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Nildi of Keldagrim

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Dreamweaver
Aug Member 2003

Dreamweaver

Posts: 3,790 Adamant Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile
Thanks for the words of encouragement, Roshinda! I don't know about ranking above you or anything like that - I'll just be happy if this little tale gets some more readership now it's getting guild exposure :)

Dreamweaver

10-Nov-2006 08:25:19

Dreamweaver
Aug Member 2003

Dreamweaver

Posts: 3,790 Adamant Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile
***A Shadow in the Dark***
Many miles away, a tall, grey-robed figure swept across the dry dusty landscape north of Al-Kharid. Despite the stillness of the air, the cloak billowed wide as it moved with surprising speed across the ground. By and by, it reached the road to Lumbridge and turned unnoticed towards the guarded gate.
“Darn it Suron, I can’t stand this shift. I mean, I haves to leave right when me family are eatin’ dinner, then I ‘ent back ‘til who knows what time. I tells the Captain ev’ry flippin’…”
“Err, Rinald?”
“…time, me woman can’t look after me five girls and two boys all by ‘erself the whole time, it just…”
“Rinald!”
“…’ent fair. Then it starts hot and gets all freezin’ by midnight. What’re we…”
“RINALD!”
“What? What?”
“Shh. I thought I saw something on the road, back there, look that way.”
“I don’t see nuffin! The cactus?”
“Yeah. No, right by the cactus. See, in the shadow? Something’s there.”
“You crazy buffoon, I don’t see nuff-”
The runite throwing knife flew out of the darkness so fast that it had sliced across the neck of Suron even while he was still talking. Rinald threw himself to the ground, scrabbling madly for his whistle to alert the forces on the other side of the gate, but the dark figure was upon him instantly, looming over him.
“Opennnn thhhhhe ggggate,” it murmured.
The words, though scarcely audible, exploded like fireworks in Rinald’s brain. Petrified, he stumbled to his feet and unlocked the gate with fumbling fingers. The cloaked form swept by like a shadow and Rinald trembled in horror as the two guards on the other side met their swift doom.
“Tellllll thhhhem we cccome.”
He sank to the ground, slumped against the fence. Then without warning a knife slashed across his face and he collapsed, unconscious.

10-Nov-2006 08:27:22 - Last edited on 19-Sep-2008 03:03:49 by Dreamweaver

Dreamweaver
Aug Member 2003

Dreamweaver

Posts: 3,790 Adamant Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile
***A Wild Party***

It was starting to get dusky by the time Nildi arrived back at the inn on foot. He could probably have made it sooner, had he taken up the gardener’s offer of the trip on horseback. Like many Dwarves though, the idea of sitting on an animal twice as tall as he was just didn’t appeal.

Pushing the door open and entering the familiar bar room, Nildi sat down at the same table he’d occupied the evening before and cast his cloak down next to him on the bench. In fact he had little choice of seating, as the place was already crowded and lively. After a little while, a wizened old man with a straggly grey beard hobbled over to his table.

“Good evening to you, what will it be?” he croaked.

“I’ll try a Greenman’s ale please.”

“Try? You’ve not been here before have you! But I think you’ll like it,” the barman said. “It’s a local family recipe. If you need anything else, just ask for Savius.”

He turned to go, but Nildi reached out and caught his arm.

“Sorry, one more thing. You are Savius Broadfoot? May I ask if you have a Jongor Smitson working here too?”

“Yes, I am Savius, at your service. Jonny works here too. You must have run into him yesterday because he’s only been with me a couple of days. Is there anything else I can get for you?”

“No thank you,” replied Nildi.

“So that must have been it,” thought Nildi. “No wonder Zavistic Rarve hadn’t heard of him if he’s new here.” He settled into his seat, looking forward to some relaxation before his upcoming meeting with the Guild Secretary. He let his gaze wander around the room at random.

Several men were seated along the bar itself: tradesmen and farmers mostly, judging by their dress. Across the smoky room in the opposite corner sat a more outwardly wealthy figure, if the expansive cloak, polished boots and huddle of sycophants were any indication. But elsewhere, the tables were occupied by groups of common folk, some more rowdy than others.

~continued~

10-Nov-2006 10:23:00 - Last edited on 24-Nov-2006 09:56:32 by Dreamweaver

Dreamweaver
Aug Member 2003

Dreamweaver

Posts: 3,790 Adamant Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile
After a couple of minutes, Savius returned with a flagon of ale. Taking a draught, Nildi did indeed find it pleasant – a fresh crispness overlaying mellow tones like the deep scents of autumn. He quaffed deeply, but was shaken from his reverie by clamoring at a nearby table.

Opening his eyes, he realized that a group of punters were pulling out instruments, seemingly on the bidding of the wealthy individual across the room. A lute, a banjo, a tin whistle and a couple of drums materialized and a hearty jig was soon echoing off the walls of the bar room. Soon, people were laughing, clapping along and slapping the tables in time to the music. Nildi found his feet a-tapping and his hands a-clapping as he listened along.

Then a particularly favorite local tune was started amid applause and cheering, and two sprightly farmers leapt upon a table and began to sing raucously! Before long, almost everyone was standing and singing too.

Yanille, Yanille! ‘Tis such a thrill
Your gardens green and forests still
I’ll dance ‘til morning, yes I will
But don’t you spill my Greenman’s!

The Wizards’ Guild, so high and cold
The rugged walls and watchtower bold
The gates, they keep the Ogres out
But don’t you close without me.

Yanille, Yanille! ‘Tis such a thrill
Your gardens green and forests still
I’ll dance ‘til morning, yes I will
But don’t you spill my Greenman’s!

Orchards green and gardeners keen
Blooms across the seasons seen
Fruits to harvest all year long
But don’t you reap without me.

Yanille, Yanille! ‘Tis such a thrill
Your gardens green and forests still
I’ll dance ‘til morning, yes I will
But don’t you spill my Greenman’s!

I’ll dance ‘til morning, yes I will
But don’t you spill my Greenman’s!

The room erupted into cheering and laughter, with many a call of “Don’t you spill my Greenman’s!” Nildi, who had also been standing and laughing, sat back at his table and motioned to Savius for a refill of the ale.

~continued

10-Nov-2006 10:23:34 - Last edited on 08-Jan-2007 22:27:07 by Dreamweaver

Dreamweaver
Aug Member 2003

Dreamweaver

Posts: 3,790 Adamant Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile
By the time he'd finished the second flagon, the evening was pressing on. It had been dark outside for a while now, yet there was no sign of Zavistic Rarve or any other wizards at the inn. Nildi picked up his cloak from the bench and threw it quickly across his shoulders, while looking around the room again. Then he headed outside, walking briskly around the building to be sure he wasn’t missing anyone. Just as he was losing hope, he saw the tall figure of the Secretary coming down the road, his staff and hat silhouetted in the gloomy night.

“Zavistic Rarve!” called Nildi as he hurried over. “I was afraid I’d missed you.”

“Not at all. My apologies indeed for being later than I had hoped. Do you have a room at the inn? Let us head upstairs where we may sit in some privacy.” Zavistic replied.

Nildi lead the way back into the inn and up the stairs to the bedroom he had been staying in, with the wizard following behind.

“This is the only place I’ve known where a formidable mage has to push through a bar room like anyone else!” laughed Nildi as they headed up the stairs.

“Yes. Familiarity breeds contempt as they say,” smiled Zavistic. “Wizards are just part of the furniture here in Yanille.”

As he approached the door to his room, Nildi suddenly stopped short, his companion almost tripping over him.

“The script! The skin!”

Nildi fumbled in his cloak furiously. “I can’t feel it. It is gone!”

He leapt back downstairs, crashing panic-stricken through the bar room and back to his table, choruses of indignant drinkers yelling after him, “Hey, watch it. You almost spilled my ale!”

But the skin was nowhere to be seen. Not on the floor, nor anywhere around the table. Nildi yelled out, asking if anyone had seen a parchment, but all he got in reply were protests of “Shut up!” and “Don’t blame us!”

~continued~

10-Nov-2006 10:24:32 - Last edited on 24-Nov-2006 09:58:33 by Dreamweaver

Dreamweaver
Aug Member 2003

Dreamweaver

Posts: 3,790 Adamant Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile
Nildi looked around the room, hoping against hope that someone had picked it up and was still in the vicinity. After a minute he realized that the wealthy individual had left the inn, but no one knew or wanted to say who the person was or where they might have gone.

“Listen, Nildi.” Zavistic Rarve tapped Nildi on the shoulder. “Let us go back upstairs. There is nothing more we can do here.”

Back in the private bedroom, Nildi collapsed onto the bed, head in hands.

“It must have been when I was up, listening to the song. I was with my cloak the rest of the time. I always keep it right with me. How could anyone have known there was anything in it anyway?”

“Maybe it was just a chance pickpocketing, or maybe someone does know about the skin somehow. Either way, it is gone. If I may, I would like to take the cloak back to the Guild and attempt some divination on it. The skin has long lain in it, even though it will not be easy because I myself have not touched the skin. But perhaps I will be able to divine something of its whereabouts.”

Zavistic drew a piece of parchment and a quill from his robes with a flourish.

“Meanwhile, write down as much as you can remember of the marks from memory. All is not lost, my friend.”

“I value your assistance more than I can say,” stammered Nildi thankfully, handing him his cloak.

“Very well. Then I will call for you in the morning.”

With that, the Senior Secretary of the Wizards' Guild stepped to the middle of the room, raised his arms and muttered briefly. Moments later he shrunk into a purple glow and was gone.

Nildi worked on the parchment for as long his weary spirits would allow, then fell into bed, feeling more lost and helpless than he thought possible.

10-Nov-2006 10:24:51 - Last edited on 24-Nov-2006 10:02:22 by Dreamweaver

Roshinda

Roshinda

Posts: 6,271 Rune Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile
Yay a whole lot of adds to read!

Lovely lovely!

Sadly you and I have both been bumped down a spot in the ranks, though we're still both in the top five. I have every confidence you'll be able to go up another rank or two as this story progresses. I fear I can't say the same for myself though, my writing just isn't of the same standard yet.

Keep it up my friend, keep it up.

10-Nov-2006 11:10:44 - Last edited on 10-Nov-2006 23:41:55 by Roshinda

Dreamweaver
Aug Member 2003

Dreamweaver

Posts: 3,790 Adamant Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile
***The Apparition from the Sea***

Penguins are not noted for their intelligence, yet they are not as stupid as some might think. So when a sinister shadow dressed in a dark billowing cloak swept across the surface of the sea from the north, the colony of penguins was thrown into immediate disarray. They scuttled and squawked in blind panic from the apparition’s path, and so it was that Mejka, a young girl from Etceteria who was collecting shells on the beach, was alerted to its approach before it made landfall.

Screaming loudly, she turned and sprinted towards the road that led back to town, scattering shells behind her. Without knowing why, she was filled with dread. She could not look around and dared not slow down. She ran full tilt towards the road, screaming at the top of her lungs. Now she was on the road, sprinting south towards the gates. But the frightful figure was gaining on her. She could see the break in the town walls now, but it was catching up fast. Finally the gates were in view. Just a little further. Her legs were on fire and she was stumbling from the effort of running so fast. She yelled out in raw panic. She was almost at the gates but she knew the shadow was right behind her. Surely someone could hear her piercing screams. Three more strides and she would be there.

Suddenly, without warning, a cold dark blade sliced clean through her ankles and she fell, tumbling and helpless to the ground. On the edge of hearing, a woman’s voice screamed.

“Mejka!”

Her mother was coming, but she was losing consciousness. Then, exploding inside her mind came the fateful words.

“Tellllll thhhhem we cccome.”

She felt more searing pain, this time across her face. And then blackness engulfed her.

11-Nov-2006 09:14:04 - Last edited on 24-Nov-2006 10:02:42 by Dreamweaver

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