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

Rockstar · 04-11-2007, 05:52 AM

CHAPTER 2
ACT VI
Journey To The Nashkel Mines

It was night time when Merick set foot back in Nashkel. Whether or not it was the effects of the tomb that had been cast upon him, he did not feel weary as he should after a long fought battle and felt he had a whole day of energy still to use. Regardless he went to the Tavern to hire a room and sleep until the sun rose.

That night Merick did not sleep well. He had a dream unlike any other he had ever experienced. It was almost as if a supernatural presense had drilled into his skull and planted the dream in there. He found himself back in Candlekeep and relived the events as Gorion walked with him out of Candlekeep and to the forest. It was almost as if a demonic play as it played out right until Gorion's dark, armored murderer ran his sword right through his foster father's back. When Gorion fell down dead, Merikc saw the vision again. Then again and again and again, until Merick's eyes became used to the sight of it. The only thought that emerged in Merick's head was that soon he would have the power of Gorion's slayer, and as foolish as Gorion was, Merick would avenge his death. Merick awoke in his own sweat, but somehow he felt stronger than before. As if something inside of him was slowly waking.

Merick strapped on his armor and sought out the fat bounty collector immediately to find him just where he was before, standing in front of a building with ‘wanted’ posters, behind a simple wooden table. Merick dropped the bloodied, burnt head on the collector’s table without saying a word. The bounty collector squirmed backward and pressed himself against the wall, his eyes open in horror, staring at the severed head. He quickly regained his composure and placed the head in the basket. “You… you startled me.” explained the collector “I’ve seen many a severed head but … not the one of our beloved Captain Brage.” Merick eyed him impatiently “Where’s my bounty?!” The collector looked at Merick angrilly and passed him a purse. “There’s only 150 gold in this purse!” The collector showed no intimidation “That is the payment for your dishonesty earlier… Merick.” The fat collector went on, “I was absent the day the real Greywolf came and told a relief collector that he would return later to collect that bounty. Greywolf has continued to business with us none-the-less and headed to the mines to collect some stolen gems.” Merick reached for his blade but contained his rage remembering there was still a bounty to be collected for the mines, one that the collector probably would not have on him. Instead Merick grabbed the collector by his shirt and held him close. “Don’t you ever… ever cross me again! … and hold on to your bounties because they belong to me!” The collector was shaking as Merick walked away, walking out the eastern exit of the small town, towards the neighboring mine site. “This town will fall first…” Merick muttered to himself under his breath.

The walk to the mine was only a couple of hours with nothing but gravel and the occasional tree. Merick stopped when he saw a giant recess in the ground hundreds of meters wide. This was the mining pit. There were carts on rails leading from the primary mine entrance to a processing area where the iron was bagged up and put into caravans to be shipped off. However, the pit looked unusually bare with not even half the workers on the outside as he would have expected. Merick went to find a scaffolding to climb town into the pit with when something caught his eye. Over on the opposite edge of the pit, his dwarven eyes saw a man dressed in blue. Merick bolted over to the other side of the outside pit to meet the man.

The man in blue stood in front of a rock face chiseling away at the rock face, forming what appeared to be the face of a young women. Sitting on the ground next to the man were some carving tools and some very expensive looking gems. Merick realised this must have been Greywolf’s current bounty. The man in blue turned around when he heard Merick approaching behind him. The man was visibly stressed and spoke in a tired, defeated tone “I suppose Greywolf has sent you, hasn’t he? I knew it was only a matter of time. All I wanted was to finish my masterpiece…” Merick looked at the jewels on the ground and knew that they would sell for far more than what the bounty collector would pay for them and without a word advanced towards the man and his gems. Out of nowhere, behind the rock face, appeared wearing bronzed leather armor that covered his torso and upper thighs. The man was only of average height and build but was heavily ripped and Merick could already tell this man was a professional killer. He was Greywolf.

[ 04-11-2007, 06:47 AM: Message edited by: Rockstar ]

04-11-2007, 05:52 AM	#15
Rockstar Zhentarim Guard Join Date: January 4, 2003 Location: Australia Posts: 300	CHAPTER 2 ACT VI Journey To The Nashkel Mines It was night time when Merick set foot back in Nashkel. Whether or not it was the effects of the tomb that had been cast upon him, he did not feel weary as he should after a long fought battle and felt he had a whole day of energy still to use. Regardless he went to the Tavern to hire a room and sleep until the sun rose. That night Merick did not sleep well. He had a dream unlike any other he had ever experienced. It was almost as if a supernatural presense had drilled into his skull and planted the dream in there. He found himself back in Candlekeep and relived the events as Gorion walked with him out of Candlekeep and to the forest. It was almost as if a demonic play as it played out right until Gorion's dark, armored murderer ran his sword right through his foster father's back. When Gorion fell down dead, Merikc saw the vision again. Then again and again and again, until Merick's eyes became used to the sight of it. The only thought that emerged in Merick's head was that soon he would have the power of Gorion's slayer, and as foolish as Gorion was, Merick would avenge his death. Merick awoke in his own sweat, but somehow he felt stronger than before. As if something inside of him was slowly waking. Merick strapped on his armor and sought out the fat bounty collector immediately to find him just where he was before, standing in front of a building with ‘wanted’ posters, behind a simple wooden table. Merick dropped the bloodied, burnt head on the collector’s table without saying a word. The bounty collector squirmed backward and pressed himself against the wall, his eyes open in horror, staring at the severed head. He quickly regained his composure and placed the head in the basket. “You… you startled me.” explained the collector “I’ve seen many a severed head but … not the one of our beloved Captain Brage.” Merick eyed him impatiently “Where’s my bounty?!” The collector looked at Merick angrilly and passed him a purse. “There’s only 150 gold in this purse!” The collector showed no intimidation “That is the payment for your dishonesty earlier… Merick.” The fat collector went on, “I was absent the day the real Greywolf came and told a relief collector that he would return later to collect that bounty. Greywolf has continued to business with us none-the-less and headed to the mines to collect some stolen gems.” Merick reached for his blade but contained his rage remembering there was still a bounty to be collected for the mines, one that the collector probably would not have on him. Instead Merick grabbed the collector by his shirt and held him close. “Don’t you ever… ever cross me again! … and hold on to your bounties because they belong to me!” The collector was shaking as Merick walked away, walking out the eastern exit of the small town, towards the neighboring mine site. “This town will fall first…” Merick muttered to himself under his breath. The walk to the mine was only a couple of hours with nothing but gravel and the occasional tree. Merick stopped when he saw a giant recess in the ground hundreds of meters wide. This was the mining pit. There were carts on rails leading from the primary mine entrance to a processing area where the iron was bagged up and put into caravans to be shipped off. However, the pit looked unusually bare with not even half the workers on the outside as he would have expected. Merick went to find a scaffolding to climb town into the pit with when something caught his eye. Over on the opposite edge of the pit, his dwarven eyes saw a man dressed in blue. Merick bolted over to the other side of the outside pit to meet the man. The man in blue stood in front of a rock face chiseling away at the rock face, forming what appeared to be the face of a young women. Sitting on the ground next to the man were some carving tools and some very expensive looking gems. Merick realised this must have been Greywolf’s current bounty. The man in blue turned around when he heard Merick approaching behind him. The man was visibly stressed and spoke in a tired, defeated tone “I suppose Greywolf has sent you, hasn’t he? I knew it was only a matter of time. All I wanted was to finish my masterpiece…” Merick looked at the jewels on the ground and knew that they would sell for far more than what the bounty collector would pay for them and without a word advanced towards the man and his gems. Out of nowhere, behind the rock face, appeared wearing bronzed leather armor that covered his torso and upper thighs. The man was only of average height and build but was heavily ripped and Merick could already tell this man was a professional killer. He was Greywolf. [ 04-11-2007, 06:47 AM: Message edited by: Rockstar ]