Aldraius' Story
(By Gene Vogel)
"I'm telling you Malkar, I know that there is a life out there for me that is full of adventure!" Aldraius said as he stood up from the rock where he was sitting to stretch his legs out.
"I grow tired of being a towns guard! " he continued. "I am the best archer in the whole town, and what is there for me here?" he asked as he scanned the top of the trees below the ridge on where he was standing, the moon riding high in the sky above them.
"You know that no-one is allowed to leave Reindier! "Maker pleaded. "And what about the other races out there! The Dwarves, the Humans, and possibly other races! We Elves are the only really civilized race ya know. I...
"How are we supposed to really know about the other races?' Aldraius interrupted as he again glanced out over the trees then resumed his seat on the rock next to friend, turning towards him and looking into his eyes. 'From what our parent's and the EIders have told us? We have seen some of the other races, and from what I have seen they don't seem bad. I am sick of my life here! I am going to..."
"Shh! Look! Out there! A torch! " - said as he crouched lower, as if not to be seen, not that he could be seen or heard from his vantage point.
Aldraius turned, looked out over the trees again, and seen the light source traveling in the woods. "Come!" he whispered excitedly.
Both men ran down a partially hidden trail
down along the ridge to another
that led down to the road where they seen the torch light The light source
was no longer moving, and was now a campfire.
"'Their making camp" Malkar announced, drawing his sword, Aldraius drawing out an arrow to notch.
"Come on, lets check this out." Aldraius ordered, advancing ahead of Malkar.
The two headed to the other side of the road, carefully scanned the woods around them, then headed deeper in towards the camp, ducking under the lower branches of the trees. Aldraius stopped and motioned at Malkar to head around to the other side of the camp and wait for the usual signal if it seemed like trouble. After waiting for about two minutes, Aldraius made his way closer to the camp. He could start to make out figures by the fire, they seemed to be preparing for bed. Everything seemed all right. They were just adventurers that were just passing by. He eased up a little bit, to assess the situation.
Just then, a man came stumbling from the bushes holding his throat, much blood dripping out from between Ins fingers. After him came Malkar, his sword in hand, the same red liquid dripping from it, and fear in his eyes.
The camp came to life in an instant. Svvords were drawn, shields hefted, and warning cries screamed to the men in the tents. Aldraius hesitated while taking it all in. Then he reacted.
Arrows flew from his bow, piercing unarmored flesh, and laying low two men before anyone realized what was happening. Malkar slew the man who ran up to him first and was now dispatching the second.
Four more men were left standing, and another just now exiting the second tent "A mage! " Aldraius whispered to himself after he shot down another man, this one coming a little too close for his comfort. "One more" he thought out loud as he winged an elven fighter, causing the elf to fall into the camp fire, screaming from the pain of his flesh being burned. It wasn't long before he was silent again.
"Now the mage." he whispered as he drew another another arrow an instant and fired the shaft at the bewildered mage. The mage said a few words, and the arrow hit an invisible barrier and shot safelv away. The mage said a few more words and Aldraius felt a sickening feeling welling up inside of him, causing him to drop his bow.
He fought the terrible feeling that was starting to consume him from the inside out. He closed his eyes and tried harder, then felt the feeling inside of him subside. He opened his eyes just in time to draw his sword and duck the thrust of one of the other men who charged at him. Before he realized exactly what was happening, his sword was sheathed between the charging mans ribs, right into his heart.
He stood up and placed his foot against the man's stomach and pulled his sword free, the body of the fighter slumping down to the soft, damp soil. Malkar was being surrounded by the other two men, each waiting for his chance to slay the strange young elf.
Aldraius noticed the mage advancing over to the other tent, pulled out a dagger and slit the cloth wall of the tent. Inside of the tent was a great treasure, lying in a chest that the mage was reaching for.
Aldraius quickly snatched up his long bow and notched another arrow. He placed aim on the mage, and drew back the bowstring. The mage, or the fighters?....
"Aldraius! Help me!" Malkar cried as the men advanced forward, both drawing fresh blood with each swing of their swords. Aldraius quickly sighted in one of the fighters and sent him on his way to meet his god. Malkar took that chance to dispatch the other fighter. Now the mage.
Aldraius loosed another arrow at the mage, the arrow passing through the air just after he disappeared.
"Damn!" AIdraius cried out at the disappointment of his arrow not hitting it's intended mark in time.
"Aldraius! Are you alright?" Malkar asked as he surveyed the area.
"Yes, I am fine. Why did you not wait for my sign?!" Aldraius angrily queried. "Am I not in charge?"
"I had no choice." Malkar blurted out in between drinks of some water from his pack. "He must have been searching for fire wood when he stumbled upon me. Did you notice the elf! He was one of them! They were friends! They must not kill elves for sport anymore."
"That's what I mean Malkar!" Aldraius said as he started retrieving what arrows he could. "We've been lied to all of our lives!"
"How do you know for sure?" questioned. "We really don't know what's out there! For all we know these men were escaped prisoners or something like that."
"No you fool, these were adventurers I Did you see the treasure that the mage took away with him? Escaped slaves surely don't worry about treasures when freedom is at stake! And why would that mage not have used his magic to escape before this?"
Both men stood silent, staring first at each other, thinking of the possibilities. They then searched the area for any other people from the camp who might of escaped, and they found no-one. The silence between them held as they returned to the camp site until Aldraius finally spoke.
"I'm sorry I spoke to you that way, Malkar. But you'll be glad to know I've made a decision. I am going away. Tonight."
"Have you finally snapped?" Malkar scoffed. I thought all of this time it was just talk. Like a lot of thing's we talk about doing. But leaving? They'll send someone out to find you and kill you if necessary!"
"You're not going with then?" Aldraius asked, although he figured that Malkar would not want to go anyhow.
"I prefer my life the way it is now. I can't live my life on the run, and I am surely not taking my chances out, there. " he replied, motioning out to the deeper part of the woods, referring to the world out there beyond his vision.
"I will not have to run." replied Aldraius smugly. He walked over to the still smoking body of the elf that had been mostly consumed by the fire, and laid down his bow half in the fire.
"You finally have snapped!" gasped Malkar "That's your lucky bow! Why are you burning it?!"
Aldraius looked at Malkar with a look of disbelief. "This is my bow by my body you idiot! You go back and tell everyone what has taken place, how I died defending our glorious city!"
Malkar thought about it for a few seconds. "Are you sure you want to do this? It's not going to be the same around without you. And what are you expecting to find out there? You just may be predicting your own death."
"That all remains to be seen my friend. " Aldraius called out as he went into the tent that the mage had cut open, exiting a minute later with a backpack full of adventuring gear, and a new longbow in his hands.
"That looks like a nice bow you found there, but your lucky bow? How could you torch it?" asked, trying to delay his best friend longer, realizing that this may be the last time he ever sees him again.
"Well, my lucky bow has gotten me this far, hasn't it? This here' Aldraius replied holding the new found bow out for his friend to see, 'will be my new lucky bow, signaling my new life, as an adventurer! But Malkar, I need you to promise me something."
"Anything you need" the grieving friend replied.
"You must not tell anyone about this! I don't want to have to worry about hunters looking for me, and you will be the only one who knows. Promise me, with blood." With that Aldraius held out his hand to Malkar.
Malkar looked down at the hand presented to him, then took out his dagger and cut the palm of the hand, a gash about an inch long. He then did the same to his own band. They then joined hands, and held them together while saying the appropriate words that accompanied the pact.
"Your parents will be devastated." Malkar noted as he quickly turned away from his friend to wipe a tear from his eye, grabbing a cloth from his pocket to cover the wound on his hand,
"Yes, I already thought of that." he said as he did the same. Then he loaded up his new found gear. "But I think they will be satisfied knowing that I died in the heat of battle. I love my father, but I'm not sure if he feels the same. If he does, he doesn't show it. Maybe this will make him realize what he had in a son and now has lost. Anyhow, I had better get going before anyone realizes that we're missing."
And with that Aldraius began to part ways with his lifelong friend. He abruptly stopped, and turned around.
"Malkar, make my death a brave one."
"All the town shall tell wondrous, tales of your bravery!" was all Malkar said before he turned and ran back to the village teary-eyed.
Aldraius found his wav back to the road, wiped a few strav tears from his eyes, and made his way down the road. To adventure.
Two
After two days of almost non-stop travel to ensure his freedom, Aldraius finally rested. He was used to eating fine foods, sleeping in a soft bed, and other creature comforts. But life as an adventurer was harder than he thought, but he was sure he would adapt.
The adventurer's rations he found in the pack were devoid of flavor, but he treated himself to the occasional deer or rabbit or whatever wild creature he could quickly kill, clean, cook and eat.
One thing he learned in his new life was that there were allot of different people out there. Some were nice, even though he couldn't properly communicate with them. And some, he had to kill or be killed, acquiring various items of use off of the slain rogues.
He was traveling using a map that he had found in the pack that he had acquired at the campsite. It was easy to follow, but he couldn't read the language that it was written in. One day he figured he would learn to read the language that it was written in. Sooner than he realized.
On the fourth day lie came upon a farmhouse. The sight of the chickens strutting around the house made his mouth water, and brought back memories of his mothers award winning chicken dinner. With that thought came the tears again, just like every time he thought of home, even his father. But, as usual, he fought back tire tears and went about his business. On to the chicken.
He waited outside of the house in the woods and watched. There was no activity in or around the house that he could see so he made his move. He quietly advanced on the chickens, just waiting for the right time to pounce on one. A little closer and....
"You there!" came a voice from behind him. Aldraius spun around and pulled his sword out in process. The man who spoke said some word and a sword appeared in his hand as well. He was an older, yet, larger human. His hair was gray and his face was scarred. He spoke again.
"There's some of that cooking in the house, if you're still hungry. I didn't mean to scare you. I am Jarred" he said as he sheathed his sword and extended his hand.
Aldraius looked at the man then extended his hand, not yet sheathing his sword. How did he know how to speak my language? he wondered.
"Do you speak common?" Jarred asked as he led Aldraius into the house, the smell of fresh-cooked chicken scenting the air.
'What is 'Common' " asked Aldraius as he made his way to the table that was set up for one person and sat down on the opposite side of the plate set out, remembering his manners. The man opened up a cabinet and pulled out another plate for his unexpected guest. The conversation then resumed.
"Common is the language spoken by almost everyone in the known world." Jarred replied. "Where are you from and what is your name?"
"I am Aldraius. Where I am from I am not allowed to say. I am an adventurer now, so I guess that I really have no home. I am just wandering around, following this map." he said as he pulled out the map that he had been following, showing it to his new friend.
"Ah, Waterdeep! City of splendors." Jarred sighed. "That's not a bad place to start out your adventuring career. Where did you find this map?"
"It's a long story. This is a map to a city? Not to... adventure?" Aldraius asked disappointedly.
"Well, it is to a city, but there is adventure there. Waterdeep is home to the largest and most fiercest dungeon known." Jarred answered as he placed a hot plate of chicken in front of Aldraius, who eagerly took some and began eating. "But before you go there you should be prepared. If you want to, I will share you some of my adventuring secrets and teach you to speak common in exchange for some help around my farm. Ok?"
Aldraius thought about it for a moment. "You are an adventurer?" he asked.
"No, not anymore. I am retired. But what I could teach you is priceless. Agreed?" he asked, once again extending his hand.
Aldraius thought about it, for a second, then shook Jarred's hand.
"Agreed then! Tomorrow your training starts'. But enough talk.' Jarred said as he took- hold of one of the cooked legs. "let us eat!"
Jarred and Aldraius worked and trained together for the next two months. Jarred taught Aldraius everything he knew about adventuring and taught him to speak common as well.
Aldraius in turn helped build a fence, work with farm animals, and with other tasks of the farm. Then it was time for Aldraius to leave. The two men exchanged handshakes and Jarred gave him a sack.
"A gift. Please, don't open it yet. And promise me that you will stop by and visit me again before your rich and famous from your adventuring exploits? Or at least before I die?" Jarred asked with a trace of sarcasm in his voice.
"I promise, I will. Thank you my friend. Thank you for everything. " Aldraius replied, in common.
"May the gods show you good favor, young Aldraius! " Jarred said as he walked back to the house.
'And you as well my friend!" was all Aldraius could say before be started yet another fight with tears.
And with that, Aldraius' adventuring life began again. On to Waterdeep!