Open Chronicles Every Journey Needs A Start

[Helna]

3 days prior, at the Snow-Wolves settlement within the Spine

"<<Are you sure about this?>>" Helna's dearest friend, Ulgyth, stood close by as the she-orc continued to pack her bag, brows furrowed. "<<Have you even spoken to Kalhe about this? What does she think?>>"

Helna paused to look at the other she-orc. "<<I haven't talked to her, no. I rarely ever get to see her beyond mealtime and she's never here long enough to hold an actual conversation. But I don't think she'll object.>>"

"<<I don't know, Helna. She's not the same as she used to be. Haven't you noticed?>>" Ulgyth handed her friend a shirt. "<<She's grown up into a somber young orcess, no longer happy and loud. Kalhe doesn't like being around other members her age -- what makes you think she'll say yes to travelling for months with her mother?>>"

"<<Ulgyth, I have been paying attention. That's the point. These past two years my daughter has been drifting away from everyone, especially me. There's a gaping canyon between us, and I need to do something to fix it. And my gut tells me, this is it.>>" Helna placed a hand on the other orc's shoulder, giving her a gentle smile. "<<Trust in me. We will return, with our relationship renewed. I believe it.>>"

Footsteps drew both of their attention, and they simultaneously turned to watch Kalhe walk in, carrying her bow. The young orc paused, frowning as she looked at the bag. "<<What's going on?>>"

Ulgyth threw Helna a look. "<<I'll leave you two alone. Good day, Kalhe.>>"

"<<Good day.>>" The teen looked back at her mother. "<<Where are you going?>>"

"<<Where are we going,>>" Helna softly corrected her. "<<It's been two years since...since they died. It's clear neither one of us has been able to move on, and Kalhe -- we barely talk to each other anymore. So, I was hoping to take you across Arethil, to see what's beyond the Spine. I feel this will be a good way to work on healing, the both of us.>>"

Kalhe was silent for several minutes, long enough to cause Helna worry. But then she shrugged, breaking the tension. "<<Okay,>>" she simply said, and walked off. The older she-orc was left standing there for a moment, processing what had just happened. And for the first time since her husband and son died, the woman felt a trickling of excitement.

**********

Present day, City Center of Belgrath

After a three-day journey, the mother and daughter (along with an escort of Ulgyth's husband and his brother) finally arrived at the once-great city of Belgrath. Here, the pair relinquished their canine mounts, carrying their supplies and weapons on their shoulders. Helna couldn't help but be impressed with the beauty and liveliness that was present in the Center. It was a completely different environment than what she was used to, and the woman was reveling in it. Kalhe, on the other hand, seemed uneasy.

"<<What's wrong?>>"

"<<It's...loud. And clean. Different from the wilderness.>>"

Helna nodded slowly in understanding. "<<It will take some getting used to, but I have faith in your ability to adapt.>>" She squeezed her daughter's shoulder for a moment, adding, "For now, let us practice our Common, and find a place to sleep for the night."

"Where?" Unlike Helna, Kalhe's Common sounded much more natural, though still unable to be mistaken as her native tongue.

"I do not know, we may need to walk around for a period."

The pair spent a few minutes in silence, taking in the sights as they walked around. Then, "Should we look for a group to join, to head west?"

Helna cast an approving glance at her daughter. "Indeed, that is good. I hope they wait until sunrise to leave."

Kalhe ducked her head down at the praise, hiding her face. Even so, Helna was pleased. So far, her daughter had had a relatively good reaction to the surprise trip, and she hoped it was a sign of how their adventure was going to go.

 

[Ayman]

Just near the entrance of the inner-city of Belgrath sat Aymen.

He had taken a room at a small Inn, a homely place that had clearly been built with the idea of foreigners in mind. The building itself was a bit taller than normally found in Belgrath, the doorways a bit wider, and everything built for proportions that were decidedly not for dwarves.

That was why he had picked this place, and he suspected it was the same for many foreigners and outsiders.

The Inn had two levels. On the first floor was a small tavern and common room, on the second was a full suite of rooms. The former was currently occupied by a dozen or so travelers, most of them hailing from the far flung corners of Arethil.

He'd spotted a few Orcs, some Humans like him, and there was even an Elf!

None of them were playing cards or dice, though the tavern Keeper assured him that would come when 'night' began to fall. How they could tell all the way down here underneath the mountain Aymen wasn't sure, but the prospect of dice put him in a slightly better mood.

If he didn't win any money he'd never make it back to the harbor.

 

[Demyra Runeheart also Vi]

Demyra popped into the tavern Aymen had found himself in after wandering aimlessly around the city for a while, her eyes scanning the foundation of the tavern with her strange eyes. Along her fingers were a set of 10 rings that normally sat dormant, but now glowed and rotated around the finger. Along each ring was a series of sigils, and were used to store common spells that she used for easy access.

She walked over to the bar at the tavern, her long black cloak flowing softly. It hung at her shoulders where it clipped into the dark top and the borders of her dark leather gear. Her hair was let down, the crimson curls bouncing with each small step that she made. Each step was punctuated with a soft click from the heels of the thick leather boots that she wore. They had all kinds of nfravings and symbols along them, and were clearly hand worked. She slid onto the bar stool, putting some gold on the counter and ordering a glass of ale.

She never stopped looking around, almost as if she wasnt from around this parts and didnt want to do anything that would label her as an outsider. She was tense in her shoulders, a state she took whenever she visited somewhere she had never been. It was especially in a place as busy as this one.

 

[Nithron]

Nithron would have already had a few to drink as he sat at one of the table drinking and eating some warm food. He'd watch all of them enter the tavern with a quiet glance before going back to eating. Next to him someone was just chatting away giving him a head ache, "Good sir, do you mind being quiet for a few minutes!" He'd growl sighing but the drunk man kept babbling away.

This was the last straw as the buzzed elf got up and walked over to the counter, "Keeper, can I get two more pints and a room please?" He would ask setting down a few gold coins smiling. "Oh and whatever you got food wise." The keeper would nod and hand him a key as Nithron sat down, "Thank you sir." He'd tell the keeper with a sly smile s he received his two pints of lovely ale.

 

[Ayman]

Ayman cocked his head slightly, listening to Nithron as he spoke in a rather...upright manner.

He couldn't help but smile at that, mostly because it would make for an incredibly easy mark. Stretching back against the wall for a moment Aymen let out a loud yawn. A hand slipped into his pocket and he gently patted the dice within, standing a moment later as he made his way to the bar.

"Rather loud, eh?" Aymen asked the man with a smile.

Had he been paying more attention to his surroundings he might have seen Demyra Runeheart also Vi poking around the room, her eyes as curious as that of a kitten out of the den.

 

[Demyra Runeheart also Vi]

She took notice of all of the people around her, though she didnt know any of them and definitely had no idea where she was. The sound of the elf speaking out to the beings at the bar made Demyra focus her attention on Nithron. As she did, she also paid attention of the other being that came across as well. .She had to try hard not to cock her head, as that was a habit of hers from when she was quite young. She could feel that in the air there was something stirring, various beings drawing towards the tavern.

She could feel that multiple unique creatures would all meet here, the ground vibrating through the stool she was sitting at. Her life force linked with the earth, and it told her things. The movement of beings towards this tavern was easy to discern, and it may have just been fate that brought them together. She released the connection, as the constant patter of feet against the earth was making her nauseous. Even though she could sense through her magic, she only did so in short bursts around large clusters of beings.

She tuned out everything else but the two that she had been focusing on, just giving enough attention to herself to make sure that she was safe. She didnt care much, as she knew that the earth would rise to defend her if it needed to. It would burst through the floor if it had to. so she was trying to avoid having to pay for repairs again.

 

[Nithron]

"Yes sir." Nithron smiles some, "Kinda makes my ears ache a little if you know what I mean." Nithron points at his ears, "Hearing sensitive and all that shit." He'd say with slurred speech as he drank some more ale. "Name is Nithron..." He'd offer his hand to Ayman, "Nice to meet you." He'd say chuckling with a drunk blush on his cheeks.

He had been in the pub for a while now and had been drinking for a little while now. Basically he played a few drinking games and won but now the amount of alcohol in his system was effecting him a bit.

 

[Ayman]

"Ayman." There was no danger in giving his real name, not here.

It was unlikely that he would ever return to Belgrath...hell if he had his choice he would be leaving within just a few short hours. Just needed enough coin to actually get on the wagon and get back to the Sparrow.

He watched as the man take a small swig of his drink.

A frown touched his face for a moment, an odd feeling creeping up his spine...almost as if he was being watched. A moment passed, and then he shook his head. Nonsense.

He told himself.

"What brings you to Belgrath?" He asked the man. "Not common to see your folk here."

Not that Ayman would really know.

 

[Nithron]

“Just whatever needs done. Wander of sorts.” Nithron answers, “Life is more exciting this way.” He’d raise an eyebrow at Ayman’s comment about his folk, “I suppose that part is true also. But I dont know much of them anymore. Times changed.” He’d say having finsihed up the one drink and was now on the other.

“Please, tell me why you are here Ayman. You look as if you seen some stuff.” He’d ask his drinking buddy at this point turning around in his seat to look at the tavern resting his back against the counter. His gaze would pass over the woman watching them but weather he noticed he did not give away.