Serverus Options

[Lord Veneficus]

I know, it is a bit short. But it's just a starter to see how you guys like it.

Serverus slowly crept along the dark halls of the Ayleid ruin. His delicately runed shortsword in his hand. He was a young Imperial of twenty years; with flowing black hair that reached just past his shoulders. A scar ran gracefully down his slightly muscular arm.

He had sworn to himself that he would kill the man who had so wrongfully murdered his first love, Marcella, the only person he had left in his life. The man was jealous and he attempted to court her. After failure at this task, he killed her and threw her body into the river. Serverus knew the man was here. He had spent many days and much gold hunting him down. The man was highly protected by men in ebony armor.

He entered a small room. Serverus searched through the contents of every container. There was a letter on a table next to a dented and scarred shield. He unfolded the letter and examined its contents.

Casimir,

I will gladly pay you five thousand gold pieces for ten more of your men. Send them to the clearing east of the Red Ring Road. I do not wish for my location to be revealed. I hope you understand why I need these men. I will see you there, my legionnaire friend.

A friend

Serverus laughed to himself. It was a little too late for the man to be concerned of his hideout being found. He folded the letter up and placed it into his pack; he then left the room and headed north, deeper into the ruin.

[Lord Veneficus]

Chapter III

The wintry night froze Serverus. He stopped at an old inn a little ways west of the Silver road. He entered the dim room and he could hear a low chatter of several people sitting at the battered stools and wobbly tables. He walked up to the proprietor and asked for a steaming bowl of beef stew. The innkeeper left the room and returned shortly after with the stew in hand. Serverus took the first bite and his bones were immediately warmed.

The stew reminded him of his mother’s cooking; it was truly divine. She had the ability to make even the most bitter of foods into something amazing. But his moment of bliss was quickly cut short when a man strode over to him.

“Serverus! How have things been going?” asked the man. He had quite the bubbly personality. Serverus realized that the happy man was his old friend from his hometown, Marcus.

“Couldn’t be any better, Marcus,” he lied. Serverus was not the one to speak of his emotions openly. He wanted to tell Marcus about what had happened only a few hours ago.

“What happened to you? Did you and Marcella run off again? Haha. You and her, always dithering about,” Marcus clearly did not know about her. Serverus stood up from the table and got face to face with him. “Did you not know that she died?! She was murdered by that damned brute, Maeltor. You remember him, don’t you? That sadistic honoured user is the reason I was gone for so long!” The low chatter had stopped and everyone was staring at Serverus and Marcus. He went up to the bar and handed the innkeeper two septims. Serverus had no desire to stay there for the night, so he stepped out into the cold. Marcus hurried after him.

“I’m sorry, Serverus. I had no idea… I… please excuse my stupidity,” Marcus said apologetically. “What are you going to do now?”

“I’m going to hunt him down and gut him like the pig he is!” Serverus shot back. He pulled a torch from his belt and lit it. Marcus looked at him and asked, “Can I come with you? I can help, honestly.” Serverus said yes and they walked down trodden path to the main road.

Along the way, Marcus asked where they were going. Serverus told him they were going to a clearing east of the Red Ring Road. He warned Marcus that it would be a risky thing to do. Marcus did not care and Serverus knew so. They spoke of many things, including what Marcus had been doing all of those years. Books were a favorite pastime of Serverus and Marcus, so they talked about that as well. Serverus’ favorite book was “Hallgerd’s Tale”.

They had arrived at the Imperial City for a quick rest. It was early in the morning and none of the usually crowded market stalls were open. They sat in the courtyard and drank mead from the local tavern.

Serverus and Marcus decided to get to the clearing before noon, so they could get a good position on Maeltor. If he showed up, that is.

They entered the forest and continued their trek east. It did not take long to find the rather large clearing. In fact, there was a small cabin at the edge of it. Serverus set up two tents further away from the path with which they had followed while Marcus searched the cabin.

It was late and Marcus had found nothing in the cabin. In the distance, Serverus could hear marching. Marcus had heard it as well, as he was cupping his hand around his ear to hear better…