Upgrade your account to a Community Supporter account and remove most of the site ads.

Reply to thread

Message: <blockquote data-quote="Jairami" data-source="post: 108132" data-attributes="member: 1148">Construction of a bridge out of Ardonia is something that hasn't been considered in well on a hundred years, and had lit more than a few minds up with the idea of travel and adventure.  One such bright and enthusiastic mind was a young lad from one of the farmsteads around Ardonia.  3 years ago he had discovered a strange wood covered book with string bindings written in language he could not begin to decipher.  But all through out it were diagrams and sequential pictures of sketchy representations of people performing all manner of combat maneuvers.  With nothing but pictures to go by, it was more a hobby than anything else for young Andrew, but it was an escape from the drudgery of farm life.  Strong legs and shoulders from days of plough work and great stamina as well led him to be quite a capable student of the images.He particularly liked the stylized tiger woodcut near the back.When news of a bridge reached his farm, he only held out a single night before his adventurous spirit would let him hold still no longer.  He told his father that he had to see the world and experience it for himself and set off with visions of grand quests in his mind.What he found were four out of sorts people of an age with him, waiting on enough of the support structure of the bridge to be completed to cross just on it.  Full of enthusiasm and zest for life, he put upon them to let him join them in whatever quest they had found.  No attempt at discouragement or outright refusal was accepted.Khuuld muttered that he'd probably turn back within a week and Collin eventually was glad for anything that could lift the mood that was heavy upon the group.  Slowly, Collin's curiosity and thirst for knowledge was overcoming the events that had unpended his life.Collin, Tylette, and Andrew would banter back and forth at length and laughter was reintroduced to the taught group as Frederick would march along, head hanging low wondering how this could be set before him and what he could possibly do.  Khuuld had his own problems to contend with.  His temper was getting shorter, especially around the seemingly implacable Andrew with his always on smile and slightly naive if not downright dense perception of things.  The voice in his head spoke more and more often in that chanting spidery language, and his mastery of the wild was less complete in lands he didn't know, which was sure to be the rest of their journeys.After working their way across the bridge they set out without even a map or an idea of what they were looking for, following the coast line west with the idea that if it was a port city, it surely had to be along the sea.  Andrew's adventurous spirit got it's first tarnish as he discovered that adventuring often consists of putting one foot in front of the other all day every day for weeks on end.A few interesting engagements in a bandit ogre's lands paying off his goblin cronies, and escaping on summoned horseback were about the only diversion from the monotony.Quite a long journey later they found themselves entering the low wooden walls (perhaps fence would be a better word) of Jigond.  Jigond had apparently been something long ago as it sported cobblestone avenues flanked by decorative trees and a diverted channel of sea water that ran through town.  It was actually a couple miles or so off the coast though there was a series of piers and wharfs that formed the docks out into a protected inlet of the sea south of town.  A single ship was in port, a dual-masted sailing ship sat peacefully with little or no activity on it.Jigond itself was fairly quiet, with the few people who were out and about looking around skittishly, going about their business with swift economy of movement.  It didn't take long to discover why.  Standing at a corner of the town green or walking in clumps of 5 or 6 were rough men with no manners and too much drink.Business was taken care of in town and inquiries were made as to maps and incoming vessles when the party suffered an injury that has yet to completely heal.Tylette was wandering town about her own business when her ways attracted interest and a horrible chain of events unfolded.  ((I will not detail what led to this or what happened for the sake of Eric's grandmother.))Khuuld was drawn by sounds of a scuffle and was enraged by what he saw.  One of the men lost an arm and bled to death on the cobblestones before they had all managed to scatter.  Sheathing his sword Khuuld collected Tylette and took her to the rest of the party at the inn where Frederick and the herb-dealing healer of the town were called for.Frederick in a rage stormed out before truly thinking matters through and found the first group of ruffians he could.  Confronting the six of them in icy tones he told them that they had best leave town as he and his friends were about to return the law to it.  He was answered by bullying and an ale being poured on him.Choking down an urge to slay them all where they stood he warned them again and headed back to the inn to prepare.  Much righteous vengeance was planned that day.</blockquote>

Verification