yulgar
Squire
I really didnt know where to post this so if you have to, just delete it, but here it is in all its glory. Hope you like it and tell me what you think.
A Calradian Tale
By Krin
Written by Yulgar
It was just after midnight when the raid began. A party of more than a score of raiders, probably from the Thieves Guild, came down from the Vaegir Mountains into our quiet little town of Shulus. Our village was small and out of the way of the larger metropolis at Curaw. Women, children, and elderly were its only occupants. The rest of the brave men had been recruited by the various Vaegir Lords to fight in the Calradian Wars.
I stayed behind to tend to my fathers crops in his stead, but six months prior, I had received word that he had died, valiantly, in a battle against the Kingdom of Swadia. The damned swine! It hardly mattered now, for it looked as though I would die as well.
The first of the raiders to cross my path talked like that of a Nord, but I knew giving him that title was a disgrace to their proud lineage. He spoke the Rhodok language, and though I could not make out his words, I soon realized he was calling four other companions to his side. They did not seem interested in me, for all at once the five began to pillage all the crops in my field, laughing all the while. My father and I had worked so diligently to plant those crops. It was hard enough getting vegetation to grow in the snowy shadow of the mountains, but the site of the raiders razing my crop… I went into a raged stupor.
I ran inside my cottage and grabbed my father’s sword, which was issued to him during his tenure as a Sergeant of King Yaroglek’s inner court at Reyvadin. The messenger who delivered the news of his demise, had also presented his sword to me. I was not long in coming, but already too late. As I reentered the field, all hope had drained out of me. The cabbages, the corn, the wheat, all of it, gone. I heard more laughing near the stable a short distance from where I stood, and hearing the screams of Beila, our family cow, I knew she would soon be no more. I screamed at the top of my lungs, trying to hold back the sobs, but to no avail.
The raiders that were scattered about the area heard my screams, and soon surrounded me, ten in all. The first of them tried to gouge me with his sword, but in an instant, I parried his stab with both hands. I then brought the sword back up, decapitating the man. His dead corpse fell to the ground, blood staining the white, ruffled snow. His companions bunched together and tried to come at me all at once, but their attempts were feeble. One by one, I slew them all. When I pulled my Father’s sword out of the last man’s gut, I took a step back. I didn’t see the crossbowman hidden behind the hay stack near me, but his time had finally come. He took his shot, landing an arrow in the square of my back. The arrow protruded out through and out of my lower stomach.
At first, it felt like someone had hit me with a rock. I looked around to see what had happened, and even as I did, began to feel the cold burning ache in my stomach. I looked down to see the arrow protruding and immediately began to sweat, despite the fact that snow had begun to fall. Knowing nothing about first aid, I tried to pull the arrow out and screamed in agony when the tail feathers began to slide through the open wound. I tried again, to no avail. Finally realizing what the struggle was about, I broke the arrow in half, not without pain, and successfully pulled the arrow out of my stomach. When I looked up again, I saw the villain running at me, with sword in hand, ready to deliver the finishing blow. The next was a blur of sword-clashing and men yelling, right before I blacked out The last thing I saw was Him.
When I came to, I was in my hut, a women by my side bathing my wound. Startled, I said “I do not believe I have had the pleasure to make your acquaintance, my lady.” “Noble talk for one so young, and all the way out here.” she replied. “Forgive me, but who are you?” I asked. “I am called Ymira and you, my young friend, are lucky to be alive. You have been unconscious for two days. How about some food?”
I accepted the stew without argument and ate it quickly. It was the best meal I had had, in longer than I cared to remember. “A young man with a healthy appetite. That is good.” she said, looking at me affectionately. “Your meal was most wonderful, my lady. Thank you.” She smiled, then got up to clean the bowl and other utensils used when preparing the stew. “Lady Ymira, was I going mad, or is there someone I owe thanks for this breath I breathe?” “What?”
Just as the raider who shot me with the arrow came running at me to finish me off, there came a loud battle cry. The raider stopped, turned, and was greeted with a sword that decapitated him. Bandits, who had taken to horses now, were on the swordsman’s trail in no time. One, two, five, ten. No matter what their numbers, it was never enough. The man killed them all. I could tell he was a lord, for he donned a tabard of white and royal blue. There were two white phoenixes, in a background of royal blue, caddy corner from one another. There was also a crimson red line coming down diagonally, across the tabard, separating the two phoenixes. He had dark brown hair and a long face, perfect for the goatee that wrapped around his mouth and chin. His eyes, though fierce and powerful, were also kind and just. They were the last thing I saw.
After telling the story to Ymira, she simply smiled, but beneath the smile, had a look of deep thought. “I guess now that you mention it, that is what he looks like. Pardon me young master. I will get him for you.” She gave me a wink and then got up and exited the cottage. While I waited an anxiousness crept over me and I began to fidget, which only served to pain my stomach.
“You should not move about so.” he said when he came into the cottage. “You would not want to open your wounds again. They only just stopped bleeding.” I looked at him and couldn’t find words to say. We simply stared at one another. After a few moments had passed Ymira said, “Well, go on and say what it is you want boy. He is not going to bite you.” Clearing his throat, the knight kindly interrupted the lady and asked if she would give the two of us some privacy. Ymira smiling all the while, curtsied and took her leave.
“I have you to thank for my life, my lord. Whatever you ask of me, I will do to repay your kindness.” I said timidly. He smiled and walked over to the chair sitting before my bed. He sat down and looked at me. “I would only speak to you for a brief time, lad.” “Is that all?” I asked. Chuckling he nodded then said, “First of all, I would like you to know, many of your townspeople were injured in the raid. All fought bravely to the end. I do not believe in hiding the truth, so I will tell you now. Some of the villagers lost their lives in the skirmish.” I turned my head away from him closing my eyes. “I‘m sure many more would have died had you and your retinue not come when you did. Our town has you to thank for that.” I tried to hide my grief but had a hard time of doing so.
I felt his hand come over my brow to console me. “You are a brave lad. Your bravery gave us the strength and courage needed to overthrow the bandits. You should be proud. Your people can rebuild, and though it may be hard, regrow crop. After some time, most should be able to carry on with their lives.” After a moment he continued. “And now, I would ask a question of you.” The knight removed his hand and I turned back to him. “There was a man that lived in this very place you now reside. Sergeant Krinwig of Reyvadin. Where is he?”
He knew the answer before I could say it, by the look on my face, but he allowed me to continue. “My lord, forgive me, but the man you speak of has perished in battle by the hand of Swadia.” “And you are his son, are you not?” “Yes, my lord. Krin is my name.” A half smile formed across his face. “You look every inch the man your father was.” “Yes. Many people have said the same.”
Silence crept back into our conversation and after a short time a question formed in my mind. I leaned forward resting on my arm and said, “My lord. I apologize for the rudeness of the question I pose, but what is your name?” “Nonsense. My name is Yulgar. And if I may say good master, it is a pleasure to meet you.” I smiled and laid my head back down to rest. “Well, Master Krin, I believe our time has come to part for a little. Take your rest and I will be back to check on you on the morrow.” He stood up, bowed, and made to exit the cottage. Right before he walked out, I called to him. “Lord Yulgar. Thank you.” Smiling he nodded and left.
So again, I hope you liked it. And if you're interested, yes, I will be continuing with it.
A Calradian Tale
By Krin
Written by Yulgar
It was just after midnight when the raid began. A party of more than a score of raiders, probably from the Thieves Guild, came down from the Vaegir Mountains into our quiet little town of Shulus. Our village was small and out of the way of the larger metropolis at Curaw. Women, children, and elderly were its only occupants. The rest of the brave men had been recruited by the various Vaegir Lords to fight in the Calradian Wars.
I stayed behind to tend to my fathers crops in his stead, but six months prior, I had received word that he had died, valiantly, in a battle against the Kingdom of Swadia. The damned swine! It hardly mattered now, for it looked as though I would die as well.
The first of the raiders to cross my path talked like that of a Nord, but I knew giving him that title was a disgrace to their proud lineage. He spoke the Rhodok language, and though I could not make out his words, I soon realized he was calling four other companions to his side. They did not seem interested in me, for all at once the five began to pillage all the crops in my field, laughing all the while. My father and I had worked so diligently to plant those crops. It was hard enough getting vegetation to grow in the snowy shadow of the mountains, but the site of the raiders razing my crop… I went into a raged stupor.
I ran inside my cottage and grabbed my father’s sword, which was issued to him during his tenure as a Sergeant of King Yaroglek’s inner court at Reyvadin. The messenger who delivered the news of his demise, had also presented his sword to me. I was not long in coming, but already too late. As I reentered the field, all hope had drained out of me. The cabbages, the corn, the wheat, all of it, gone. I heard more laughing near the stable a short distance from where I stood, and hearing the screams of Beila, our family cow, I knew she would soon be no more. I screamed at the top of my lungs, trying to hold back the sobs, but to no avail.
The raiders that were scattered about the area heard my screams, and soon surrounded me, ten in all. The first of them tried to gouge me with his sword, but in an instant, I parried his stab with both hands. I then brought the sword back up, decapitating the man. His dead corpse fell to the ground, blood staining the white, ruffled snow. His companions bunched together and tried to come at me all at once, but their attempts were feeble. One by one, I slew them all. When I pulled my Father’s sword out of the last man’s gut, I took a step back. I didn’t see the crossbowman hidden behind the hay stack near me, but his time had finally come. He took his shot, landing an arrow in the square of my back. The arrow protruded out through and out of my lower stomach.
At first, it felt like someone had hit me with a rock. I looked around to see what had happened, and even as I did, began to feel the cold burning ache in my stomach. I looked down to see the arrow protruding and immediately began to sweat, despite the fact that snow had begun to fall. Knowing nothing about first aid, I tried to pull the arrow out and screamed in agony when the tail feathers began to slide through the open wound. I tried again, to no avail. Finally realizing what the struggle was about, I broke the arrow in half, not without pain, and successfully pulled the arrow out of my stomach. When I looked up again, I saw the villain running at me, with sword in hand, ready to deliver the finishing blow. The next was a blur of sword-clashing and men yelling, right before I blacked out The last thing I saw was Him.
When I came to, I was in my hut, a women by my side bathing my wound. Startled, I said “I do not believe I have had the pleasure to make your acquaintance, my lady.” “Noble talk for one so young, and all the way out here.” she replied. “Forgive me, but who are you?” I asked. “I am called Ymira and you, my young friend, are lucky to be alive. You have been unconscious for two days. How about some food?”
I accepted the stew without argument and ate it quickly. It was the best meal I had had, in longer than I cared to remember. “A young man with a healthy appetite. That is good.” she said, looking at me affectionately. “Your meal was most wonderful, my lady. Thank you.” She smiled, then got up to clean the bowl and other utensils used when preparing the stew. “Lady Ymira, was I going mad, or is there someone I owe thanks for this breath I breathe?” “What?”
Just as the raider who shot me with the arrow came running at me to finish me off, there came a loud battle cry. The raider stopped, turned, and was greeted with a sword that decapitated him. Bandits, who had taken to horses now, were on the swordsman’s trail in no time. One, two, five, ten. No matter what their numbers, it was never enough. The man killed them all. I could tell he was a lord, for he donned a tabard of white and royal blue. There were two white phoenixes, in a background of royal blue, caddy corner from one another. There was also a crimson red line coming down diagonally, across the tabard, separating the two phoenixes. He had dark brown hair and a long face, perfect for the goatee that wrapped around his mouth and chin. His eyes, though fierce and powerful, were also kind and just. They were the last thing I saw.
After telling the story to Ymira, she simply smiled, but beneath the smile, had a look of deep thought. “I guess now that you mention it, that is what he looks like. Pardon me young master. I will get him for you.” She gave me a wink and then got up and exited the cottage. While I waited an anxiousness crept over me and I began to fidget, which only served to pain my stomach.
“You should not move about so.” he said when he came into the cottage. “You would not want to open your wounds again. They only just stopped bleeding.” I looked at him and couldn’t find words to say. We simply stared at one another. After a few moments had passed Ymira said, “Well, go on and say what it is you want boy. He is not going to bite you.” Clearing his throat, the knight kindly interrupted the lady and asked if she would give the two of us some privacy. Ymira smiling all the while, curtsied and took her leave.
“I have you to thank for my life, my lord. Whatever you ask of me, I will do to repay your kindness.” I said timidly. He smiled and walked over to the chair sitting before my bed. He sat down and looked at me. “I would only speak to you for a brief time, lad.” “Is that all?” I asked. Chuckling he nodded then said, “First of all, I would like you to know, many of your townspeople were injured in the raid. All fought bravely to the end. I do not believe in hiding the truth, so I will tell you now. Some of the villagers lost their lives in the skirmish.” I turned my head away from him closing my eyes. “I‘m sure many more would have died had you and your retinue not come when you did. Our town has you to thank for that.” I tried to hide my grief but had a hard time of doing so.
I felt his hand come over my brow to console me. “You are a brave lad. Your bravery gave us the strength and courage needed to overthrow the bandits. You should be proud. Your people can rebuild, and though it may be hard, regrow crop. After some time, most should be able to carry on with their lives.” After a moment he continued. “And now, I would ask a question of you.” The knight removed his hand and I turned back to him. “There was a man that lived in this very place you now reside. Sergeant Krinwig of Reyvadin. Where is he?”
He knew the answer before I could say it, by the look on my face, but he allowed me to continue. “My lord, forgive me, but the man you speak of has perished in battle by the hand of Swadia.” “And you are his son, are you not?” “Yes, my lord. Krin is my name.” A half smile formed across his face. “You look every inch the man your father was.” “Yes. Many people have said the same.”
Silence crept back into our conversation and after a short time a question formed in my mind. I leaned forward resting on my arm and said, “My lord. I apologize for the rudeness of the question I pose, but what is your name?” “Nonsense. My name is Yulgar. And if I may say good master, it is a pleasure to meet you.” I smiled and laid my head back down to rest. “Well, Master Krin, I believe our time has come to part for a little. Take your rest and I will be back to check on you on the morrow.” He stood up, bowed, and made to exit the cottage. Right before he walked out, I called to him. “Lord Yulgar. Thank you.” Smiling he nodded and left.
So again, I hope you liked it. And if you're interested, yes, I will be continuing with it.
. Thanks again for the comments!
