Rope walked back into the Elder's hut and waited politely. "We will listen to your story," said the elder. "Please tell us, who hunts you and why." He gestured for Rope to sit down.
"Very well." Rope said, "It began not much long ago really. I set out from my village to seek my fortune. I would go from town to town and render what aid a swordsman can. I fought bandits, helped expose a few night creatures. One job though proved to be very hard. I was sent to kill a necromancer who's tower was far in the wilderness to the north."
"I was not told that it was not just once, but many in that place, and an untold hoard of undead minions. It took me several days to kill them all, taunting them from outside and drawing out small groups to fight in the open, and sometimes sneaking in under cover of darkness to kill these wizards without drawing notice from their minions." Rope paused, flexing his right hand. "I am suprised I survived. There were many close calls." He takes off his right gauntlet and the leather glove beneath and holds up his hand. The hand is heavily scarred and one of the fingers smashed and useless. "This hand has never healed properly, it pains me and sometimes I it cannot feel."
"After days of fighting I had worked my way up several floors of the tower. And still there were many foes. I was tired and hurt and knew I had pushed my luck as far as it would go. Unsure what to do I looked about me, the necromancers wrote many books. Idly I looked at a few and suddenly realized they held the key to my dilemma. Using their own arts I could make the walking corpses ignore my presence entirely. It seemed a reasonable thing to do. Using my new knowledge I put the last of the necromancers to the sword."
"I took some valuables with me, including the book and returned to civilization," Rope continued. "My report was met with joy. I did not mention my learning of their secrets. I read the book, but it was unsavory, and I did not intend to use such magic."
The village elders listened with rapt attention. So engrossed that when the door opened suddenly some of them almost leapt of of their seats. It was a young boy and girl bringing refreshments. Time had flown by, it was almost noon.
Rope continued as they ate. "I found several people willing to join me in my travels. Together we resolved to rid the area of necromancers and night creatures. I did not mention the book to them, perhaps I should have... After a time we passed close by a cluster of large ancient buildings. Some in the party said they were the burial places of ancient people, prior inhabitants of the land. We resolved to investigate."
"Things went very poorly...we disturbed some ancient undead thing. It itself had necromantic powers and raised the very bones at out feet. It looked straight into my eyes and I felt chilled to my core. That cold has not left my bones yet though it was almost a moon ago." Rope shivered involuntarily and despite the warness of the room drew his cloak tighter.
"What happened next?" the local blacksmith asked
"A very disorganized fight broke out. I just couldn't kill the beast that seemed to be at the heart of the madness. My companions would fight, but for nothing, as soon as they struck a foe down and turned to another the first would rise. In desperation I did a terrible and foolish thing. I used the knowledge from the book. I thought perhaps if I raised the bones it would be better, that they would aid me or at least be passive.
An uncomfortable murmur ran through the room. Rope continued doggedly, eager to complete the tale. "Finally despite the strange sickness I felt I struck a true blow and took the head off the ancient corpse and it crumpled, then I dashed it's thralls to pieces. Outside I found the last of my friends who was still living. A spearman he was and a brave fighter. He had from the look of it many broken bones and was barely conscious, and yet as I approached to aid him he summoned the strength to stab me in the shoulder. Perhaps he saw me raise the bones and felt betrayed I do not know. Even in his injured state he pursued me. Not wanting to hurt my friend I left the place"
"I soon found though that I was not welcome anywhere. Peasants would not speak to me, and at a fort where I was well known the guard attacked on sight. I think perhaps my former friend told the whole world that I was a necromancer. Perhaps I am."
"I wandered for a while. I thought perhaps I would leave the kingdom, but I did not want to and I still had some tasks unfinished. For a time I traveled to and fro completing my quests sleeping in the wilderness. I admit I used my newfound dark gifts a few times. It was the only way to keep the boogeymen at bay...and they helped. Can you imagine what the kick of a hippopatamous does to the head of a kobold bandit? It is impressive to be sure. I needed the help. I have done poorly ever since that thing in the crypt stared into my soul, sometimes it as if all my strength leaves me and I can hardly move for a moment."
"My last quest was in the hamlet to the north. I was given the name of a vampire living in secret there. I crept in at night. I found the creature awake, as they do not need rest. It recognized me as a foe and struck at me, but I beheaded it in a single stroke. A carpenter awoke however and apparently took me for a murderer, and gave chase. I rendered him unconscious with i hope no permanent damage and made my escape. That is when I came here, and why I ask that you do not mention me to your neighbors.
The villagers stared, a variety of expressions visible, awe, disbelief, suspision, fear. The eldest looked to and fro at his companions and then nodded, as if somehow they had reached agreement. "Your tale is strange and in some ways shocking. I feel you have probably told us the truth as far as you know it. There is risk though, we do not really know you, and you admit to having dark and dangerous powers. If you wish our help prove yourself to us please. There is a vampire bandit chieftain to the southwest. Go and slay him please and return with proof. Perhaps then my fellows will be trusting and you will have a place here. In the meantime, we will keep your secrets."
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Ok there we go, this guy had some backstory to set up, I tried to tell it briefly, but it's still kinda -wall-o-text.
Cliff notes: Rope gets quest to kill necromancer, turns out to be whole towerful. He gets his right hand really messed up. With nothing else to do he reads one of their books which lets him bypass the rest of the zombies. Then later in a tomb something goes horribly wrong, he gets cursed, and somehow he gets his compaions/civ turned against him. Going from hero to outlaw in his beloved land.
Come back soon to learn how Rope does with the vampire bandit.
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Topic: The Tale of Rope Divinehounds: Life's hard when your cursed. (Read 5745 times)