I finally got around to actually writing today. I was able get through it by repeating to myself that nothing is canon and I can always change things around later if I want. So here's the opening scene, as it is now:
A group of five travelers approach a small cottage at the edge of town on cloudy morning. The lead of the group, a thin woman in her thirties, motions for the others to stop, then goes up to the door, knocks three times, and returns.
“You know, I was surprised when you said he was still alive,” says a young man in the group wearing a pointed wide-brim hat.
“Why? I never said he was dead,” says the woman who had knocked.
“Yeah, but you always speak of him so reverently, and considering the stories you’ve told, I’m surprised he’s still-”
The door swings open and a great old bulk of a man with many visible scars fills the frame. “Alerius!” he shouts with a smile that shows his many missing teeth.
“Baynor!” says the woman, running up and hugging him. Baynor wraps his massive arms around Alerius in return, giving her a good squeeze.
“It’s good to see you, Kiddo.” He looks up. “And it’s good to see [name] back there,” he says, looking at a man about Alerius’s age with a quiver across his shoulder, “but who the heck are these young’uns?”
Alerius releases herself from his embrace. “This is our new wizard, Korlin,” she says, gesturing towards the young man in the pointy hat. “And this is Yahlina,” she points at a rather muscular-looking girl, “and [insert name here],” [fill in character information later].
“So where’s [name], [name], and [name]?”
“We’ll talk about that later. Right now we have business to discuss. Will you let us in?”
“Of course, of course.” He ushers them all in, and as [archer dude] steps through, he gives him a handshake and a hearty slap on the back that nearly knocks him off his feet. “Make yourselves at home. Can I get you anything? Dwarven whiskey, perhaps?”
“It’s nine in the morning,” Alerius says with a disapproving look on her face.
“Alright, fine, Elven wine it is, then.”
The disapproving look continues.
“Fine, fine, I have some tea. It’s old, and I’ll have to dig out the kettle, but it should do for teetotalers like yourself.”
“I’m not a teetotaler, I just think for the time of day-”
“So what was this business you mentioned?” Baynor interrupts, not looking away as he searches through the cabinets. He looks back toward the group. “And I did say to make yourselves comfortable, didn’t I? You can go ahead and sit down,” he says, gesturing to a beat-up old sofa and some chairs in the living room.
Most of the party sits down except for Alerius, who stands until Baynor gives her a look, and she relents to lean against the sofa.
“Well, the nation of Krildar has been having trouble with some rough characters running around their territory; their offering a bounty of 1000 [currency] per head. The official description puts them as often appearing in groups of five and all wearing identical armor: bronze with visible mechanical parts and a tiger’s head in silver on the front. Sound like anyone you know?”
“Sounds like a dead-ringer for the [name] Army. I tussled with ‘em more than a couple of times back in the day.” He continues rummaging. “Ah, here’s the blasted kettle! Oh, but we’ve got no water.”
“[name] will get it,” says Alerius, looking at [one of the younger members; I haven’t decided]. “You noticed the well we passed back in town, right?”
[he or she] nods.
“Good.” As [name] goes to fetch the water, she looks back at Baynor. “I remember them from your stories. I was hoping you had more information on them. Did you ever take one down?”
“Yeah, a few. They’re tough, more than a match for your average soldier, but a group of skilled enough individuals should be able to defeat a small group without casualties. I know you and [archer dude] are up to snuff, but what about the newbies? Are they-”
“More than good,” says Alerius with a small tone of indignation.
“Just checking. Okay, but if you do this, I’m coming with you.”
“What? But you retired.”
“So I’m unretiring, okay? Last time we fought these guys, there were six of us, so you could use another fighter. And something about this situation seems fishy to me. The [name] Army always hung out in Omenthus; I don’t understand why they’d be as far south as Krildar.”
“I don’t know.”
“You need me for this one. You know it just as well as I. Look, I’m not trying to usurp your position here. There’s a reason I made you leader, and it’s not just because I was retiring.
“I’m not giving any orders, here; I’m no longer your superior. It’s your call to make, but I’ve got valuable information, skills, and contacts that you’re going to need for this mission. I’m asking you, Alerius, let me back in.”
“That’s Commander Alerius from now on.”
“Yes, sir!”
All things, including names, are subject to change. I'm at 822 words so far.
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Topic: NaNoWriMo 2014: It's Over! (Read 24833 times)