The Adventures
This is the slow transformation of a many a session of Ad&d into a story about the characters who took parth the epic journey that emegerged. Not all of the things that are chronichled herein were played out in the adventure (though I wish they were). My players are not very roleplaying oriented, and would rather play a hack and slash game. I am trying to steer them to a midpoint... and the going has been slow... but we are getting there. So without further adieu, the beginnings of an adventure.
Arra woke out of the deep sleep that had taken her that first night back in a civilized area. Her and Obier had arrived here the night before. Tired from their travels. It had taken them three full weeks to reach this large town, Vilawn. They had come a long way, from a small village where the two of them had grown up; Smytin. The both of them had always wanted to leave the little farming ville in search of greater things.
The two of them had always thought they could make more of a differance in the world than farming in a small village that few have ever heard of, let alone been to. Their ideas of adventure had begun years in the past, before the two of them had even reached the age of five. Travelers had entered the village, passing through, they gave some of their money to the people of the village, to let them stay there to rest. many questions were asked, and the stories they told of their journeys were the talk of the town for at least three weeks.
They were the talk of Obier and Arra for even longer. They questioned their parents about them when they were young on several occasions, and the travellers were always referred to as good people. The spark of interest was laid. Years later, when the two of them were about twelve years of age, a small travelling show stopped in Smytin. Obier spent a great deal of time helping them with their things, and making talk with one of the travelling men. It was then that Obier decided that he was going to leave Smytin one day.
He told Arra about his ideas a few times and they talked about it for a month or so after the travelling show left. The plan seemed to fall to the back of their thoughts though. Their chores and work filled their time and thoughts for several months. They were sixteen when it happened Arra recalled. She remembered it clearly like it happened earlier in the day... just hours ago...
"Arra?" Obier paused and looked about he could not find her... Where was she when he needed her? "Arra?" He said louder walking out of her house, heading around back. Where was she? Turning the corner of the house, to the back, Obier was startled. Arra was kneeling down, crying softly. There was a large burnt patch of grass in front of her. There appeared to be some sort of dead creature in the center of the burnt patch. The thing was, however, charred beyond any possible hope of recognition.
"Arra?" Obier said softly, questioningly. He still was not moving, and she was not looking up. A few minutes passed silently, nothing moving, time seemingly frozen. Obier moved around the charred ground slowly, walking towards Arra. He was moving with caution. She was his friend, but he was unsure of her.
Obier kneeled, "Arra?" he said, barely a whisper. Her face slowly moved, tears were streaming down. She did not speak. Obier's brows dipped in concern. He knew not what what she felt inside, he knew not what had happened, but he leaned in and hugged her. He felt her damp face against his shirt, he felt her tears and her tight grip, he felt her warmth.
Obier did not speak, he waited for her to steady herself. The tears slowly stopped and she pulled away from him, looking into his eyes. "I have to leave." She said it slowly, her voice muffled by the tears. She kept her gaze fixed on Obier. It looked as if her face tried to look that way, a twitch, but she held it rigidly locked on his features. "I can't stay here."Obier stared into her eyes for moments more. He took a deep breath. "I will go to my house and get my things, you cannot go alone. Your parents are not home, go inside, gather some food... and some traveling things... whatever you need." Obier stood slowly, letting her hand (which was still holding his) drop. Her tear-filled eyes stared silently at him. He turned and left her.
So many thoughts had filled her head. Why must he be dragged into this? This magic is my own burden, I must leave the village to cover it. He could stay here live a normal life. She feared though that she could not make it to anywhere alone. The evils of the outlying lands would surely consume her. Now she was thrusting her best friend into this dangerous path.
She stood slowly and slightly off-balance. Swallowing anymore tears Arra hardened her face and walked into her house. She packed food and clothing, she took a few of the sharpest knives in the kitchen and stuffed them into her pack. Shw walked slowly into her parents room and probed the floor for the loose floorboard. She found it as she had done as a child. she pulled it up the memory of the blazing fire filling her. She knelt a second, seeing the flame erupt from her fingertips. The creature had attacked her and whatever it was, it had died a violent and painful death. She pulled the small chest from under the floor, opening it she counted out forty silver pieces and put the rest back. Her parents would have very little left, enough for them to live for a only year if the crops failed. Arra prayed they did not.
Obier had returned and they had left before anyone noticed them. Their parents had been in the town center on trading buisness. No one knew they were gone likely until late at night. Arra sighed. So long ago it seemed. Now they were at the foot of the mountain, they had to cross over the Coalratha Range, to get to the other side, the more civilized area.
This was just her waking. Such were her thoughts of late, many and reflective. Gathering her things Arra exited her room in this inn and made her way to the common room. it was not exceptionally full, this late in the morning. Most people of this city got to work earlier on in the day. She saw Obier hungrily eating whatever breckfast had been set before him on the table.
