( from the journals of the wanderer, Ryld Hune... )
4.
A D I N N E R P A R T Y I N Z M E K
In the town of Zmek, the companions take the opportunity to enjoy the humble comforts of civilization. Here, Ryld is approached by a local woman who claims to know something of his true nature and origins. Eager to learn more about himself, he and Iskra agree to accompany her to a secret gathering. What they discover there is not quite what they expected...
After Iskra was well enough to travel we decided to head back through the bog to the next village. We really didn't have a plan, but there's nothing for any of us here. The trip through the bog was uneventful, though at times difficult due to the terrain. I don't know who was more nervous, us or the horses. Gladly, the giant mosquito-like insects did not come back. Maybe we destroyed the nest? I hope so. The droning sound they made was enough to drive you to insanity.
Upon entering the town of Zmek-- was that the name of it? Doesn't matter, it was just another small, insignificant community in a backwater countryside. Who am I to judge, though? I'm just as much a country bumpkin as anyone around here, I suppose. Mirko seemed happy - ready to leap from his horse at any minute to find the nearest bar. I think we were glad to find a place to sell some of the extra baggage we had, and get some supplies.
Ever since we left the village I no longer felt the need to wear any my boiled leather. I felt as if I could see a flaming ethereal force surrounding my body. Is it another mysterious power manifesting itself? Perhaps so. Either way, it's nice not to have to wear my armor - sleeping in that stuff was the worst.
What is happening to me?
Mirko knows how to speak to people. He managed to sell the weapons and armour we were carrying for a much higher price than they were worth. He lied a bit, but whatever. I'm sure the shopkeeper will turn around and tell the same tale, and charge the next person double what he paid us.
As soon as he pocketed his share of the coin, Mirko promptly ran off, yelling something about "the good life." Iskra and I decided to look around a bit. I wanted to be prepared in the future if one of us is poisoned again.
While looking for herbalism supplies in the street market, Iskra noticed we were being watched. I wanted to see if we could distract and confront the person, but Iskra instead thought to be direct. Not one to argue, I followed her lead.
An woman with graying hair was trying to be inconspicuous. As we approached her, she turned and left the area, ducking between buildings. She led us to a secluded area and faced us.
I don't know why, but we never even asked who she was. I think I was too caught up in the story she was telling me. She spoke of my true nature, how different I was.
I was hooked.
Did she know? Who am I? How am I different? She hit all the right notes, and like an idiot, I fell for it. She told us to meet her at dusk near the crossroads just out of town, and she would reveal more.
I had to find out who I am, and where I came from.
Iskra grumbled about wanting a bath and good food. Sure, why not? I'm not really worried about those things, but she's a woman and who knows what goes through their minds? In my young life, and my limited travels, women have always been a mystery. But I've no time for that nonsense. Not until I uncover the secrets of my own past.
We headed back into town. We spent coin, and ate hot food, and relaxed until dusk. I sat in the common room with tavern patrons, while Iskra soaked in her bath somewhere. Mirko was nowhere to be seen, and was likely already drunk on his ass, at some more upscale place - if anything in Zmek fit that description.
Dusk.
We met the woman exactly where she said she'd be and we followed to her hut. She invited us inside and offered us tea. I was extremely anxious to hear more of what this woman had to say so I declined, hoping she would get on with it.
And then I found myself asking "Huh? What's that smell?" But it was too late.
Unconscious.
When my senses slowly returned, I was strapped to a table in some kind of subterranean chamber, with a great hot hearth. I could hear voices, but I could not see Iskra. What in the nine planes of hell were they talking about? Did I overhear them saying they were going to bleed me dry and eat me? No, no, no, no, no... what kind of insanity was this?
They discovered I was awake when I tried to work my wrists free from the restraints. Then, I heard them cry out that the other one was free! Iskra, I hoped.
Things escalated fast. I managed to get both of my hands and a foot free. A large fat man advanced on Iskra with a knife, the very same knife they were going to use on me. The other tried to wrestle me back to the table, but I pushed him off, and the anger exploded from me. I envisioned him engulfed in flames, and a cone of fire leapt from my hands. The man screamed loudly and crumpled into a smoldering heap. Again, I smelled that scent of brimstone and burning flesh.
The fat one saw his friend go down, and promptly ran from the cellar. Iskra and I gathered our senses and decided to get the hell out of wherever 'here' was. A cellar kitchen of some sort?
Cannibals! Seriously, I wonder... will the next village finally be full of the vampires that Mirko keeps ranting about?
Iskra gathered up the knife and a large fork, and we headed up a set of stone stairs. We saw more of them waiting for us. I was angry, and sick and tired of being treated differently. Stripped down to my undergarments, about to be murdered and eaten... I wanted all of them to die.
Iskra surged through the archway took one down immediately. I heard someone call out - it sounded like Mirko? More sounds of fighting followed. By the time I stepped into the main hall, there were the bodies of three robed strangers on the floor.
The grey-haired woman from the hut was fleeing through stone doors, down another staircase, into the darkness. I thought to give chase, but Mirko had a man at swordpoint - his innkeeper from town, it seemed. The man was grovelling for his life, and Mirko said "I'll take the inn to spare you!" It wasn't a bad idea, really.
Before we could interrogate him further, two more men arrived in the chamber from behind us. They wore similar robes, but these were armed fighting men, and they advanced on us with weapons drawn. With the rage welling up within me, I tried to call upon the fire again. Success! I was beginning to get the grasp of it. I engulfed both men in flames, and as they flailed in agony, Iskra and Mirko made short work of them.
I felt exhausted, but I didn't know why. Did I overdo it?
I wanted to know more, but in my anger, I'd used my gift to hurl the inkeeper against the wall, leaving him near-dead. Why did they want to eat me? They seemed to think it would make them immortal, but what was so special about my flesh? Why did they speak of the Fading Folk? Who was the one they spoke about, who could supposedly smell my strange blood from the moment I arrived in town? Was it the grey-haired woman? Could we still catch her?
That's when the stone doors opened again. It was not her. I felt a cold shiver run through my unclothed body as an extremely large.. thing... stepped out of the darkness, and lurched toward us...
Upon entering the town of Zmek-- was that the name of it? Doesn't matter, it was just another small, insignificant community in a backwater countryside. Who am I to judge, though? I'm just as much a country bumpkin as anyone around here, I suppose. Mirko seemed happy - ready to leap from his horse at any minute to find the nearest bar. I think we were glad to find a place to sell some of the extra baggage we had, and get some supplies.
Ever since we left the village I no longer felt the need to wear any my boiled leather. I felt as if I could see a flaming ethereal force surrounding my body. Is it another mysterious power manifesting itself? Perhaps so. Either way, it's nice not to have to wear my armor - sleeping in that stuff was the worst.
What is happening to me?
Mirko knows how to speak to people. He managed to sell the weapons and armour we were carrying for a much higher price than they were worth. He lied a bit, but whatever. I'm sure the shopkeeper will turn around and tell the same tale, and charge the next person double what he paid us.
As soon as he pocketed his share of the coin, Mirko promptly ran off, yelling something about "the good life." Iskra and I decided to look around a bit. I wanted to be prepared in the future if one of us is poisoned again.
While looking for herbalism supplies in the street market, Iskra noticed we were being watched. I wanted to see if we could distract and confront the person, but Iskra instead thought to be direct. Not one to argue, I followed her lead.
An woman with graying hair was trying to be inconspicuous. As we approached her, she turned and left the area, ducking between buildings. She led us to a secluded area and faced us.
I don't know why, but we never even asked who she was. I think I was too caught up in the story she was telling me. She spoke of my true nature, how different I was.
I was hooked.
Did she know? Who am I? How am I different? She hit all the right notes, and like an idiot, I fell for it. She told us to meet her at dusk near the crossroads just out of town, and she would reveal more.
I had to find out who I am, and where I came from.
Iskra grumbled about wanting a bath and good food. Sure, why not? I'm not really worried about those things, but she's a woman and who knows what goes through their minds? In my young life, and my limited travels, women have always been a mystery. But I've no time for that nonsense. Not until I uncover the secrets of my own past.
We headed back into town. We spent coin, and ate hot food, and relaxed until dusk. I sat in the common room with tavern patrons, while Iskra soaked in her bath somewhere. Mirko was nowhere to be seen, and was likely already drunk on his ass, at some more upscale place - if anything in Zmek fit that description.
Dusk.
We met the woman exactly where she said she'd be and we followed to her hut. She invited us inside and offered us tea. I was extremely anxious to hear more of what this woman had to say so I declined, hoping she would get on with it.
And then I found myself asking "Huh? What's that smell?" But it was too late.
Unconscious.
When my senses slowly returned, I was strapped to a table in some kind of subterranean chamber, with a great hot hearth. I could hear voices, but I could not see Iskra. What in the nine planes of hell were they talking about? Did I overhear them saying they were going to bleed me dry and eat me? No, no, no, no, no... what kind of insanity was this?
They discovered I was awake when I tried to work my wrists free from the restraints. Then, I heard them cry out that the other one was free! Iskra, I hoped.
Things escalated fast. I managed to get both of my hands and a foot free. A large fat man advanced on Iskra with a knife, the very same knife they were going to use on me. The other tried to wrestle me back to the table, but I pushed him off, and the anger exploded from me. I envisioned him engulfed in flames, and a cone of fire leapt from my hands. The man screamed loudly and crumpled into a smoldering heap. Again, I smelled that scent of brimstone and burning flesh.
The fat one saw his friend go down, and promptly ran from the cellar. Iskra and I gathered our senses and decided to get the hell out of wherever 'here' was. A cellar kitchen of some sort?
Cannibals! Seriously, I wonder... will the next village finally be full of the vampires that Mirko keeps ranting about?
Iskra gathered up the knife and a large fork, and we headed up a set of stone stairs. We saw more of them waiting for us. I was angry, and sick and tired of being treated differently. Stripped down to my undergarments, about to be murdered and eaten... I wanted all of them to die.
Iskra surged through the archway took one down immediately. I heard someone call out - it sounded like Mirko? More sounds of fighting followed. By the time I stepped into the main hall, there were the bodies of three robed strangers on the floor.
The grey-haired woman from the hut was fleeing through stone doors, down another staircase, into the darkness. I thought to give chase, but Mirko had a man at swordpoint - his innkeeper from town, it seemed. The man was grovelling for his life, and Mirko said "I'll take the inn to spare you!" It wasn't a bad idea, really.
Before we could interrogate him further, two more men arrived in the chamber from behind us. They wore similar robes, but these were armed fighting men, and they advanced on us with weapons drawn. With the rage welling up within me, I tried to call upon the fire again. Success! I was beginning to get the grasp of it. I engulfed both men in flames, and as they flailed in agony, Iskra and Mirko made short work of them.
I felt exhausted, but I didn't know why. Did I overdo it?
I wanted to know more, but in my anger, I'd used my gift to hurl the inkeeper against the wall, leaving him near-dead. Why did they want to eat me? They seemed to think it would make them immortal, but what was so special about my flesh? Why did they speak of the Fading Folk? Who was the one they spoke about, who could supposedly smell my strange blood from the moment I arrived in town? Was it the grey-haired woman? Could we still catch her?
That's when the stone doors opened again. It was not her. I felt a cold shiver run through my unclothed body as an extremely large.. thing... stepped out of the darkness, and lurched toward us...
* * *
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