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--- story:aldrun [2020/10/21 09:11] – Kyle
+++ story:aldrun [2024/09/09 14:32] (current) – Merging into one page Kyle
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+<WRAP centeralign>
 ======Mighty Tales of Aldrun======
 [[story:start|Back to Stories]] - [[character:aldrun|More about Aldrun]]\\
 //Written by: Kyle//\\
+/* Mighty Tales of Aldrun Timeline
-----
-/*
-Mighty Tales of Aldrun
 Slayer of Fiends - 11820
 The Bird Sword - 11823
-Fiery Patch - 1184
+Fiery Patch - 11824
 Ghostly Colours - 11826
 */
+====Tale 1: Slayer of Fiends====
+</WRAP>
-====Slayer of Fiends====
 Captain Halgresh of the guard stood slightly shorter than Aldrun, a self proclaimed Folk Hero, both being Half-Orcs many folk think they wouldn’t like each other coming from different tribes. However, the two were sharing glorious stories from their childhoods and having a jolly time together.
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 “Amazing, I’ll make sure you’re paid the same as the other guards.” Captain Halgresh picked up his voice again with Aldrun’s eagerness. “Who knows, you could make a home here, settle down maybe?”
-Aldrun pondered for a moment, he had lots of fun and sorrow the past hand worth of winters since leaving his tribe. His leather armour worn, sword dulling but the people he had met and helped in his adventures and the many more to come.
+Aldrun pondered for a moment, he had lots of fun and sorrow for the past hand worth of winters since leaving his tribe. His leather armour worn, sword dulling but the people he had met and helped in his adventures and the many more to come.
 Seeing Aldrun’s conflict, Halgresh spoke up again, “I don’t need an answer now, we’ll get you outfitted and wait for the next attack.”
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 The following morning Aldrun set out of town after a night of revelry and celebration to Aldrun’s departure. As he left down the road, he looked back to the Halgresh and Lord Albert Hender waving goodbye. As Aldrun turns back to the road, the Lord gives a wink and a slight nod to the side showing his scar.
-----
+<WRAP centeralign>
+====Tale 2: The Bird Sword====
+</WRAP>
-====The Bird Sword====
 Aldrun had heard that there was a man in the desert who collected magical artifacts, now Aldrun was no fan of magic, but some young humans convinced him that the man had a sword in the shape of a bird. This piqued Aldrun’s curiosity. He had seen many swords, short, long, straight, curved. However, he has never seen a bird sword and had to know of such a weapon.
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 “Well done, as promised.” Hilala coughed again and stood up straight. “Aldrun, Slayer of Fiends. Take your prize, Rebutter, Sword of Greyhawk.”
-----
+<WRAP centeralign>
+====Tale 3: Firey Patch====
+</WRAP>
-====Fiery Patch====
+The Summer was already hot enough even without the recent increase of hell hounds in the area. Aldrun had heard that a nearby town was under threat and he wished to aid them and if too late, help rebuild and defend against further attacks, he was travelling through the night, his feet weary from the trek.
-Story
+He was passing through farm country, large open plains of crop. The sight lines were great and the moon light alongside Aldrun’s natural dark vision gave him confidence to do such treks. Not long after the stars had moved halfway across the sky, he spied an orange glow among the fields near a homestead. Aldrun started jogging, long strides but not so fast as to tire himself before reaching the stead.
+Drawing closer to the homestead, he first hears screams of a woman and shouts of a child, then the now all too common growls of hounds from hell. Slowing his pace, he drew the Elven sword, its topaz hilt enhanced by the growing fires around. Aldrun’s armour made it difficult to sneak up, but a dead cow occupied the hounds. He counted a hand’s worth, two near him and the cow, the others at the homestead entrance.
+He got close but not close enough before the ones feeding on the cow noticed him, a hound rounded to the left, another to the right, the others guarded their feed. Aldrun swung his blade at the right, slashing the hound as it stepped closer. Bright red blood steamed from the wound. The hound on the left took its chance but was too slow for the light blade. A sharp yelp drew the attention of the rest. Aldrun, not giving it a chance to recover, followed through slashing its throat.
+The first hound pacing to put Aldrun in the middle of the group. Seeing its plan, he chased after the hurt hell hound. It wasn’t enough. One from the stead bounded the distance and jumped on Aldrun, searing teeth biting into Aldrun’s arm, a guard protected from the upper jaw but not the lower. In no position to swing a sword, Aldrun moved his arm and the mongrel in front of himself and dropped his weight toward onto the ground. With a quick grab of the mongrel’s head, Aldrun freed his caught arm and twisted the head around, letting out a deep crack. The beast still alive panted hard, but could only twitch and flounder in the dirt as it tried moving.
+Standing up, Aldrun heard a voice, the child. “Sir! I can help.”
+Glancing around Aldrun’s eyes landed on the now open front door of the homestead. A boy the height of Aldrun’s waist, he held a short sword with both hands, much too heavy for a little human’s strength, the blade’s tip barely off the ground. The hurt hound and one from the house remained focused on Aldrun, but the boy found one staring him down.
+Aldrun threw himself into danger with no care except for the boy. His sword followed behind, the tip barely above the ground. The blade flew upward in a flash of lightning. Decapitating the hound closest to the boy.
+The remaining two saw their moment, one leaping to Aldrun’s back and the wounded one using it’s greater size and weight to charge and knock the boy. Claws sunk into Aldrun’s shoulders, the burning heat causing him to tense up. Screams of the child and woman echoed. Aldrun closed his eyes.
 ----
-====Ghostly Colours====
+A sharp shrill brought Aldrun’s sense back. “Bertie!”
+Flames, blood, earth, sky, topaz and sword. Red filled Aldrun’s vision. Adjusting to the sight, he saw the boy holding the short sword up pointed to a hound, blood covering half the boy’s face. Aldrun turned to face the homestead, the other remaining hound laid still, collapsed on the short stairs. He found his sword and his strength as he stood next to the boy. Aldrun placed his hand on the boy’s shoulder.
+“Check your ma. I have this one.”
+Aldrun could see the boy shaking, fear? No, the boy was willing, but his strength couldn’t hold the blade steady. Pushing his hand, he sent the boy between himself and the homestead. The final hound tried to pace around to get an easier prey, Aldrun mirrored its movement. Tired of waiting Aldrun took a step toward, the hound pounced, a quick twist and flick slashed the hounds throat as it tried to pass. It fell and went quietly.
+Aldrun watched for a few moments and a few more after that, no movement, no howls, only bodies and flames. The homestead would be gone in short time. Turning back to the stead, Aldrun saw the mother cleaning and checking the boy’s face. A large wound running from ear to just below his nose. Aldrun approached, rummaging through his pocket, producing a magical salve made by a druid. Not as good as a full potion as it leaves scars, but just as fast and effective at treating deep gashes.
+After a few moments the boy was already looking healthier. Aldrun looked about the home realising where he was. “You need to leave, all will be ash soon.” Aldrun spoke, looking through doorways and windows for signs of fire.
+“Thank you, I’m Tamara Hender and this is my boy Bertie.” the mother spoke as she helped the boy up “Can we give you anything, Sir?”
+“I Aldrun, Slayer of Fiends require nothing, only what is needed to help others.” He replied as Tamara lead the small group out and around the homestead toward a stable. Aldrun thought, most in recent days had given him food, drink, and medicine, but little Aldrun kept to himself, giving his reward to the more needy.
+As they reached the stables, two horses stood ready, almost like they knew the moment was coming. Tamara spoke once again. “Only Culver is packed and ready. I thought we had more time. Patch has a saddle and a couple waterskins.”
+Aldrun paced toward the horse with the smaller pack. A notable section on its shoulder of white hair stood out on the otherwise completely dark brown horse. “Patch you say? fitting name. Best you and Bertie-”
+“It’s Albert!” Both Aldrun and Tamara turned to the boy.
+Aldrun nodded. “Best you and Albert..” he lingered on the name as he got lost in thought. “Head sunrise way, there is refuge and safety.”
+“You’re not coming with us?” Tamara looked worried
+Aldrun pat the side of Patch’s head. “The roads are clear and guarded.” Turning back to the boy, Aldrun continued, “I’m better at saving farmsteads and stopping evil.”
+<WRAP centeralign>
+====Tale 4: Ghostly Colours====
+</WRAP>
 “There’s been a Wight plaguing our town, we believe it to be hiding in an old watchtower just past the north forest. We’ve all chipped in and can pay you fifty gold pieces.” The alderman spoke with confidence, but Aldrun could see fear in his eyes. Maybe the man misspoke?
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 Sitting on the cold damp ground, Aldrun looks back to the watchtower. This seems to be the place the alderman described, but no white, only a pale blue ghost and a trapped ghoul. Returning to Patch, Aldrun set up his bedroll and tries to get some rest. Hoping that the alderman won’t be upset about not finding the white and that he’ll pay for killing the ghost and ghoul.
-Aldrun awoke before the sun returned to the sky, his belly not allowing him to rest. Taking a swig of water, Aldrun promised himself a full meal once he returned to town. Once all packed up, Aldrun mounted Patch and started heading back the way he came, as the warming sun rose to his left through the dense forest. A shift in the tree tops catches Aldrun’s eye, a loud creak and snap echoes as a large brach comes toppling toward the ground. Striking Aldrun in the head causing him to fall from Patch, his last sight a large puddle of water.
+Aldrun awoke before the sun returned to the sky, his belly not allowing him to rest. Taking a swig of water, Aldrun promised himself a full meal once he returned to town. Once all packed up, Aldrun mounted Patch and started heading back the way he came, as the warming sun rose to his left through the dense forest. A shift in the tree tops catches Aldrun’s eye, a loud creak and snap echoes as a large branch comes toppling toward the ground. Striking Aldrun in the head causing him to fall from Patch, his last sight a large puddle of water.