Ironworks Gaming Forum - View Single Post - The Chronicles of Merick -- part I

Rockstar · 03-31-2007, 01:15 AM

PROLOGUE: THE STORY BEGINS

Recently things had been changing across the farum. Bandit raids had escalated higher than ever before in only a year. The local economy was taking a heavy down turn. The two major mines, in cloakwood and Nashkel, were struggling to produce any pure iron, and the ore they could gather was of poor quality. Over the past months bandits were specifically targeting the caravans carrying iron to be imported from distant lands which meant that only sourch of iron was the inferior ore that the mines were producing. The military was struggling to find the iron wares to create decent swords that would not break in mid battle and uncertainty was looming everywhere.

Merick grew up in the town of Candlekeep. A large town conceiled by a heavy stone wall which overlooked the ocean. Merick never knew who his real parents were and was raised by his foster father, Gorion, a wise and powerful mage, the most respected in all of Candlekeep. He was looked upon differently as dwarves were none in Candlekeep but he was never bothered by it as he was very physically intimidating to his peers. While not interested in schooling, he spent many hours in the library with his foster father, Gorion, studying warfare and ways of the blade. He foresaw himself as an excellent warrior and had now just reached adulthood. There was always something about Merick that the townsfolk deemed as somewhat super natural. His use of a blade and bow seemed to reflect that of a veteran warrior and his ability to learn new tricks, skills and strategies in combat was unexplainable. Gorion was the only person who nurtured his gifts of combat, and as his talents rose, so did his hatred for everything around him. Merick hated that he had suffered the upbringing of not knowing who he really was and being the only dwarf. Soon this hate developed into a chaotic lust for destruction. He found great use for his physical strength, and while he was not skilled at magic, he did not see this as a downfall as most dwarves were not. Gorion was always worried at the evil nature of Merick’s ways. Merick carried much hatred. It almost seemed as if he was possessed by a power so great it consumed his humanity. Merick still held respect for his foster father as he was a powerful mage and looked up to by the townsfolk due to his magical skill, but thought his father was not a fool for exploiting the gifts he had. “The man could rule Candlekeep and the nearby towns with an iron fist, yet he chooses to waste his days in the library…” Merick thought to himself. He continued to be trained with weapons, particularly the sword as his teacher was a swordsman. He also spent many hours at the archery range firing bows. Merick trained as if there were no tomorrow but didn’t know why. He felt his life lacked significance and always felt as if Gorion was too restrictive. He wanted to adventure but there was never a reason why…

CHAPTER 1:
ACT I
A Rude Awakening

Merick woke up startled by Gorion who was shaking him in a panicked fluster. “Awake child! Wake up!” the said. Gorion shoved a bag of gold into Merick’s hand and told him “This is all the spare gold I have. With it by all the wares you need… We are leaving Candlekeep and must do so before sunset!” Merick was quick to wake up and spoke in his deep dwarven voice, “What has happened? What would worry you so much that you would wake me in such a hurry.” “I will explain in due time my child.” Gorion insisted and then paced quickly out of the room. Merick pocketed the bag of gold and walked to the tavern to by some wares.

Merick pushed through the doors. “How ya doin’ young Merick!” Exclaimed Windthrop, the tavern keeper. “I do not have time for your petty chatter! I’m leaving soon and I need wares not gossip” Snapped Merick. Windthrop was silent with an angry and upset expression on his face before telling Merick “Ye spiteful tongue will give ye what’s coming to ya… The townsfolk have done nothin’ but look out for ya since you were brought here and this is how you treat us? You have the worst reputation of anyone your age by far. You start fights and talk back to your elders. Now why should I serve you after hearin’ that?” Merick tilted his head and eyed Windthrop and stepped closer before telling him “Because my father is Gorion…. now get me a sword and that split mail in the corner.” Windthrop slowly made his way to the wares and got what Merick asked for. Merick placed all his gold on the table and Windthrop took what he wanted and left little change. “This is absurd! Look how much you have charged me for these!?” Exclaimed Merirk. “Your place is not to question with me young one.” Replied Windthrop. Merick stared at the blade on the counter, tempted with evil thoughts, but instead collected his left over gold and walked out of the tavern.

Merick knew that there was still a while before Gorion was ready so he walked to the barracks in the hope to find some work. He hated having to help people with errands but he had run low on gold and needed a bow. He spoke to the head of the barracks, Fuller, who got him to deliver some bow bolts and a sword to some soldiers. Merick grudgingly did the task only to get the gold, which he took to purchase a bow (a short bow was all he could afford). He walked to the library but bumped into Imoen on the way.

Imoen was a young girl almost the same age as Merick. She was the only friend Merick ever had, and the only other he had ever cared for. She was like a sister to him and could not remember her parents either. She was human and beautiful of face and was quite skilled as a thief. She scuttled up to Merick and spoke “Hey ya! Why are you in such a hurry?” “You’re right, I am in a hurry and I’ve no time to speak.” Merick replied and barged past her. Merick didn’t fear anything but the feeling of not knowing what was happening made him feel uneasy. So uneasy that he wasn’t at all comfortable. He could see Gorion and began walking towards him, but as soon as Gorion lay eyes on him, he ran straight down to Merick and asked “Do you have everything you need child?” Merick nodded. “Then lets go.” They immediately started walking. On the way Gorion explained that if anything happened or if they were separated, to head to the friendly arm in, just north-east of Candlekeep and to look for a couple of elven travelers named Jaherra and Khalid. Merick asked again what was happening but Gorion gave the same response, that he would explain in due time. Merick lost patients and yelled “Stop being a wise old coot and tell me where we are going! NOW!” Gorion’s eyes lit up in rage. “How dare you speak to me that way. If you know what is good for your safety you will follow me now!” Merick and Gorion left the gates of Candlekeep and headed north east, through a forest trail, to the Friendly Arm Inn.

[ 04-03-2007, 10:40 PM: Message edited by: Rockstar ]

03-31-2007, 01:15 AM	#2
Rockstar Zhentarim Guard Join Date: January 4, 2003 Location: Australia Posts: 300	PROLOGUE: THE STORY BEGINS Recently things had been changing across the farum. Bandit raids had escalated higher than ever before in only a year. The local economy was taking a heavy down turn. The two major mines, in cloakwood and Nashkel, were struggling to produce any pure iron, and the ore they could gather was of poor quality. Over the past months bandits were specifically targeting the caravans carrying iron to be imported from distant lands which meant that only sourch of iron was the inferior ore that the mines were producing. The military was struggling to find the iron wares to create decent swords that would not break in mid battle and uncertainty was looming everywhere. Merick grew up in the town of Candlekeep. A large town conceiled by a heavy stone wall which overlooked the ocean. Merick never knew who his real parents were and was raised by his foster father, Gorion, a wise and powerful mage, the most respected in all of Candlekeep. He was looked upon differently as dwarves were none in Candlekeep but he was never bothered by it as he was very physically intimidating to his peers. While not interested in schooling, he spent many hours in the library with his foster father, Gorion, studying warfare and ways of the blade. He foresaw himself as an excellent warrior and had now just reached adulthood. There was always something about Merick that the townsfolk deemed as somewhat super natural. His use of a blade and bow seemed to reflect that of a veteran warrior and his ability to learn new tricks, skills and strategies in combat was unexplainable. Gorion was the only person who nurtured his gifts of combat, and as his talents rose, so did his hatred for everything around him. Merick hated that he had suffered the upbringing of not knowing who he really was and being the only dwarf. Soon this hate developed into a chaotic lust for destruction. He found great use for his physical strength, and while he was not skilled at magic, he did not see this as a downfall as most dwarves were not. Gorion was always worried at the evil nature of Merick’s ways. Merick carried much hatred. It almost seemed as if he was possessed by a power so great it consumed his humanity. Merick still held respect for his foster father as he was a powerful mage and looked up to by the townsfolk due to his magical skill, but thought his father was not a fool for exploiting the gifts he had. “The man could rule Candlekeep and the nearby towns with an iron fist, yet he chooses to waste his days in the library…” Merick thought to himself. He continued to be trained with weapons, particularly the sword as his teacher was a swordsman. He also spent many hours at the archery range firing bows. Merick trained as if there were no tomorrow but didn’t know why. He felt his life lacked significance and always felt as if Gorion was too restrictive. He wanted to adventure but there was never a reason why… CHAPTER 1: ACT I A Rude Awakening Merick woke up startled by Gorion who was shaking him in a panicked fluster. “Awake child! Wake up!” the said. Gorion shoved a bag of gold into Merick’s hand and told him “This is all the spare gold I have. With it by all the wares you need… We are leaving Candlekeep and must do so before sunset!” Merick was quick to wake up and spoke in his deep dwarven voice, “What has happened? What would worry you so much that you would wake me in such a hurry.” “I will explain in due time my child.” Gorion insisted and then paced quickly out of the room. Merick pocketed the bag of gold and walked to the tavern to by some wares. Merick pushed through the doors. “How ya doin’ young Merick!” Exclaimed Windthrop, the tavern keeper. “I do not have time for your petty chatter! I’m leaving soon and I need wares not gossip” Snapped Merick. Windthrop was silent with an angry and upset expression on his face before telling Merick “Ye spiteful tongue will give ye what’s coming to ya… The townsfolk have done nothin’ but look out for ya since you were brought here and this is how you treat us? You have the worst reputation of anyone your age by far. You start fights and talk back to your elders. Now why should I serve you after hearin’ that?” Merick tilted his head and eyed Windthrop and stepped closer before telling him “Because my father is Gorion…. now get me a sword and that split mail in the corner.” Windthrop slowly made his way to the wares and got what Merick asked for. Merick placed all his gold on the table and Windthrop took what he wanted and left little change. “This is absurd! Look how much you have charged me for these!?” Exclaimed Merirk. “Your place is not to question with me young one.” Replied Windthrop. Merick stared at the blade on the counter, tempted with evil thoughts, but instead collected his left over gold and walked out of the tavern. Merick knew that there was still a while before Gorion was ready so he walked to the barracks in the hope to find some work. He hated having to help people with errands but he had run low on gold and needed a bow. He spoke to the head of the barracks, Fuller, who got him to deliver some bow bolts and a sword to some soldiers. Merick grudgingly did the task only to get the gold, which he took to purchase a bow (a short bow was all he could afford). He walked to the library but bumped into Imoen on the way. Imoen was a young girl almost the same age as Merick. She was the only friend Merick ever had, and the only other he had ever cared for. She was like a sister to him and could not remember her parents either. She was human and beautiful of face and was quite skilled as a thief. She scuttled up to Merick and spoke “Hey ya! Why are you in such a hurry?” “You’re right, I am in a hurry and I’ve no time to speak.” Merick replied and barged past her. Merick didn’t fear anything but the feeling of not knowing what was happening made him feel uneasy. So uneasy that he wasn’t at all comfortable. He could see Gorion and began walking towards him, but as soon as Gorion lay eyes on him, he ran straight down to Merick and asked “Do you have everything you need child?” Merick nodded. “Then lets go.” They immediately started walking. On the way Gorion explained that if anything happened or if they were separated, to head to the friendly arm in, just north-east of Candlekeep and to look for a couple of elven travelers named Jaherra and Khalid. Merick asked again what was happening but Gorion gave the same response, that he would explain in due time. Merick lost patients and yelled “Stop being a wise old coot and tell me where we are going! NOW!” Gorion’s eyes lit up in rage. “How dare you speak to me that way. If you know what is good for your safety you will follow me now!” Merick and Gorion left the gates of Candlekeep and headed north east, through a forest trail, to the Friendly Arm Inn. [ 04-03-2007, 10:40 PM: Message edited by: Rockstar ]