Game Thread Chapter One - Leaving Home ... Again

Amos · #1 05-21-2010, 11:43 AM

He speaks of a great dragon, and how, fearing a threat from the great beast, local villagers sent for heroes to come fight the dragon. No matter how much they paid those heroes, they never returned from their forays into the mountains. Eventually the dragon flew down from the mountains and landed in the center of the village, a little wyrmling in her arms. "You see what you did?!" she cried out. "Your hatred and fear of me, even though I had caused you no harm, caused my baby to be killed by the 'heroes' you sent after me." Her wrath was terrible, and the townsfolk cowered in fear and knew that they were no more. That surely this great and terrible beast would smite them for their actions, and justifiably so.

Until one of the children, a boy of no more than five summers ran up to the dragon. She looked upon this child, merely a snack if she so chose, with something akin to awe. For the mightiest paladin trembled when he would look upon her, but this child knew no fear. The child reached up and gently touched the dead wyrmling, and she lay her own dead child at the feet of the living boy. The boy knelt down in the grass and wept over the broken body of the baby dragon. With tears in her own eyes the dragon looked upon the villagers and spoke. "This will be your penance for the life of my child. I will take this boy and raise him as my own. He will grow into a strong young man and know the way of the dragons, and you will not come for him, nor send any others to come try to slay me. For if you do, know that your lives, and the lives of all you love are forfeit." With that, she lifted the young boy up onto her back, spoke a few whispered words to him, and flew off into the mountains.

This is the story of that boy, 12 years later... (TheChuck:)

The Dragon didn't come out into the open this time, instead, she waited back in the tunnel, just creeping out far enough to watch him walk out of the entrance and into the bright, new days light. A tear fell down her cheek, she truly wanted nothing more than for him to stay with her and never leave, as was the agreement she made with the towns people. But, in her heart of hearts, she knew that not allowing him to see the world through his owns eyes meant that he would only grow to resent her later when his short human life span finally came to an end.

She knew that humans were a short lived lot, but in the dozen or so years since their coming together she was amazed at the transformation she had witnessed. What was barely a boy of five summers then, was now only a few short days from being a man. Over the years she taught him what she could, what she thought was right from wrong, and most importantly how to survive. Now it was his time to go out and practices those skills, to go see the world through his own eyes and most importantly to the Dragon, to get back to her safely.

(Amos:)

**Admin Chuck** · #2 05-24-2010, 05:50 PM

Verdimar slowly walked toward the cave mouth, fighting the urge to turn and run back into the loving arms of his adopted mother. Life with her is the only life I have ever really known. I know that I am a human, and that I came from the village down the mountain, but all I remember of that place is a foggy memory. My time with Verdy has shaped me, not those murderers. The young man's face deepens into a scowl as he thinks about what the villagers did to cause him to be brought into the care of Verderanthacus. A moustache, destined to be thick and bushy eventually, but currently barely beyond the peach fuzz stage, lines Verdimar's upper lip, and droops heavily with the frown. I suppose I ought to thank them; my life here has been better than anything people like them could have given me.

Verdimar reaches the cave mouth and comes to a stop, gravel from the trail crunching beneath his feet. Morning sunlight glints off of his heavy armor, a parting gift from Verdy along with the heavy flail resting on his back. Verdimar uses a hand to shade his eyes as he looks one way along the trail, then turns and looks the other way. After several moments looking in each direction the young man turns and looks back into the cave mouth. Even though he cannot see her he knows that Verdy is back there, watching him leave. A small, tentative wave of his broad hand is the last image she sees as he turns away and heads down the mountain.

Amos · #3 05-25-2010, 02:09 PM

After a short walk and a couple of brief climbs down a few of the steeper sections of the mountain, Verdimar found himself at a cross roads. One path he knew lead right out into the wilds and adventures untold, the other one lead to his old village and life nearly forgotten. As he sat and pondered his available choices, he couldn't help but notice that the once chilly morning sun, was now beating down on him with a more intense heat than he was accustomed to.

**Admin Chuck** · #4 05-25-2010, 03:31 PM

Verdimar stands in the crossroads, feeling the beads of sweat roll down his face and thoughts roll through his mind. I do not wish to meet the people that could do what those villagers did. But if I do not meet them now and put them behind me I'll be curious about them until I do. It is possible that there could be some good there after all, as Verdy always says, I came from there so there must be something good in those people. The young man wipes a hand across his brow and flicks the sweat off with a snap of his wrist.

Verdimar lets out an explosive breath that he didn't even realize he was holding, takes one last longing glance down the path to adventure, and turns toward the village. The young man, wise beyond his years, goes to confront the unknown from his past.

Amos · #5 05-26-2010, 11:24 PM

Night fall began to encroach upon the young man and yet there was no sign of his village. Worry began to creep in, he felt that he should have definitely reached it by now, but then he remembered that the last time he saw it, he was much younger and upon a dragon which moved much faster then he.

Once again he stopped on the trail with a choice in front of him, continue on walking in the dark, or set camp for the night and hope to find the village tomorrow. Common sense kicked in and he found a good, defensible position to spend the night.

The night was quiet if a bit chilly and soon morning found him, well rested and ready to be off. The morning flew by and by the time he knew it, he was cresting the top of a hill and there before him lay his home of old. Not much had changed in the sleepy little village and memories of a short childhood spent here came flooding back.

**Admin Chuck** · #6 06-02-2010, 10:43 AM

Once again Verdimar stands looking longingly down the road toward adventure and freedom. But the sense of duty instilled upon him by Verdy is too strong, and the young human knows that if he doesn't go to the village now he'll just have to do it later, and perhaps not on his own terms at that time. So instead of turning down the path to freedom, Verdimar sets his shoulders and begins heading down the final steps toward the village. His armor gleams in the sun from its recent polish, and an intimidating figure is cut by his broad shouldered and metal encased form.

Amos · #7 06-02-2010, 11:39 AM

The gravel of the road crunches under each of the young mans footfalls and eventually give way to paving cobbles as he reaches the edge of the village proper. As the streets widen out, Verdimar can see the vendors groggily setting up their carts, shop owners throwing wide their windows to let the fresh air in or fresh baked smells out, and others, lazily walking to their various places to be. He is home again, and by the looks of things, not much has changed since he had left all those years ago. The town had a happy, comfortable feel to it, people waved to each other as they passed and more than one nodded their head or said hello as they walked passed the warrior on their way to the fields surrounding the village.

**Admin Chuck** · #8 06-02-2010, 11:56 AM

Verdimar moves to one side of the road and removes his helmet, tucking it under his left arm. He gives his head a shake to loosen his shaggy hair, and runs his fingers through the thick mop in an effort to straighten it somewhat. Warily he looks around what he can see of the village, suspicion in his eyes. Being told for years that the villagers here had a helpless baby dragon murdered had led him to believe that all of the folk would be more...villainous. As his memories of the place had faded and been replaced with Verderanthacus' impression of these people, his memories had become skewed and warped to fit with what he had been taught by the dragon. With a sudden epiphany it strikes Verdimar that this is the exact reason that Verdy sent him out into the world. So that he can form his own opinions of things while he is still young enough to do so. Of course the teachings of his adopted mother will never leave him, they will always have an impact on how the young man views the world, but with any luck Verdimar can return to Verderanthacus a better man than the young man that left her was.

All of that passes through Verdimar's mind in a few moments, and his face sets in a mask of resolve as he looks around the village square again. Spotting a baker just opening his doors the young man walks over and sets his helmet on the counter. The first human to look upon Verdimar's winning smile in twelve years is the baker's daughter, whom he waves over. "A loaf of your best bread and a slab of butter, if you would be so kind."

Amos · #9 06-02-2010, 02:47 PM

With the smells of fresh baked bread having drawn him in, the young man finds himself a comfortable seat, then orders himself up a loaf. When the bakers daughter arrives with his order, Verdimar gets the feeling that this was someone from his past, someone very familiar.

The girl, maybe a few years older than himself, also seems to have a hint of recognition dawn upon her face, she stares at him for a moment longer than what would be considered polite, before being called off to help other customers by her father.

Ooc:Yes, this is an intro post, the back story will be coming shortly. For now, please remain at the bakery. The girl is off helping other customers, but, there may be a possibility for you to talk to her soon!

**Admin Chuck** · #10 06-02-2010, 04:45 PM

Verdimar returns the girl's stare with one of his own, obviously just a curious about her as she is about him. The spell is broken as she returns to serving other customers, but on several occasions he glances at her, only to find her glancing back at him too. Who is that girl? It seems that I know her, but it's been so long I just don't know... The young man absently continues eating the warm bread, barely noticing how delicious it is.

Ehlana · #11 06-02-2010, 07:37 PM

Kara jerks her glance away from the young man for the fifth or sixth time, wondering why he keeps looking at her.

To be fair, possibly, he's wondering why you keep looking at him. That would also be a good thing for -you- to wonder about. Why are you?

Forcing herself to focus on business, the tall girl with old eyes the color of tarnished silver quickly wraps up a baker's dozen of apple tarts for the blacksmith's wife, drizzles honey over some sticky buns and passes them out to the ones waiting for them. Then she goes right up to the stranger's table, addressing him directly, not bothering with a greeting.

"Have you ever been to this village before? You keep looking at me and I feel like I know you and I'd like to know why." The girl's dress is as plain as can be and so old that the original color can only be guessed at after so many washings. Her dark hair is pulled back in a braid so tight that it looks as if it might give her a headache, but there's something about her, a sense of personality. Apart from being a decidedly pretty girl, this is a girl no one would ever be able to overlook.

**Admin Chuck** · #12 06-03-2010, 10:55 AM

Verdimar looks up as the pretty girl approaches and gives her another smile. "Yes, I have been here before, though it was long ago." the young man says in response to her question. "In fact, I was born in this village, but I haven't looked upon it in over 12 years now." Verdimar's eyes zone out for a moment as he moves through old and faded memories of that time.

Ehlana · #13 06-03-2010, 08:46 PM

Kara pauses for a moment, counting back years. "Yeah...a lot of families left town right about that time. You must have been one of my childhood playmates." The answer is logical, but she gives it with a certain lack of conviction, as if she did not quite believe in it.

They were afraid the dragon would come back, and take -their- children like she took my brother. They all said she must've eaten him. Mother and Father certainly believed it. Sometimes I do...and sometimes I don't, which probably only goes to show that they're right when they say I'm a little touched in the head.

"Welcome back to town. Looks like living elsewhere has been good for you and your family." She waves at his shining armor with a smile. "Anyway, now that that's cleared up, I should get back to the other customers." She lingers though, not yet rushing away.

Saying he was once a playmate seems too simple....

Amos · #14 06-03-2010, 11:36 PM

The morning clientele begin to thin as the early risers all try to get to their respective jobs on time. As the two converse, they have nearly the entire bakery to themselves.

**Admin Chuck** · #15 06-04-2010, 11:32 AM

Verdimar smiles sadly at the mention of his 'family'. "Living elsewhere certainly has been good to me. I have learned things that no one born in this village has ever known. Seen sites that would cause most stout men to soil themselves." The young man glances down at his gleaming plate mail and his eyes moisten just slightly. "I do not know how my family is though, as I haven't seen them in 12 years.

Since the day I was taken from here." With some amount of trepidation Verdimar looks at the serving girl, hoping and afraid of seeing recognition there.