RuneScape Forum Archive | .:Crown of Corruption:.

Nov

2007

Dyrnwyn

Posts: 1,396 Mithril Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile

The herdsmen were actually one of the few Godless Peoples – the ones who had turned their back on the Gods after the creation of the World. Being Godless did not seem to bother them very much, though. Their sole worry was which piece of grass to more their livestock to next.

Nemo sighed, wishing that he could live like these herders. He had grown so accustomed to worrying that he hardly noticed it anymore. In the presence of these simple herdsmen, however, his grave situation suddenly became an overwhelmingly immense burden to bear. // Wordsmith ~ The Novelists' Guild // Viking //

05-Feb-2013 21:11:00 - Last edited on 02-Mar-2013 19:55:44 by Dyrnwyn

Nov

2007

Dyrnwyn

Posts: 1,396 Mithril Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile

After tending to the horses, the old man led Nemo and Felix to one of the skin tents. It was squat, conical in shape, not very tall, and much wider at the bottom than at the top. It was remarkably plain, even though Caspar was supposed to be the leader. In fact, there were hardly any decorations to be seen in the camp. Everything had some kind of practical function. The shepherd held the tent flap open and invited the travellers inside.

Caspar served a spicy lamb stew and the three of men sat down on the wool carpet which covered the ground.

”So you’re the leader of these shepherds, Caspar?” Nemo inquired.

The old man chuckled hoarsely, and Felix silently clutched his head.

”Leader? Nay, we don’t believe in hierarchy and such. E’ryone’s born equal, eh? The only reason for meself to gen’rally make the decisions ‘round here is that I’m the eldest of our clansmen. E’ryone seemed t’ agree that the r’sponsibility should rest upon these old shoulders o’ mine”.

Nemo frowned.

”How do you solve conflicts, then, when there’s no-one to judge the others?”

Caspar gave a wry grin.

”We’re simple men. Unlike the outside world, we know how to solve our problems in a peaceful manner. We were exiled long ago for being Godless, but this seemed t’ turn out for the better. People in the outside world kill each other over religion and politics. The only thing we kill is a sheep once in a while. Now, who are you two, if I may be so bold?”

Felix was the first to answer:

”Name’s Felix. Troubadour of trade and wanderer of the world.”

Caspar inclined his head.

”Pleased t’ meet ye, Felix, Wandering Troubadour.”

The herdsman then turned his attention to Nemo, who writhed under his inquiring gaze.

”Nemo,” he said. ”My name is Nemo.”

Caspar raised a brow.

”An’ what might yer trade be?”

Nemo swallowed before answering.

”I... I’m afraid that I can’t-” // Wordsmith ~ The Novelists' Guild // Viking //

02-Mar-2013 19:46:33 - Last edited on 03-Mar-2013 09:34:49 by Dyrnwyn

Nov

2007

Dyrnwyn

Posts: 1,396 Mithril Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile

The old herdsman brought the stuttering to a halt by lifting his hand.

”Ah, I see. Pleased t’ meet ye, Nemo, No-one.”

A heavy silence followed. Felix soon gave up on trying to clear the gloomy atmosphere, and it was long until Caspar spoke again.

”Ye’ve had a long day, eh?” he said. ”How about we find ye somewhere t’ stay for the night? If ye’d please be so kind as t’ follow me.”

The travellers thanked for the meal and did as Caspar requested.

The sky was clear, and the air was chilly against Nemo’s burning skin, as they stepped outside. Gods damn it! He could not hide neither his identity nor his quest forever, but revealing everything in the tent of a shepherd... No, now was not the time.

Caspar led the men to a couple of small, unoccupied tents.

”There ye go, lads. Make yerself at home. I bid ye goodnight.”

And with that the old man turned around and went back to his own tent. Nemo frowned and looked at Felix.

”Do you think he’s angry with us?”

”Us? Nah, I think he’s angry with YOU.” Felix poked Nemo in the chest with a stumped index finger.

Nemo was just about to retort, but Felix was not finished.

”Perhaps if you’d been a bit more open, thing would’ve gone better. Goodnight, No-one.” The troubadour opened his telt flap and disappeared. Nemo sighed and entered his own tent. There was a pile of hay and a wool carpet on the ground, and the traveller suddenly realised how tired he was.

-

Nemo was violently torn from his dreamless sleep by a thundering roar.

”WAKE UP, NEMO!”

He fumbled for his dagger in the darkness but it was nowhere to be found. As his eyes ajusted to the absence of light, Nemo saw a figure hunched over him. He gasped.

”Who... who are you?” The figure leaned in closer, and Nemo was able to make out the facial features of...

”Caspar?” // Wordsmith ~ The Novelists' Guild // Viking //

02-Mar-2013 19:47:35 - Last edited on 03-Mar-2013 00:31:37 by Dyrnwyn

Nov

2007

Dyrnwyn

Posts: 1,396 Mithril Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile

”GLAD YE RECOGNISE ME, LAD.” The shepherd’s voice was an otherworldly bellow. The old man reached down and grabbed Nemo by the shoulders, lifting him up until his feet no longer touched the ground.

”I GROW TIRED OF YER SECRECY, AS DOES YER COMPANION, THE WANDERER, AND AS DOES DURIAL HIMSELF. YE MUST AT LEAST REVEAL YER TRUE OBJECTIVE T’ THE TROUBADOUR.”

Nemo’s already shrouded vision began to blur. Fearing to pass out from the shock at any moment, he gasped:

”D-don’t worry, I will!”

”GIVE ME YER WORD, NO-ONE!”

”But-” Nemo spluttered.

”YER WORD!”

”Alright, alright, I give you my word! I will tell Felix everything as soon as we reach Cinthia!”

Caspar’s eyes became but narrow cracks in his wrinkled face.

”VERY WELL.”

He lowered Nemo down again and *tarted for the telt flap. On the way out he turned around. He grinned, and when he spoke, his voice was that of a human once more.

”By the way, yer dagger’s back, too, lad.”

-

Felix woke up bathed in a river of sunbeams that flowed gently through the hole in the top of the tent which served as ventilation. The troubadour stretched in satisfaction. These quarters were by far preferably to sleeping on the bare ground somewhere in the woods. He had, of course, survived worse than sleeping in the woods, but that was not at all to say that he enjoyed it.

He rose and slung his faithful lute over the shoulder. As the troubadour stuck his head outside, his eyes caught an awfully pale Nemo sitting on the lush grass in front of his tent.

”Well, good morning to you, Nemo.” He flashed a broad grin. ”Why the sepulchral grimace? Bad conscience, perhaps?”

His companion did not seem amused.

”Did you sleep well?” Felix asked.

”I hardly slept at all.”

”Most unfortunate,” observed the troubadour. ”I do hope that you’ll manage to stay in the saddle.”

”Gods damn it, Felix, why are you so cheerful?”

”It’s my inborn nature.” // Wordsmith ~ The Novelists' Guild // Viking //

02-Mar-2013 19:48:42 - Last edited on 03-Mar-2013 00:32:08 by Dyrnwyn

Nov

2007

Dyrnwyn

Posts: 1,396 Mithril Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile

It was still early morning when the troubadour and the nobody thanked the shepherds for their hospitality, bid their farewells and left the camp of the South Desperian herdsmen. The shepherds had provided them with food (and a small keg of beer, on Felix’ request).

Felix led the way over the sea of grass which was southern Desperia. Now and then he would cast a glance at Nemo, who rode behind him. His companion was still ashen, and he swayed dangerously from side to side. The troubadour’s mirth was now replaced by genuine worriment.

”Nemo, are you alright?”

It took a moment for Nemo to even register that Felix had asked him something.

”Oh... Yes, a bit tired is all.”

The troubadour shrugged.

”If you say so.*

-

It took Felix and Nemo less than a week to reach the border between Desperia and Cinthia. The border was marked by a low fence lit by a thousand torches. Here and there were small guard booths, but in reality there was nothing to guard. It had been many centuries since the last war between the two nations, and the fence had replaced the giant stone wall which had stood there in the olden days.

Felix turned to Nemo, who had regained his natural colour.

”Let me do the talking, and I’ll get us across free of charge.”

The toll fee had originally been intended for merchants only, but the respective governments soon realised that it was an excellent source of income. Paired with the excessive smuggling carried out by merchants disguised as ”ordinary travellers”, the law had been changed so that everyone was now subject to it. Felix, however, had never in his life paid customs. He justified this by way of his many travels. It was completely impossible to make a living if you had to surrender you hard-earned money every time you wanted to cross a border. Was a man not entitled to the sweat of his brow?

”But, Felix,” Nemo frowned, ”I thought you were an honest man. As I remember it, you strongly objected to stealing a horse back in Vrenn!” // Wordsmith ~ The Novelists' Guild // Viking //

02-Mar-2013 19:49:06 - Last edited on 02-Mar-2013 19:50:08 by Dyrnwyn

Nov

2007

Dyrnwyn

Posts: 1,396 Mithril Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile

”Oh, that.” The troubadour grinned mischievously. ”I was once lured into a trap of this kind by an obstinate law enforcer who posed as a...”

”Partner in crime?”

”Crime is such a hard word... Anyway, old habits die hard, and I like to stay subtle in my... dealings.”

Nemo raised a brow.

”How about the dead legionnaires? Is that subtlety to you?”

The troubadour scowled.

”Look, I don’t want to talk about it. It was, perhaps, but a brief moment of bad judgment.”

”How come you did*’t own a horse in the first place?” Nemo asked. ”You do travel a lot.”

Felix sighed.

”I was... implicated in an unfortunate incident, which left me horse-less. Very messy affair. Now let’s get down to business.” The troubadour clapped his hands enthusiastically.

”Business?” Nemo asked. ”How do you propose to swindle the border guards?”

Felix turned in the saddle and gave the beer keg an affectionate pat.

”Border guards are simple men. Watch and learn, my friend No-one.”

-

The men rode on, not a single copper coin having left their pockets.

”Was that really necessary?” asked Nemo.

”Which part didn’t you enjoy?”

Nemo shook his head disapprovingly.

”The incoherent singing and lute-playing. And the appertaining dance, for that matter.”

The troubadour laughed heartily.

”Oh, but it is a most important part of socialization!”

Nemo tutted.

”Socialization? You got the guards drunk while pretending to be intoxicated yourself.”

Felix grinned.

”One does make great sacrifices for the sake of freedom.”

His companion shook his head once again.

”We should make camp.” // Wordsmith ~ The Novelists' Guild // Viking //

02-Mar-2013 19:49:45

Nov

2007

Dyrnwyn

Posts: 1,396 Mithril Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile

- CHAPTER FOUR -

Quick feet scurried along the candle-lit corridors. The chamberlain reached an ornate double door. He grabbed the door knocker and took a deep breath before knocking thrice. A moment of silence followed.

”Enter.”

The doors swung open, and the servant stepped inside. His master sat on what was probably the coldest and most uncomfortable stone throne that any man had ever had the misfortune of placing his hind quarters upon. The master had turned down any offers of pillows or blankets, and the servants who had been foolish enough to propose the offers had mysteriously disappeared. Some of them had later reappeared in several pieces, others were never found.

”My lord.” The servant bowed down so low that his nose nearly touched the ground.

”Speak forth.”

The chamberlain swallowed hard.

”It’s about... it’s about Nem- I mean... It’s about HIM.”

”Have you found him?” The seemingly feeble man on the throne suddenly sat up straight. His eyes glowed with either hope or hatred.

”Ehm, no, my lord, I’m afraid not. Taryn and his men were... dispatched.”

”Dispatched?”

”They were eliminated, my lord,” said the trembling chamberlain. ”Killed, my lord.”

”KILLED? Surely he didn’t manage this by himself?” the master demanded.

The servant shook his head.

”Witnesses say that he was aided by a troubadour.”

The master rose from his throne and let out a mighty roar.

”A TROUBADOUR?! I WILL NOT STAND FOR THIS! Bring them both to me, by any means necessary!?”

”I-” the chamberlain began.

”Shut up, you lowlife! Remove yourself from my countenance at this instant! See to it that they are captured!”

The chamberlain slipped out through the double doors a moment before the master went into a coughing fit.

- // Wordsmith ~ The Novelists' Guild // Viking //

02-Mar-2013 19:56:45 - Last edited on 02-Mar-2013 19:58:31 by Dyrnwyn

Nov

2007

Dyrnwyn

Posts: 1,396 Mithril Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile

To describe the marshlands of southern Cinthia as unpleasant would be so gross an understatement that it bordered on blasphemy use of the word. This humid, murky swamp was filled to the brim with stagnant water and some of the Gods’ most distasteful creations.

”This bog reeks of death and decay.” Nemo made no effort to conceal his disgust.

The troubadour snorted.

”At least you’ve never had to hide in a pile of troll dung.”

”Troll dung? Do I even want to know?”

The troubadour shook his head. After a moment of silence, Felix turned to his companion.

”We need to be very careful. There are creatures here that’d very much enjoy eating us raw.”

The troubadour dismounted and broke a branch off one of a dead tree.

”You’d better grab a stick,” he advised and started sharpening one end with a small dagger. ”Preferably a long one.”

Nemo assumed that Felix knew what he was doing, and so he began sharpening a stick of his own.

”What exactly are these for?” he asked. ”Slaying vampires, perhaps?”

”Vampires are not a jesting matter, my friend. But no, they are not for killing vampires. Those bloodsuckers seldom venture into such humid lands as these, anyway.” The troubadour pointed his makeshift spear at a pool of foul-smelling water. ”It’s the creatures down here we ought to defend ourselves against.”

Nemo frowned. He had seen small reptiles on the ground here and there, but the surface stagnant pools seemed undisturbed.

”Surely a pool of stagnant water is unable to sustain life,” Nemo reasoned. The troubadour, however, shook his head.

”You are in error. There are, in fact, creatures living down there. They will wait for the right moment, then leap from their marshy hideaway to claw out your eyes and drag you down with them.”

”Leap? Felix, we’re on horseback!” // Wordsmith ~ The Novelists' Guild // Viking //

02-Mar-2013 19:57:35

Nov

2007

Dyrnwyn

Posts: 1,396 Mithril Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile

”So? These nasty little monsters are capable of jumping twice as high as any horse. Even if they can’t reach you directly, they’ll just drag down your horse, too. Don’t look at me like that – I’ve bloody well seen it happen! Keep your stick close; it’ll help stop ‘em before they reach you.”

Nemo mumbled that he certainly hoped so, and silently prayed that they would not encounter any of these creatures.

-

After eating a sparse breakfast the next morning, the two companions mounted and rode on. It was not long before Nemo noticed that something was wrong.

”Felix,” he said, ”the water’s bubbling.”

”I know. We’re being followed.”

”By whom?” Nemo asked incredulously.

*The Fen Men. The name’s idiotic, but hey, they didn’t ask the poetic genius here when they made it up.”

”Oh,” Nemo said. ”Those monsters you talked about?”

The troubadour nodded grimly.

”Be on your guard.”

The first attacker surprised Nemo so much that he very nearly dropped from the saddle. It was the most horrendous creature he had ever seen. It was a pale, almost white, humanoid. Its arms were elongated to the point where they only distantly resembled those of a human, and spikes protruded from its back. The most striking feature, perhaps, was the monster’s distinct lack of eyes. It did, however, possess a large mouth, sporting needle-sharp teeth.

The creature leapt from the nearest puddle, hissing ferociously. It reached out with its long arms, but Nemo managed to swipe them away with his spear.

”Felix!” he roared, while his horse neighed with fear.

The abominable beast prepared for another attack. It hissed again, and this time it almost sounded human. // Wordsmith ~ The Novelists' Guild // Viking //

02-Mar-2013 19:59:23 - Last edited on 02-Mar-2013 20:00:05 by Dyrnwyn

Nov

2007

Dyrnwyn

Posts: 1,396 Mithril Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile

Nemo was ready when the Fen Man jumped again. He stabbed the creature in the chest, and the force with which it propelled itself drove the stake all the way through. The Fen Man screeched in pain and writhingly attempted to get free, as dark ichor spurted from its wound. At last, it managed to get off the spear and it tumbled back into the murky water from whence it had come, still screaming with agony. Bubbles rose to the surface.

Nemo turned his attention to Felix and discovered that his companion was under attack by another Fen Man. It had latched itself onto the troubadour’s horse, clawing at Felix’ face. The troubadour realised that his spear was near useless in close quarter combat, and he dropped it in the swamp, already reaching for his lute.

There was a loud thud, and the monster flew through the air, arms flailing. It landed in one of the pools and did not resurface.

”C’mon,” Felix urged, ”we need to get out of the swamp!”

The men rode as fast as possible - which was not very fast at all, as the horses had to be careful *ot to sink into hidden pools. // Wordsmith ~ The Novelists' Guild // Viking //

02-Mar-2013 19:59:49

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