NOW LIVE! Today's the day you meet your new best friend. You don’t have to leave Wolfy behind... In 'Pets & Sidekicks' your companions level up with you!

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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Haraash Saan" data-source="post: 3275759" data-attributes="member: 46615">The room we found ourselves in was a library. Books rose from the floor to the ceiling. They sat in shelves that ran the along every wall of the room. I glanced at Mortec and saw he was practically jumping out of his rather small boots. That fellow really needed to learn some control.The Baron sat behind a large ornate timber desk. His tall frame was again hunched over a book. We waited patiently for a moment before he looked up to inspect his new recruits. Yorath had deep, dark, thoughtful eyes, that stared intently at us from under neat black brows. His hair hung loosely to his shoulders. Whilst it had once been black, now it was flecked with grey. Large strong hands came away from the page he had been analysing and clasped together, fingers interlocking, as he leaned back comfortably in his chair.“My lord.” I bowed with an elegant flourish, “Gerard d’Mowbray at your service.” Nothing like breaking a silence in style.“Ah yes. Young Mowbray.” He said thoughtfully and with the hint of a smile, “I was most impressed when I heard that Baastian was bringing you to compete in my trials. Welcome.” The others introduced themselves in turn, and the Baron welcomed one and all, although he threw Baastian a dark look when Moxadder introduced himself grovelling on bended knee.After the brief introductions the Baron informed us that the trials were to start on the morrow. There would be seven tasks that were designed to stimulate the mind and test our physical prowess. Any of us successful in his trials would be offered a position on his next gladiatorial team. However, his welcome and the notification of the next day’s activities were not all that were on his agenda.He dismissed Timandra and barked for a guard. His summons was promptly responded to by a man who came from a side door that I had not noticed. The Baron whispered something to him and the guard swiftly exited through the same door. An uncomfortable silence descended upon the room. The Baron was clearly waiting for his man to return and did not prompt further conversation. Moxadder’s leg began to jiggle nervously and Strav started to hum an annoying tune. Thankfully, before my friends could embarrass me further the guard returned with a portly red faced gentleman and a tall, handsome and well dressed man. He and the little round man must have been waiting in an antechamber close by.“Gentlemen, may I introduce you to Mayor Moberry of Ravenswood.” The Baron looked at us, with an expression that I can only describe as one of smug satisfaction, “Moberry, please share your tale with our friends here.” The lack of our introduction to the Mayor indicated to me that he was not expected to stay with us for very long.“Um, er, yes milord. Of course.” The Mayor began nervously “Um, as I said milord I was in my home, um, counting the taxes we had collected, yes that’s right, when I heard a ruckus in the street that was accompanied by screams.” He paused and looked at us with a little suspicion. “I grabbed my sword, it is always close at hand, and charged into the street yelling a fury. I saw several men, common bandits by their look, assaulting villagers and beginning to torch several buildings.” His confidence grew and his speech became quicker and louder.“I ran one through as I dashed past him, not sparing a glance to see if he fell. The others took such a fright they scarpered quick smart.” I could almost see his chest puffing out with pride as he recounted his tale.“Well I made sure that they had indeed run off and that the town was no longer threatened, jumped upon the nearest horse and rode with greatest speed to inform you milord.” And he bowed slightly, eyes downcast submissively. He grovelled so low in his bow that he almost toppled forward, but managed to catch himself with a steadying foot shuffle.“Thank you Moberry. What a marvellous tale of heroism that is!” exclaimed the Baron, a mischievous look in his eye. “I now ask you to listen to what these gentlemen have to say.”With a wave of his hand he indicated to us to tell our tale of Ravenswood. The Mayor went a tad pale as I began to recount my own version of events. I will not bore you with them once more as you no doubt have already read them with keen interest. However, it should be noted that as I spoke, with rather rude interjections from the others that, Moberry’s complexion paled further to be white. At the conclusion of my account the Baron smiled broadly and asked the Mayor, “Perhaps we need a new Mayor?” and to the guard, “Please do escort him to some suitable accommodation.” That was the last we saw of the Mayor Moberry.The other man that had been brought into the room with the mayor now introduced himself as Zmrat, bard of the Massive Hand. He complimented me on a fine tale and continued on to ask us several questions, fishing for specific details in regard my story. After a few minutes the Baron cleared his throat and proposed a toast to our success during the next day’s trials. Soon afterwards he dismissed all of us, including Zmrat, who offered to escort us back to our abode. Zmrat and I spoke a little after arriving at my lodgings. He responded to my queries regarding the Baron’s trials, telling me that the tests were different every year. When I quizzed him further on his own experiences from when the Massive Hand was formed he told me with a laugh that he himself had been knocked unconscious in the very first test. This surprised me, mainly because he had been selected by the Baron. He explained cryptically saying “The Baron must have seen something in my brief seconds of action that he liked.” The twinkle in his eye told me that there was more to his story than he was telling me, but that I would get no more from him that night. He departed shortly afterwards, wishing me a good night and good luck in tomorrow’s endeavours.</blockquote>

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