Post by Taliom the Ranger on Jul 26, 2009 8:41:43 GMT -5
It was a day like any other, sunny and hot with a mild breeze that whispered old forgotten legends through the fields. The Ranger
sat crossed legged at the base of a giant tree. Any passerby would have thought him asleep or simply too tired to move, but the truth
is this man could hear and sense anything in this forest better then any other person in his present state. He goes by the name of Taliom,
a name given to him by his master. Taliom sat there feeling the breeze on his face and the breathing of the forest pulsing all around him,
memories surfaced regrettably but not unwanted, he needed to face his demons once and for all if he was to be ready to face the world
outside of the forest.
"Hey boy, why don't you go home to your mom, its late and you know how this streets can be at the late hours". Old man Croa of
the local guard was always looking out for me back then, I don't know why he cared but if not for him I might have gotten myself in more
trouble then I would have liked. I remember running home that evening trying desperately to make it back before dark, I knew how my mom
worried about me when I didn't get home early. Fate had different plans for me that night. I was 2 streets from my house when a dark figure
jumped out of the shadows to my left, I knew what it meant for something like that to happen in those parts, but at 10 years I didn't really
know how to be brave just yet, so instead of running like a maniac I froze and started shaking. The man stood there looking at me
with the darkest and most sinister eyes I ever saw. He stepped closer and said, "Hey boy, whats the big hurry? can't you see this here be
civilized land? we don't go running around like animals around this parts. I'll tell you what, come with me and I'll teach you a few things
about being polite". I could barely stand at this point, fear had me frozen and paralyzed, though somehow I managed to say a few words back
"N-n-no thanks sir. I have to be home or my dad's gonna be worried and come looking for me." Of course it was a lie, my dad had left when I
was just 2, but I thought maybe it would scare the man away or at least make him think twice about his actions. "Oh, don't worry bout your
dad if he comes around this parts I'll make sure to teach him a lesson or 2 as well. Now lets get you back to my place so we can start the
teachings, shall we?". The next thing that happened has always been a blur in my head, it all happened so fast that for many years I told
myself it was all a dream. As the man tried to grab me an arrow shot right through his forearm, he backpedaled and screamed looking in all
directions to find the source of the attack, thats when the second shaft hit him, it pierced his head through his left ear and came right through
his right one, the shot was so perfect and precise that the man actually didn't fall right away, he stood there with the strangest look I ever
saw, something between surprise, fear and anger. When the body finally fell I managed to look towards the direction the arrows had come from,
and there in the distance on a rooftop stood a lone figure dressed all in gray with a bow in his left hand. The strangest thing of all was
not the figure it self, it was the distance at which he was, I've walked those streets many times and I can safely say that he stood at least
70 feet away, how he managed to put an arrow in that man's ear was beyond me. The figure seemed to wave at me for a second before falling back
into the shadows of the night, I didn't waste anytime looking or thinking, I ran straight home and didn't even stop to talk to my mom when I
made it inside, I went right into my room and put my head in my pillow. That night's sleep came full of nightmares.
That day was the first time I saw my master. Two years went by before our next meeting, in a situation much like the first time.
A local thug by the name of Brok decided to make me pay a street toll, I tried to get myself out of it by telling him I lived just a street
down; normally only new comers and foreigners were forced to pay this but I suppose one can't expect criminals to follow any code or rule for
long. As the thug tried to take whatever little coinage I had a gray figure stepped out of the alley and said, "Let the boy go, he has nothing
of value". Brok was more surprised then concerned about the interruption, he hoisted me up into the air with his left hand, pointed at the man
and said "You want me to let him go? tell you what, pay me for his toll and yours and I'll consider letting the both of you go" The gray figure
made a gesture with his left hand and magically (I have no other way of explaining this since I have never learned how he did it) a great bow
appeared in his hand, with his right hand he pulled an arrow from what seemed to be a bag of sorts and said to Brok "You have 3 seconds to put
the boy down or I'm going to kill you." Now Brok showed signs of fear, I don't blame him really even I was afraid of the ranger at that moment.
He put me down and walked away saying I wasn't worth the trouble. So there I was face to face with my two times savior, I tried to speak but I
couldn't manage much other then "Thank you sir.", he gave me what looked to be a smile and said "Twice I've saved you, and yet I get the feeling
your afraid of me, why do you feel frighten?", shaken I said "You killed that man a few years ago, my mom said only bad man kill."this time he
really did smile "Ah, smart woman your mom. Your right son I did kill that man, what you didn't see were the murders he committed before attacking
you, I had been on his trail long before that night. The judgment I passed on him was overdue trust me. I am sorry you had to witness it at such
a young age tho." For no better reason than blind trust I believed every word, the man just seemed honorable and trustworthy. Before I could say
anything else the man leaped and climbed to the roof of a building as if he were walking up the wall. That night I dreamed of adventure and
magic.
This last memory comes with a price; my peace of mind. I've tried countless times to forget the events of this fateful day to no avail.
It left a deep scar in my soul, one which I must overcome if I am to move on beyond this trees. I was about fourteen years of age at the time,
my mom asked me to fetch the morning bread from mister Spitter's bakery. On the way to the bakery I had a strange feeling, I was unable to
determine its source so I put it aside in my mind and enjoyed my morning walk. Spitter's store was jammed packed with customers at this time of day, It
took me almost an hour to purchase the bread. As I walked back home the dread feeling amplified, thats when I knew something wasn't right. I ran
the rest of the way home and found the front door unlocked and half open. I called out to my mom as I walked into the house "Hey mom I got the
bread, where are you?" no response. I knew something was terribly wrong at that moment, mother never left the house without telling me where she
was going. Slowly I made my way to the kitchen but she was not there so I decided to check the back yard. At first I saw nothing and almost
turned back inside when I saw a stain on the floor near a tree, I walked towards it and the dread feeling increased with every stride. Nothing
could have prepared me for what I saw; my mom laid there in a pool of her own blood, both her arms were riped off completely and neatly placed
to either side of her, her throat had been sliced by a clean cut from ear to ear and most horrifying both her eyes were riped out and placed in
the open palms of her hands. I stood there frozen, unable to do or say anything. Tears began running down my face. I don't remember much more of
the day after that, I've tried very hard to block those memories from my mind; when something causes so much pain one can't help but try to
avoid it as much as possible.
I awoke the next morning in the same forest I sit in today. I remember walking for hours trying to find my way out of the trees with no
luck. Sometime in the afternoon he came, that same man who saved me twice before. I was sitting by a creek crying, he approached me
and said "Will is your name correct?" almost whispering I answered "Thats right. Why did you bring me to this place? what happened to my mom?" he
seemed saddened as he spoke next "A evil man did it, one I have been chasing for many years. I did not see him do it but I did see the body and
I'm sure it was him. Will, I am terribly sorry for your lose and there is nothing I can say to make you feel better but I must ask of you a great
favor; I'm not getting any younger and I have been chasing that man for over 20 years now, I'm afraid I can't keep the hunt going much longer.
I need an apprentice. One that will swear to chase that man till the ends of the earth and back. I know its a lot to ask of you, but I'm running
out of time. I need an answer now, what will it be?" a multitude of thoughts crossed my mind at that moment, but one seemed to overcome everything
else, revenge. almost enthusiastically I said "When do we start?".
This morning I awoke to a letter saying my training was complete, I looked all over for master but couldn't find any trace of him. I have
been training for 10 years now and the time has finally come for me to begin my hunt. The only clue I have about my prey is he has a serpent like
tattoo on his face.
And so here I am ready to take the road and find the trail of the man who killed my mother. I will start by going to this King Melkar's
summons for adventurers. If there is a place to find evil men its in the company of those who claim to be righteous. May my feet carry me swiftly
and my arrows fly true.
sat crossed legged at the base of a giant tree. Any passerby would have thought him asleep or simply too tired to move, but the truth
is this man could hear and sense anything in this forest better then any other person in his present state. He goes by the name of Taliom,
a name given to him by his master. Taliom sat there feeling the breeze on his face and the breathing of the forest pulsing all around him,
memories surfaced regrettably but not unwanted, he needed to face his demons once and for all if he was to be ready to face the world
outside of the forest.
"Hey boy, why don't you go home to your mom, its late and you know how this streets can be at the late hours". Old man Croa of
the local guard was always looking out for me back then, I don't know why he cared but if not for him I might have gotten myself in more
trouble then I would have liked. I remember running home that evening trying desperately to make it back before dark, I knew how my mom
worried about me when I didn't get home early. Fate had different plans for me that night. I was 2 streets from my house when a dark figure
jumped out of the shadows to my left, I knew what it meant for something like that to happen in those parts, but at 10 years I didn't really
know how to be brave just yet, so instead of running like a maniac I froze and started shaking. The man stood there looking at me
with the darkest and most sinister eyes I ever saw. He stepped closer and said, "Hey boy, whats the big hurry? can't you see this here be
civilized land? we don't go running around like animals around this parts. I'll tell you what, come with me and I'll teach you a few things
about being polite". I could barely stand at this point, fear had me frozen and paralyzed, though somehow I managed to say a few words back
"N-n-no thanks sir. I have to be home or my dad's gonna be worried and come looking for me." Of course it was a lie, my dad had left when I
was just 2, but I thought maybe it would scare the man away or at least make him think twice about his actions. "Oh, don't worry bout your
dad if he comes around this parts I'll make sure to teach him a lesson or 2 as well. Now lets get you back to my place so we can start the
teachings, shall we?". The next thing that happened has always been a blur in my head, it all happened so fast that for many years I told
myself it was all a dream. As the man tried to grab me an arrow shot right through his forearm, he backpedaled and screamed looking in all
directions to find the source of the attack, thats when the second shaft hit him, it pierced his head through his left ear and came right through
his right one, the shot was so perfect and precise that the man actually didn't fall right away, he stood there with the strangest look I ever
saw, something between surprise, fear and anger. When the body finally fell I managed to look towards the direction the arrows had come from,
and there in the distance on a rooftop stood a lone figure dressed all in gray with a bow in his left hand. The strangest thing of all was
not the figure it self, it was the distance at which he was, I've walked those streets many times and I can safely say that he stood at least
70 feet away, how he managed to put an arrow in that man's ear was beyond me. The figure seemed to wave at me for a second before falling back
into the shadows of the night, I didn't waste anytime looking or thinking, I ran straight home and didn't even stop to talk to my mom when I
made it inside, I went right into my room and put my head in my pillow. That night's sleep came full of nightmares.
That day was the first time I saw my master. Two years went by before our next meeting, in a situation much like the first time.
A local thug by the name of Brok decided to make me pay a street toll, I tried to get myself out of it by telling him I lived just a street
down; normally only new comers and foreigners were forced to pay this but I suppose one can't expect criminals to follow any code or rule for
long. As the thug tried to take whatever little coinage I had a gray figure stepped out of the alley and said, "Let the boy go, he has nothing
of value". Brok was more surprised then concerned about the interruption, he hoisted me up into the air with his left hand, pointed at the man
and said "You want me to let him go? tell you what, pay me for his toll and yours and I'll consider letting the both of you go" The gray figure
made a gesture with his left hand and magically (I have no other way of explaining this since I have never learned how he did it) a great bow
appeared in his hand, with his right hand he pulled an arrow from what seemed to be a bag of sorts and said to Brok "You have 3 seconds to put
the boy down or I'm going to kill you." Now Brok showed signs of fear, I don't blame him really even I was afraid of the ranger at that moment.
He put me down and walked away saying I wasn't worth the trouble. So there I was face to face with my two times savior, I tried to speak but I
couldn't manage much other then "Thank you sir.", he gave me what looked to be a smile and said "Twice I've saved you, and yet I get the feeling
your afraid of me, why do you feel frighten?", shaken I said "You killed that man a few years ago, my mom said only bad man kill."this time he
really did smile "Ah, smart woman your mom. Your right son I did kill that man, what you didn't see were the murders he committed before attacking
you, I had been on his trail long before that night. The judgment I passed on him was overdue trust me. I am sorry you had to witness it at such
a young age tho." For no better reason than blind trust I believed every word, the man just seemed honorable and trustworthy. Before I could say
anything else the man leaped and climbed to the roof of a building as if he were walking up the wall. That night I dreamed of adventure and
magic.
This last memory comes with a price; my peace of mind. I've tried countless times to forget the events of this fateful day to no avail.
It left a deep scar in my soul, one which I must overcome if I am to move on beyond this trees. I was about fourteen years of age at the time,
my mom asked me to fetch the morning bread from mister Spitter's bakery. On the way to the bakery I had a strange feeling, I was unable to
determine its source so I put it aside in my mind and enjoyed my morning walk. Spitter's store was jammed packed with customers at this time of day, It
took me almost an hour to purchase the bread. As I walked back home the dread feeling amplified, thats when I knew something wasn't right. I ran
the rest of the way home and found the front door unlocked and half open. I called out to my mom as I walked into the house "Hey mom I got the
bread, where are you?" no response. I knew something was terribly wrong at that moment, mother never left the house without telling me where she
was going. Slowly I made my way to the kitchen but she was not there so I decided to check the back yard. At first I saw nothing and almost
turned back inside when I saw a stain on the floor near a tree, I walked towards it and the dread feeling increased with every stride. Nothing
could have prepared me for what I saw; my mom laid there in a pool of her own blood, both her arms were riped off completely and neatly placed
to either side of her, her throat had been sliced by a clean cut from ear to ear and most horrifying both her eyes were riped out and placed in
the open palms of her hands. I stood there frozen, unable to do or say anything. Tears began running down my face. I don't remember much more of
the day after that, I've tried very hard to block those memories from my mind; when something causes so much pain one can't help but try to
avoid it as much as possible.
I awoke the next morning in the same forest I sit in today. I remember walking for hours trying to find my way out of the trees with no
luck. Sometime in the afternoon he came, that same man who saved me twice before. I was sitting by a creek crying, he approached me
and said "Will is your name correct?" almost whispering I answered "Thats right. Why did you bring me to this place? what happened to my mom?" he
seemed saddened as he spoke next "A evil man did it, one I have been chasing for many years. I did not see him do it but I did see the body and
I'm sure it was him. Will, I am terribly sorry for your lose and there is nothing I can say to make you feel better but I must ask of you a great
favor; I'm not getting any younger and I have been chasing that man for over 20 years now, I'm afraid I can't keep the hunt going much longer.
I need an apprentice. One that will swear to chase that man till the ends of the earth and back. I know its a lot to ask of you, but I'm running
out of time. I need an answer now, what will it be?" a multitude of thoughts crossed my mind at that moment, but one seemed to overcome everything
else, revenge. almost enthusiastically I said "When do we start?".
This morning I awoke to a letter saying my training was complete, I looked all over for master but couldn't find any trace of him. I have
been training for 10 years now and the time has finally come for me to begin my hunt. The only clue I have about my prey is he has a serpent like
tattoo on his face.
And so here I am ready to take the road and find the trail of the man who killed my mother. I will start by going to this King Melkar's
summons for adventurers. If there is a place to find evil men its in the company of those who claim to be righteous. May my feet carry me swiftly
and my arrows fly true.