Journal of Maloy the hero of the Colorless Hills found underneath a pile of rubbleToday is the day of my founding! To prove my worth to my people as a hearthperson I am to be sent out to vanquish a threat to our people. I'll follow in the tradition of my fathers in serving the land and it's people! My dad was so proud when he came by my home this morning and brought a gift: The most finely-crafted copper breasplate in all of Hailenjoyed! He used most of his savings up on it.
After he helped me put it on I packed and would begin by going to the keep to learn what dangers I must face. As the latest in a long-line of heroes and a well known local hopes were high, and my expectations for myself were even higher!
Maloy bid farewell to his elven roommate, he had mentioned his plans to do even greater than any other foundling in deed, and she told others. Now many were either encouraging him or trying to convince him to not take such a foolish course.
This house was shared with a bone carving store. All the tenants would switch between manning the store and farming. The dual lifestyle was expected and Maloy would continue that between his duties as a soldier.
He stepped out into the bright sunlight. He could barely feel the gentle breeze through his armor. Clad head to toe in copper and with a large copper two-handed sword slung across his back. It looked and functioned more as a huge chunk of metal, a blunt object, than it did as a slicing weapon.
Hailenjoyed was majority elven and those who had either survived or been born from victims of necromancer experiments. Thus the town was a green paradise. Wooden buildings crammed with stores and people lined the streets only broken up by rows or different berry plants and altars.
The wild plants had a simple law: One could take and eat freely, but not pack their bags with them. This was more of an honor code than enforced, but it was rarely broken as having neighbors who liked you when times were tough was much more important than getting some extra fruit that would rot.
Maloy tried his luck rolling die at an altar and beamed at the admission from the heavens that he would be successful.
He crossed into the bustling market square. As you turn the corner the volume difference is staggering for those from smaller hamlets. Laughing, jeering, shouting, and arguing all played out in a cacophony as merchants eagerly worked their magic and customers haggled or discussed amongst themselves.
Many offered him deals on good luck charms and leather gear to help him on his founding day, and Maloy just waved them all off as he continued. At the end of the market stood someone he recognized: Etile
Today was her founding as well and the two would likely be teamed up.
Her long white hair was hidden by a helm, but her bright olive eyes were perfectly visible from under it.
"So slow, human. One would almost forget that you were a mortal and short-lived race with how much you dawdle" she jabbed
"Well, I must be walking somewhat slower with all this gear I have. Speaking of do you hope to stop a sword wearing nothing, but kindling?" He returned. Her eyes narrowed to slits and she responded "This is the traditional armor of my people. We win battles through skill and grace and not by wearing melted stones"
Maloy threw his hands up in a helpless gesture "Far be it from me to offend the one I'll be stuck with for the next several days. Shall we be off?"
Wooden armor was about as effective as leather, but it was far cheaper to have made. Many elves still clung to it as a matter of tradition though.
The ceremony was brief. The only other humans in town were the political and religious leaders. The duo kneeled in the keep as the local law-giver and abbot spoke of rights and duties and blessed them both. At the end of the ceremony as they both stood the law-giver spoke again "As you both know our town has fallen under new rulership. Lord Almo the first of his name shall lead us into a new age and he has taken great interest in the founding. For the period of your trial he has offered you his sword: Stalkmatches"
At this there was an audible gasp from all in the room. Stalkmatches was the most well-known sword of this world, how did this mysterious lord acquire it? He offered it freely.
The law-giver stepped aside and at the end of the room stood his lordship. Next to him the perfect blade stood. Despite all it's use it shined more beautifully than anything the two of them had ever seen and knew no wear.
His lordship spoke "Take it, Maloy. Show us what caliber of a man you are. Find glory or death"
Maloy approached and drew his copper broadsword. He held it in his left hand and as he approached and took Stalkmatches in the other the abbot piped up from the back of the room "You might want to leave that heap of metal here, young man"
"I will add my legend to that of Stalkmatches, but still I must be able to build my own legend. I shall wield both" and he lifted them both into the air.
Etile audible scoffed behind him "I'll still be healthy and fit when you're legend and bones are long dust, but I will watch your back"
From there they sat out north-west. They found a pasture of horses, incredibly common in these lands, and both claimed one for themselves to ease the travel.
The colorless hills were just that before the elves moved in, but now after so long living with humans the lands were a garden paradise. The founding ensured that threats bordering on their lands were suitably dealt with, or at the least, measured for a true military response.
They passed elven and human refugees from other lands who were being watched over and escorted by other soldiers from Hailenjoyed. They knew nothing of the land they were in, but spoke of the necromancer who had destroyed their home and left them without anything, but the two could do little for their immediate needs other than bid them well and pray for their journey. Despite Etile's exterior she was actually quite compassionate to those in need and dropped her usual façade in their presence.
They followed along the base of the western mountains and then a river up to cursed lands. Here all vestiges of nature had died. Dried, withered and long dead grass broke underfoot never to rise again.
Etile looked visibly ill in the place. Maloy wondered if it was a matter of personal taste or if the elves really did derive power and energy from nature.
From atop a hill they found that the entire area was filled with small spires. They almost looked like crypts and they approached the nearest quietly. Despite this several figures shambled out. Elves. Some were completely rotted skeletons, but most were zombies whose flesh was still actively rotting.
The two dismounted and set to work.
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Topic: Stalkmatches - The blade of many hands (Weapon Succession Game) (Read 24805 times)