ.  As he finished, the young man named Netto moved quietly into the church foyer.“You requested my presence, Magnus?”“Yes, Netto.”  Magnus replied.  “I have an errand I’d like you to handle.”  The mage pushed the sealed letter into the man’s hand.  “I…I cannot read,” he whispered, his face reddened by shame.“You do not need to.  That was not my intent.  And do not be ashamed.  Any man can learn to read.  In fact, right now I’m teaching Tobias.”“Lord Tobias does not know how to read?”“He is not proficient, no.  But in his line of work it is not necessary; just as it is not necessary this task.  You have to take this writ and deliver it to the King in Rhelm.”“Sir…but…”“I will not take no for an answer,” Magnus reprimanded coldly.“It is not that I do not wish to serve.  But I was promised my vengeance…”“And you will have it unless you fall in battle.  This writ needs delivered; the King needs to know of what is occurring.  If the word is not passed along and our lives are lost on the morrow, will you have your vengeance?”  Before allowing Netto to answer, Magnus spun with a flourish and spoke again, “of course not.  But this is not about vengeance alone either.  This is about justice.  We do not want you to go; we need you to go.”“This..is an important mission.”“It is the most important.  If we fail—it will be up to the King as well as you to complete the task.   And it will not be without its perils.  Rhelm lies to the north here.  You will have to ride east, skirting the Culite force, before turning north to your destination.  Netto,” Magnus rested his hand on the youth’s shoulders, “you will have to travel fast.  The sooner you return, the sooner you can be assured that justice has been served.“Now, take this parchment and get saddled up.  Motega was rounding up our steeds—take mine.”  The mage opened his mouth but before he could speak, a mournful sound filled the air.  “That…that was a horn,” Netto mutter.“Aye.  You must leave now.  The Culites draw close.  Go!”  Magnus pushed Netto from the church.  He turned to gather his scrolls, tucking them neatly into their scroll tubes.  Finally, the mage grasped the shield and stepped from the church.</blockquote>

Verification