A Man Is No One

Into the Dark

The Thirsty Lute

Nestled beside the Cherafir River across from the Grandrather Forest, the Thirsty Lute a traveler’s haven for those meandering around the southern portion of the midlands. What’s even more impressive is that it rarely finds itself a target of trouble or infamy. It is a wholesome place where Yggdrasil is public praised every evening and only the most rowdy of fellows are provided free airfare through the buildings double doors. It is never directly spoken of, more out of unfamiliarity than any threat of danger. But it is quite a popular stopping point for many regulars that travel the region or find themselves need a place to rest for the evening or the entire night.

It is a large establishment while hosting a basement level that double both as a common sleeping room for those unable to afford something more private, as well as a food cellar - separated by a common wall of course. The main level provides ample room for eating alone at smaller tables that seat four or for participating in the “Stranger Table” whereas many as sixteen people may sit comfortably around a large rectangular table. It is encouraged by the proprietors, to ensure an amicable atmosphere that this table always be filled first. It allows strangers to sit side by side with the intention of becoming fast friends. With the darkness spreading, a few friends would never hurt. More importantly, the Thirsty Lute is built around a massive hearth that helps keep the entire building warm on those cool spring nights and allows in an ample downdraft when left empty on those particular sweltering summer days. Above that room is a strange split level built sleeping quarter with a variety of rooms, and comfort levels for people who come in droves or all by themselves. Even the attic has a few rooms available for renting at a much lower cost, if the stairs aren’t any bother nor the dust or smell.

The Thirsty Lute boasts two particularly unique delicacies that help maintain a regular customer base. Midlands Ale, known quite well around the southern Midlands and produced in the capital is distributed far across the land from the smallest taverns to the largest ale houses in the biggest cities. The Thirsty Lute provides a sweetened version of this ale that pulls at the palette with the bitter taste of a typical ale, and the added sweetness of vanilla. It is quite a beverage for the weary traveler. The second is a hearty stew favoring featuring a delicious conglomerate of vegetables, spices, and meats considered a jealously guarded family recipe. A light meal it is not; however, a bowl before bed and a good night’s sleep that lasts well into the next morning is guaranteed.

Rarely will you see Ignatius Hogworth in the common room during the regular hours when the common room is the most occupied. The current proprietor of the Thirsty Lute, Ignatius is a pious man that keeps Yggdrasil in a positive light. He is also the establishments main chef. A salty old man he has a good heart and a rough exterior honed by years of life upon Errandil that eventually forced him to move beyond his place of birth and into a more solitary life. The most personal information ever milked from this dried up cow is that he is not a native of the Kingdom of Duringham or the lands of the southern midlands that make up its territory. His daughter Rebecca is the tavern’s main waitress and housekeeper (the latter being a role that everyone participates in). She is a grown woman but as with most girls clings to her father’s presence. Humble and proper, this young woman is pleasant to be around and maintains a great amount of the daily dealings with the clientele. Finally, is Malcom who was a local from the western isles that came across the Thirsty Lute and earned Ignatius’ favor. He has worked for the man for many years. It is quite apparent that he is smitten with his daughter and works constantly to prove himself worthy of her hand. While they are not actively involved, the flirtation is present to Ignatius disapproval.

(Author’s Note) If one might be interested, there may be room on board the staff of the tavern all one would merely have to do is inquire with Ignatius. Of course, what sort of person would hide out in such a roundabout place unless they came from an even lesser known locality.

Ignatius Hogworth

Rebecca Hogworth

Malcom Grum

Into the Dark

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The afternoon hours were oppressive. Summer had cast spring aside and it had done so with a vengeance. The sun began its descent just after high noon as it had always done but still the temperature had risen to an unreasonable high for an early summer day. Combining the temperature with the humidity in the air that was so thick it hurt to breathe made for a deadly combination if one was not careful. Even the grass hung low with exhaustion as the sun beat down on every blade that silently wept for the humidity to coalesce into the much desired precipitation that had not blessed the land in a few weeks.

Even the animals were struggling to cope with the heat. The prey of the midlands struggled to rest easy in what little shade they could find, even though a predator was nigh to be seen. Those that could be found were seen lazing around the grassy plains or lapping up water as if the rivers would soon run dry. Perhaps there had been some sort of unspoken truce for such an occurrence when the weather was the dominating factor controlling the lives of every beings across land. What any of them would do for a nice ocean breeze, unfortunately an ocean could not be seen for leagues in any direction.

Xander had learned early on, that if he was going to travel along the main road across the midlands north of his hometown of Pyre, it was best to do so in the shade when at all possible. On this particular day, before the sun had reached its peak the young man had waded across the Cherafir River to exploit the shade of the Glandrather Forest. Yes it was dangerous, that much was well known to those of the area. But it would not matter compared to the potentially slow death of heat exhaustion. The shade provided by the forest’s tall and ancient trees provided a level of protection far outweighed the potential risk.

More importantly, Xander had made great time. The comfort from the penetrating rays of the sun that the shadows of the trees had provided allowed him to move swiftly along the river’s banks, whereas others had to approach the day’s travels in a more reserved manner. The young man had reached the first checkpoint in his journey before he had previously thought possible. It would seem determination and a little planning would go a long way on this journey.

Xander had reached the Thirsty Lute well before the evening had begun to set, as the establishment was still quiet. The fire had burned low in the hearth. The tables were clean. The common room was quiet. The growing scent of roasting stew and baking bread hung heavily in the air. The barkeep spent more time in the kitchen then behind the bar, lackadaisical ensuring that the preparations for decent night had been made. Xander was not sure what to expect, but he learned quickly and would certainly pick up on the common comings and goings of the local establishment as time had carried on.

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Soon evening had set in. The Thirsty Lute was full of life. Although the inn was not overcome by patrons it appeared densely packed. The plethora of tables that had once been clean were now slathered in crumbs soaked with spilled ale. The floor decorated with the footprints of muddy boots that had long since moved on. Chairs were askew and people moved among the common room sharing in the fine atmosphere. A newly feed fire blazed in the hearth, illuminating the room far better than the menagerie of table lamps and sconces positioned throughout.

Xander found a suitable if slightly uncomfortable wooden chair near the hearth. There were six chairs all together, each couple split by a smaller table more suitable for decoration than for eating. It allowed him to keep his back to the wall and a grand view of the door, even if it were obscured by the growing crowd. He was not yet a teenager but no one had questioned his choice of beverage, a mug of Midlands Ale brought down from the capital, and made the Thirsty Lute’s own by adding a spoonful of sugar and a crush bean of vanilla. It was considered the inn’s delicacy, but the boy nursed it with caution nonetheless.

He had been lucky to arrive early. He had his pick of the beds upon arrival save for a few that were on reserve. He found a small room on the second floor with nothing more than a bed and a small end table. But it had a window that opened and a door that locked. Perhaps he was being over cautious, It was not often that news spread from the central regions of the Midlands that the darkness meandered about unchecked. Xander felt he had to maintain a certain level of control over his situation as he would not be able to control those around him. He was on a mission, and the first stop was this inn.

“Another mug kid,” the Innkeeper inquired just before Xander had tried to wave him off. “We don’t get a lot of young’ns here, best mind yourself on these roads. Not entirely safe by ‘urself.”

Xander took the opportunity to peruse the room. He used the innkeeps position to camoflauge his blatantly obvious investigation. A few more men had entered the place. A number of shorter fellows in the corner had started off on a wonderful game of the drink. A few at the group table in the center had become boisterous taking up cards and offering slanderous jests in their attempts to gain an upper hand.

“Who’s that fellow over there,” Xander asked the Innkeeper, motioning to a corner table with a tip of his head.

“Not too sure about that one there. Came in with the rest of the crowd. Not a regular though…” The innkeep said before turning away from the young man. “Yggdrasil be kind to you boy, he always keeps the little ones.”

“Until they actually need ‘em,” Xander replied thinking of the sister that the Innkeeper could not possibly know.

He turned his head to eye the stranger in the corner more directly. He examined his garb, trying to ascertain any level of threat but could obtain nothing of any use. A normal individual by all accounts. He swiftly shifted away. Did he see Xander staring? He couldn’t help but contemplate the implications of a perceived interest. Was he being nosey, paranoid, overcompensating for his lack of understanding or presence? Initiating the conversation was half the battle. But with so many people it was a battle that could go very wrong very quickly.

Into the Dark

Xander Hsine

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Xander Hsine was born in the small hamlet of Pyre, in the southern region of the Midlands between the Cherafir River and the Glandrather Forest. He was just shy of thirteen years old, an age some might still consider tender. Further introduction in Xander’s history would suggest otherwise. At such a young age, love was never a consideration but there had been talk of a marriage amongst his parents - perhaps to the carpenter’s daughter or maybe even the blacksmith’s. His father was a member of the hamlet’s small dedicated guard leaving himself alongside his mother and sister to maintain the small farm used to assist in feeding the small population of the hamlet. Xander Hsine is a medium sized human male that stands just shy of sixteen hands and weighs in at about ten stones.

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Xander often times acts as his conscience directs him with little regard for what others expect of him. He makes his own way, but he is kind and benevolent. He believes in goodness and right but has little use for laws and regulations. Xander hates it when people try to intimidate others and tell them what to do. He follows his own moral compass, which, although good, may not agree with that of society. He may be young, but his actions combine a good heart with a free spirit.

While Xander could only be considered loosely pious, he does believe in the same deity that everyone else in Errandil follows. It goes by many titles; the Uncaring, the Protector and Preserver of Life, Dweller on the Horizon, the Watchful Protector, the Scourge of Battle, the Soul Forger, the Bringer of Darkness, the Shining One, and the Whispered One. Depending on which part of the world one encounters its clergy, they may be good or evil. Regardless of titles or alignments, one name is prevalent in the common tongue across the land - Yggdrasil. As Xander was raised, Yggdrasil represented all that was good in their lives as the Protector and Preserver of Life. In times of sowing, they would make offerings to Yggdrasil praying for a great harvest. In times of travel they would pray for a watchful eye to keep them safe on their journey. And on the occasions swords were drawn, they asked that Yggdrasil be righteous and just. However, after the atrocities that befell Pyre Xander now believes otherwise. Yggdrasil is the darkness that plagues the lands of Errandil. It is Yggdrasil’s emanating darkness that plagues the land and its influence that corrupts the living into terrible beasts that afflict the land. Xander is not a pious individual. He would rather rely on himself and others than pray to Yggdrasil for assistance in any form.

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Physical Appearance

Author’s Notes: Please be kind enough to omit his floating appearance as well as the dragon’s eye amulet dangling from his neck. These aspects will play no part in the character’s portrayal.

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Before Xander began his journey, the boy lived in the small hamlet of Pyre. It was a rural community under the protection of Orthreloth with very little to offer the Kingdom outside of bodies if the horns of war ever rang across the fields of the Midlands. It was but a few bodies at that. He lives with his parents and his older sister in a small farmhouse that was quite suitable for their needs but would certainly leave a city dweller with something very much so to desire. Like his parents, Xander spent his days either tending to the fields or training with his short sword to become a member of the Guard upon coming of age. While his mother and sister would train to act in times of emergency fighting when they needed to, he as his father did would fight to protect the hamlet whenever danger threatened. A mediocre farm at best, Xander did as he had too while growing up to escape the punishment of his father for not tending to his homestead duties. However, he felt his true calling was that of the blade and subsequently devoted as much time as possible to swordplay and athletic activity to ensure his ability to protect the people of Pyre would never be questioned. While he was quite average in stature for his age, Xander proved to do exceptionally well with his short sword.

His familial background was quite typical as well. His grandparents, even his great grandparents were buried in the same hamlet that he grew up in. Xander came from a line of farmers and hamlet guardsmen. His uncle was a skilled craftsmen, trained as a cobbler but was drawn to the fabulous life of big city living. Xander was never lucky enough to learn from him. An old family tale tells of his maternal great grandfather participating in a march through the Massif during an expedition to destroy Gilgondorin, but the truth of that story only Yggdrasil knows. Overall, the young man has a rather mundane family line.

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Most importantly to Xander, quite frankly the thing he values most is his older sister. She is the reason he ran away from home. Fallen ill from poison of the darkness acquired when the dark forces of Yggdrasil invaded from the forest, the hamlet clergy who doubled as physicians deemed her unable to be cured. They deemed their only form of action would be to make her comfortable through the terrible ordeal she was bound to endure for an amount of time that no one could possibly determine. However, a book found in the Lords home told of a way that may save his sister from the darkness and perhaps himself from the affliction already suffered as well. While both herbal and arcane in nature it is the only route visible to Xander. He values this knowledge and he values his sister enough to disobey his father, flee his home and journey to acquire the things he needs to save her. On the same note, his greatest fear is returning empty handed knowing that while his motives were pure he wasted what little precious time he had left with his sister on a fool’s errand. Learning that his entire trip was all for naught would be devastating to his fragile psyche. It is something he rarely thinks about directly, but that potential sense of failure slowly naws at the back of his mind.

Overall, his attitude and approach to life are quite simple. How could a young adolescent boy overcomplicate such a simple thing. Life is an adventure. A dangerous, life threatening adventure where you have to make tough decisions on a whim, sometimes at the tip of a sword. Xander has to trust his instincts. Making friends and enemies as he sees fit. He will journey to the ends of the planet to achieve his goal, using his own moral compass to determine his way. He is willing to accept help, but not at the expense of his mission. And he is willing to help based on that same understanding.

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While young, Xander still possess valuable strengths that a party may find explicitly useful. His stature is quite typical for his age but his ability with a short sword (used in his left hand) is quite formidable though it does not necessarily offset the lack of physical strength when compared to a seasoned warrior of greater age and experience. His agile defenses and evasive maneuvers may be able to offset his lack of strength but once again that quick foot movement can only work as long as he can move. Physical strength is his most difficult weakness to overcome. It is only seconded by the lack of experience that makes Xander a viable victim for any who cross his path. He is just almost thirteen and still has very much to learn. Quite frankly, common sense can only take him so far. He can improve his fighting skills by training every day. He can grow in strength by doing the same. But learning things like reading people in daily interactions, combat, or shady situations is not something that can be learned by training but only experience. It will be a task that cannot be overcome overnight.

Finally, one of his most potent yet miserable strengths is his very own touch of darkness. It is visible on his face, a small patch of chromatically black scales with a metallic sheen. But it is most notable on his left arm, from the tip of his middle finger to his left pectoral, the same chromatically black scales with a metallic sheen. However, his arm is certainly more pronounced with thick plates and spikes of what appears to be some sort of exoskeleton or daemonic armor. It resonates with the subtle hue of glowing red embers in various places simulating what might be considered some sort of biological material. In onlookers at the very least it generates apprehension but at the very worst, it can provide a reason for the mob mentality to take over with murderous intent. For what better option is there than death for what cannot be easily understood? The piece is tougher than iron, defending against the edge of a blade or the flat of hammer like a shield. There is some arcane resonance within as it can resist Yggdrasil’s might with a certain ward like power. Truthfully, little is known about this appendage. The clerics of his town were unable to ascertain any legitimate knowledge from books or observation, let alone any concept of treatment. Of course, the world of Errandil is quite large. Someone has to know something.

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Into the Dark

Seeking advanced long term partner for 1x1 rp!

Rytsas se Valar Morghulis.

A man would introduce himself but as it goes without saying, a man has no name. However, a man is quite intrigued with regards to your desires for a long term role playing partner. I too am looking for something similar. Quite frankly, I was looking for someone to adventure off into an unknown land that we discover and compose in what you might be familiar with as a Milieu Story whereas, the journey is more center stage than the characters themselves. Contemplate stories such as Gulliver's Travels or to a certain level Lord of the Rings. As it were, I believe your implication is that while we may create the setting - the characters too should be quite important. I can agree with this and I believe we would be able to obligue each other's desires. Perhaps I can acquire a few blank maps from the web, we can pick one and move around from there. Of course, we can flesh out the idea a bit here before we begin or we can do so on Discord if you'd prefer. Of course we'd have to move our interaction to the 1x1 forum. The only downside I would like to throw out there on my half is that I can guarentee avid discussion regarding the adventure, background, et cetera - however, I cannot guarentee that I would be able to post more than once a week. (Adulting an all...)

If any of this sounds interesting enough, I'll be looking forward to hearing from.

Geros Ilas,

A Typical Reintroduction..._

@Parzivol

All of this is fair, let us discuss these matters via Discords on our already joined group for our Elder Scrolls role play. I will make first contact shortly.

Trial by Combat (A Man is No One vs. Infernal)

“Silence!” Came the call from just beneath the King’s pavilion.

As single man stood in the center of the dusty coliseum. Clad in blue robes of a holy man, he drew back his hood to reveal platinum hair cropped just below his shoulders. In his hand was a single scroll of parchment, that was quickly unraveled and held in place.

“Today we gather to witness the innocence or guilt of one man. Charged with the murder of three citizens under the protection of Yggdrasil’s Law and the subsequent desecration of an altar to our supreme god, Yggdrasil. Praise be to him who is granted Yggdrasil’s blessing to prove the guilt or innocence of this fighter. By his guiding hand, Yggdrasil will show us the true path of righteousness.”

Retracting the scroll within his sleeve the priest swiftly moved beyond the edge of the arena and disappeared from sight.

“As is his right, the accused has chosen trial by combat in which martial arms will be taken up in singles combat. What is carried by each participant is what must be used. As brought down from the tower, Yggdrasil’s words dictate that the arcane arts is strictly forbidden. The trial will not be complete until one participant has fallen, the loser to be beheaded in honor of Yggdrasil’s defeat of the weak.”



Swiftly the gate opened, the iron bars parting in the center to be pulled into the walls at opposite ends. Behind it was a single man, his form enshrouded by shadows. The crowd’s silence burst at the seams with cheers that caused the dust to trickle from the walls. Rising to their feet, the crowd greeted the knight warmly as he meandered towards the center of the colosseum. Pointing his spear in one direction and another, nodding his head as if recognizing spectators specifically. He knew how to work the crowd.

It was not the first time Sir Ryland Iscandel had performed in front of the roaring crowd of the colosseum. While he was not always the King’s first choice, he was no stranger to fighting for the Kingdom in a Trial by Combat. His feats beyond the walls of the Kingdom against the growing menace of orcs, goblins, and other terrifying beasts were nothing to truly be noted, he was a particular favorite amongst the crowds in the fighting pit especially before the King.

“My most generous King, your worthiness to sit upon our throne is only dwarfed by Yggdrasil in all his glory.” Ryland shouted over the crowd. He only continued when the crowd’s cheering began to fade, “Long may you reign.”

The knight slammed the butt of his spear into the ground, holding his shield out to unveil his armor. It was nothing out of the ordinary. However, this process was done to appear the crowd, to make proclamation of a fair fight in which all weapons were bear.

“In the name of Yggdrasil, and his most holy of Kingdoms I defend thy honor and the law of Abalonia. For Yggdrasil demands justice!”

Ryland lowered his center of gravity, bending slightly at the knees. Hoisting his shield he turned side face to narrow his figure making it harder to strike. He positioned his shield off his shoulder, holding it level with his torso protecting himself from shoulder to knee. With a light yet determined grip just beneath mid-shaft, the knight lifted his spear and pointed it towards his opponent. He began his slow and determined steps towards the opponent.

@Infernal

Looking for some fights

@Infernal

I'll wait for your reply of consideration either here or on my original thread. I can begin working on something more concrete this day or the next so that we may truly enjoy the story we may very well create.

The Elder Scrolls: The Infernal Library

@Chrononaut

In case our Etherpad does not provide such convenient alerts, I have posted on our pad to continue our collaboration. I have also taken a gander at the collective pad as well. Of course, I'll hold off on post there just yet as it would seem inappropriate given Enathrae's current engagement.

The Elder Scrolls: The Infernal Library

@Chrononaut

So why collaborate on an outside site? This concept is new to me. We could have and in my opinion should have been conducting out etherpad posts on the guild to provide a complete story if for some reason another might read this. Why not carry on here?