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(D&D) Prologue - Complete
The morning sun had just begun to peek lazily over the horizon as Tamora strode towards the small seaside village. From her vantage point atop a hill just outside town, she could see its smooth rays shimmering across the deep blue water, contrasting sharply with the red-orange of the sky. Tamora paused for a moment to admire the beauty around her, eyes studiously skipping over the town proper. At last, with a reluctant sigh, she turned to face it. Shoulders squared and posture straight, she walked unhurriedly towards the town.
After all, she mused idly, there are still hours to go before the meeting. A niggling feeling tickled the back of Tamora’s mind. Nothing could have changed too drastically while we were away, could it? She tossed her head, long raven locks shifting in the sun as she forced the thoughts from her mind.
Organa stirred in the day’s early light. The first residents of the town had begun to poke their heads into the street. Shopkeepers headed lackadaisically toward the market, the last vestages of sleep clinging to a few tired brows. A tiny smile quirked the corners of Tamora’s lips as she watched a brace of kittens wrestle playfully with one another in front of a barrel. It remained even as she carefully pushed open the door of the inn.
“Be right with you!” Lauria, the cheerful if short half-elf who kept the inn, called to her. Tamora nodded in acknowledgement. Dawn’s light filtered through the room’s windows, casting odd shadows throughout the room. A lone girl was seated at a table to her left, consuming what could only be this morning’s breakfast. Lauria, for her part, stood behind the bar, efficiently cleaning mugs that had obviously seen full use the night prior. After quickly sweeping her eyes over the other guest, Tamora strode swiftly to a window table on the right side of the room and promptly began staring out it.
“Breakfast, right?” Lauria queried as she placed the last glass back onto the countertop, tossing her rag efficiently over her shoulder. After receiving a short affirmative nod from her customer, the friendly innkeeper headed into the kitchen.
As she waited for her meal, Tamora took the time to carefully observe the young woman sitting opposite her. It never hurt to double check, after all. The girl’s flowing white robe brushed the tops of her knees, covering a tough pair of black pants whose bottoms dusted the tops of a well worn pair of boots. A wide strip of leather hugged her midriff, accentuating curves and adding to the small figure the illusion of height. As she lifted her fork to her mouth at one point, Tamora was certain she had caught a glimpse of long black sleeves. On her next clandestine glance, she observed the black cloth of a turtleneck and the glimmer of what could only have been chain mail peeking through the wide brim of the girl’s robe. If this alone hadn’t been enough of a clue as to the child’s profession, the battle mace and large staff leaning precariously against the wall provided undeniable hints.
So one of the locals has become a mage… isn’t she the one with…? The half-elf pondered as she stared back out the window. Lauria returned with her meal, placing it on the table with a smile and a wink born of long acquaintance. A tight smile found its way onto the taller half elf’s face before she focused on her meal. There was nothing quite like weeks in the mountains to make one appreciate a full meal… Besides, she had to have something to do while… well, it was best not to worry about it anyways.
The eggs had been cooked to perfection, scrambled with a bit of milk before being cooked till they were dry. Nature provided many things to its children, but her gifts were, as all proper things, in balance. Tamora figured it to be only right that she gained extra skills in battle at the cost of culinary capabilities. She allowed the smell and warmth of her food to distract her, pausing occasionally to sip at the glass of water her hostess had graciously provided.
“Hi! You’re Tamora, right?” The voice cut through Tamora’s thoughts like scissors through so many ribbons, causing her to swing her head rapidly to face its source. The human girl whom she had been certain was occupied on the opposite side of the inn now stood beside her, plate in hand. Tamora looked at her querulously, and after a moment the girl continued, “Do you mind if I join you?”
“No.” The druid responded before her common sense could get the better of her. She gestured carelessly at the seat across from her, watching in a faked state of tranquility as the girl resettled her plate and sat down. The child smiled at her. Tamora studiously ignored her in favour of enjoying her meal.
“I’m Lithele, I don’t know if you remember me, I haven’t been in town lately. How are you doing, I haven’t seen you in a long time?” The girl gushed, bubbling and enthusiastic. Clearly Lithele was a morning person, then. Tamora vaguely recalled that, now that she was thinking about it.
“I’m well, thanks, and you?” She asked simply before lapsing into silence once more and waiting for her companion to fill the void.
“I’m pretty good. I’ve been traveling around to various places, first for learning to be a mage and stuff, and then to see what I could find out about medicinal magic. I don’t suppose you’d happen to know anything, would you?” Lithele’s eyes lit with hope, focusing on Tamora. Regretfully, she shook her head.
“Sorry. No luck, then?” The dark haired half-elf inquired politely. The light faded from Lithele’s deep blue eyes for an instant, shadows far too old for her young face creeping into them.
“I had a few leads, but none of them worked out quite right.” The girl’s short black locks shifted across her eyes, blocking them as she stared at the table. Then she shook her head and glanced back at the dark-haired half-elf across from her, and as quickly as they had appeared, the shadows were gone. A sunny smile lit her face as she continued, “I’m going to keep looking, though.”
Tamora nodded, taking the excuse to look away from the bright intensity of the young one’s gaze, and focusing instead on having another bite of her eggs.
“What keeps you from leaving?” Tamora inquired after a moment. Lithele’s head snapped back from the window it had turned towards, and smiled brightly at her.
“Well, I came back for a visit, but then as I was getting ready to leave I received a message from Coltan.” Lithele replied cheerily. Years of practice were all that kept Tamora’s face schooled to an expression of mundane interest, though a blink of surprise escaped her. Still, the girl across from her seemed not to notice the flicker, for she continued, “He didn’t say what it was all about, just that it was important, so I promised to stay at least until then.”
“Hmm.” Tamora said, nodding with feigned disinterest as she turned to look out the window once more. She felt Lithele’s eyes on her, but ignored them as best she could until, after a moment, they turned aside.
“Look at the time!” The girl exclaimed shortly thereafter. She gathered her things quickly and tossed payment for her meal to Lauria as she continued, “I hope you won’t mind too much, but I have to go pray to my goddess, Mystra. Nice talking to you, and have a great day!”
“And you as well.” Tamora replied, watching as the younger one exited the inn. Through the window, she followed the girl’s progress until at last she vanished from sight. Tamora sighed before retrieving her fork and resuming her meal. At least, she pondered idly, at least she’s just social. She can be quiet and I doubt she’d irritate anyone at an inopportune moment. We can work with that.
From her window-side table, Tamora could tell by the sun’s position that there were still several hours before she was due at Coltan’s office. His request had not been unusual in and of itself. One didn’t spend decades occasionally saving a city without gaining a certain reputation. Admittedly, Celebelin’s reputation for doing so by far exceeded Tamora’s own, but apparently the problem was large enough to warrant extra help. She idly took another sip of her tea. More adventurers could never, ever be considered a good thing. The danger of discovery grew higher with each passing year that she remained here, and exposing herself and her abilities to a wider range of people than this village usually saw… Tamora shuddered.
When at last Tamora reached the end of her mug, she placed it gingerly on the table, accompanied by several coins. Lauria smiled at her patron gratefully, her hands occupied with filling the rest of the orders her usual customers had put in that morning. Tamora nodded in acknowledgement before gathering her things and heading briskly back towards the forest. Trees were better than people, anyway.
After all, she mused idly, there are still hours to go before the meeting. A niggling feeling tickled the back of Tamora’s mind. Nothing could have changed too drastically while we were away, could it? She tossed her head, long raven locks shifting in the sun as she forced the thoughts from her mind.
Organa stirred in the day’s early light. The first residents of the town had begun to poke their heads into the street. Shopkeepers headed lackadaisically toward the market, the last vestages of sleep clinging to a few tired brows. A tiny smile quirked the corners of Tamora’s lips as she watched a brace of kittens wrestle playfully with one another in front of a barrel. It remained even as she carefully pushed open the door of the inn.
“Be right with you!” Lauria, the cheerful if short half-elf who kept the inn, called to her. Tamora nodded in acknowledgement. Dawn’s light filtered through the room’s windows, casting odd shadows throughout the room. A lone girl was seated at a table to her left, consuming what could only be this morning’s breakfast. Lauria, for her part, stood behind the bar, efficiently cleaning mugs that had obviously seen full use the night prior. After quickly sweeping her eyes over the other guest, Tamora strode swiftly to a window table on the right side of the room and promptly began staring out it.
“Breakfast, right?” Lauria queried as she placed the last glass back onto the countertop, tossing her rag efficiently over her shoulder. After receiving a short affirmative nod from her customer, the friendly innkeeper headed into the kitchen.
As she waited for her meal, Tamora took the time to carefully observe the young woman sitting opposite her. It never hurt to double check, after all. The girl’s flowing white robe brushed the tops of her knees, covering a tough pair of black pants whose bottoms dusted the tops of a well worn pair of boots. A wide strip of leather hugged her midriff, accentuating curves and adding to the small figure the illusion of height. As she lifted her fork to her mouth at one point, Tamora was certain she had caught a glimpse of long black sleeves. On her next clandestine glance, she observed the black cloth of a turtleneck and the glimmer of what could only have been chain mail peeking through the wide brim of the girl’s robe. If this alone hadn’t been enough of a clue as to the child’s profession, the battle mace and large staff leaning precariously against the wall provided undeniable hints.
So one of the locals has become a mage… isn’t she the one with…? The half-elf pondered as she stared back out the window. Lauria returned with her meal, placing it on the table with a smile and a wink born of long acquaintance. A tight smile found its way onto the taller half elf’s face before she focused on her meal. There was nothing quite like weeks in the mountains to make one appreciate a full meal… Besides, she had to have something to do while… well, it was best not to worry about it anyways.
The eggs had been cooked to perfection, scrambled with a bit of milk before being cooked till they were dry. Nature provided many things to its children, but her gifts were, as all proper things, in balance. Tamora figured it to be only right that she gained extra skills in battle at the cost of culinary capabilities. She allowed the smell and warmth of her food to distract her, pausing occasionally to sip at the glass of water her hostess had graciously provided.
“Hi! You’re Tamora, right?” The voice cut through Tamora’s thoughts like scissors through so many ribbons, causing her to swing her head rapidly to face its source. The human girl whom she had been certain was occupied on the opposite side of the inn now stood beside her, plate in hand. Tamora looked at her querulously, and after a moment the girl continued, “Do you mind if I join you?”
“No.” The druid responded before her common sense could get the better of her. She gestured carelessly at the seat across from her, watching in a faked state of tranquility as the girl resettled her plate and sat down. The child smiled at her. Tamora studiously ignored her in favour of enjoying her meal.
“I’m Lithele, I don’t know if you remember me, I haven’t been in town lately. How are you doing, I haven’t seen you in a long time?” The girl gushed, bubbling and enthusiastic. Clearly Lithele was a morning person, then. Tamora vaguely recalled that, now that she was thinking about it.
“I’m well, thanks, and you?” She asked simply before lapsing into silence once more and waiting for her companion to fill the void.
“I’m pretty good. I’ve been traveling around to various places, first for learning to be a mage and stuff, and then to see what I could find out about medicinal magic. I don’t suppose you’d happen to know anything, would you?” Lithele’s eyes lit with hope, focusing on Tamora. Regretfully, she shook her head.
“Sorry. No luck, then?” The dark haired half-elf inquired politely. The light faded from Lithele’s deep blue eyes for an instant, shadows far too old for her young face creeping into them.
“I had a few leads, but none of them worked out quite right.” The girl’s short black locks shifted across her eyes, blocking them as she stared at the table. Then she shook her head and glanced back at the dark-haired half-elf across from her, and as quickly as they had appeared, the shadows were gone. A sunny smile lit her face as she continued, “I’m going to keep looking, though.”
Tamora nodded, taking the excuse to look away from the bright intensity of the young one’s gaze, and focusing instead on having another bite of her eggs.
“What keeps you from leaving?” Tamora inquired after a moment. Lithele’s head snapped back from the window it had turned towards, and smiled brightly at her.
“Well, I came back for a visit, but then as I was getting ready to leave I received a message from Coltan.” Lithele replied cheerily. Years of practice were all that kept Tamora’s face schooled to an expression of mundane interest, though a blink of surprise escaped her. Still, the girl across from her seemed not to notice the flicker, for she continued, “He didn’t say what it was all about, just that it was important, so I promised to stay at least until then.”
“Hmm.” Tamora said, nodding with feigned disinterest as she turned to look out the window once more. She felt Lithele’s eyes on her, but ignored them as best she could until, after a moment, they turned aside.
“Look at the time!” The girl exclaimed shortly thereafter. She gathered her things quickly and tossed payment for her meal to Lauria as she continued, “I hope you won’t mind too much, but I have to go pray to my goddess, Mystra. Nice talking to you, and have a great day!”
“And you as well.” Tamora replied, watching as the younger one exited the inn. Through the window, she followed the girl’s progress until at last she vanished from sight. Tamora sighed before retrieving her fork and resuming her meal. At least, she pondered idly, at least she’s just social. She can be quiet and I doubt she’d irritate anyone at an inopportune moment. We can work with that.
From her window-side table, Tamora could tell by the sun’s position that there were still several hours before she was due at Coltan’s office. His request had not been unusual in and of itself. One didn’t spend decades occasionally saving a city without gaining a certain reputation. Admittedly, Celebelin’s reputation for doing so by far exceeded Tamora’s own, but apparently the problem was large enough to warrant extra help. She idly took another sip of her tea. More adventurers could never, ever be considered a good thing. The danger of discovery grew higher with each passing year that she remained here, and exposing herself and her abilities to a wider range of people than this village usually saw… Tamora shuddered.
When at last Tamora reached the end of her mug, she placed it gingerly on the table, accompanied by several coins. Lauria smiled at her patron gratefully, her hands occupied with filling the rest of the orders her usual customers had put in that morning. Tamora nodded in acknowledgement before gathering her things and heading briskly back towards the forest. Trees were better than people, anyway.