A Warm Welcome

Guild: Freebooters

Writers: Dasterly, Eqwina, and probably Eqwina's warder, and eventually Visar. I think.

Summary: This is an introduction of my character, Daedric. Basically he is on his first ranging along the blight and then nearly dies before Eqwina's Aes Sedai comes to the rescue. After that...

Extra Info: The White Tower will be somewhat involved, as it will be Eqwina's Aes Sedai, along with the Warders, I'm assuming.

Start Date: 11/8/2009

End Date: Ongoing.

The evening was wearing on as the sun began to die, burning in a muddy haze as it made its descent. Daedric was growing weary.

They’d been riding since day break, and this was his first true ‘ranging’ along the edge of the blight in northern Saldea. It had amazed him, especially in those first few hours of the ride where he looked out, seeing the definitive difference between the Dark One tainted lands and the snow licked edges that still remained pure and free of corruption. He had read about it. He had heard about it. But reading and hearing about a thing were one thing, actually seeing it first hand quite another. It was almost like legitimizing the Dark One. Made him real. Not just something his mother had threatened him with, not just a story, or legend. No. This was real.

His father’s wisdom had just proven itself, as, much to Daedric’s chagrin, it always did. Couldn’t he be proven wrong, just once? Daedric squashed the thought as soon as it came. This wasn’t the time for idle musings and lax attention; Trollocs were as real as the Blight’s corruption some half mile distant. Trollocs. Another larger than life story he had yet to experience.

The young man, some twenty winter’s in age, was then casually backhanded by the soldier riding beside him, jarring him out of his silent revery and making him focus. Shaking his head to clear his mind, Daedric slid off a glove and put his hand to his lip. It came away red. Just because it was casual didn’t mean it did not hurt.

“Pay attention, young Zeramene. This is a ranging. A scouting mission. Not an idle ride around your father’s home or a nice little picnic. Your father wants to make a soldier out of you, and by Winter’s Blast I’ll not have your first experience be an unjust one!” Jerrah, the old, grizzled Lieutenant said. He had served with Daedric’s father back when his father still served. Before the festering arrow wound in his thigh rendered him unfit for Saldean cavalry.

“Yes, Lieutenant,” Daedric replied, his dark eyes flashing with fire as he nodded respectfully and replaced his glove. His father’s friends were hard men. Much like himself. Much like he wanted his son to be.

Letting his boyish anger cool he blinked, focusing on his surroundings in the slowly dying daylight. Twilight was approaching. The most dangerous time of the day. But that wasn’t what caught his attention. The fore riders had circled around a long pole that looked to have been hastily driven in the ground. Bile rose up from the pit of his stomach, causing his adam’s apple to bob up and down to resist a sudden and very sharp urge to purge his body of the hasty lunch they had all shared earlier in the day.

That was no simple pole. And that was no animal splayed there, too human arms outstretched, too human legs lashed together along the length of the pole, lacerated flesh exposed through rends and tears in blood flaked fabric. And that face, smeared with blood and mud, mouth ajar with dark, vacant eyes staring sightlessly to the side as the head and neck tilted without strength. No, this was no animal. This was a human.

Bile tried to rise again through his throat before he ruthlessly quelled it, watching one of the soldiers dismount as the rest of the squad gathered around the pole, as if the crucifixion was a part of some dark, malicious menagerie. The soldier silently treaded closer, unsheathing his blade, reaching out to tentatively push it against the person’s leg. Was it male? Female? Low or high born? An un-natural silence precipitated his sword’s extension. The wind died. Horses quieted. Experienced Saldean cavalry watched in hushed horror as the solider lightly tapped the human’s thigh with the flat of the blade.

It was the sort of thing to make an impression on a pliable young mind, the sort of thing to make a life long impression. But what followed would follow him to the end of his days with a vividness that was frightening. Muscles of men and horse alike almost perceptibly clenched as the crucified human on the pole shuddered, neck snapping back, mouth opening frightfully wide, as if to try and swallow the world as a deep, guttural sound erupted. The thing’s body twisted and shook against its restraints, flaked blood danced down through the air like corrupted snow, like the blight itself, from the thing’s body as the guttural …noise continued, loud, so loud, combining with the scent of rotting flesh and sweaty bodies, combined with the jingle of armor and the prancing of frightened horses.

The solder finally put a stop to it with one fluid motion, performing what Daedric recalled as Arc of the Moon, severing the head from the body, the sound instantaneously stopping as the head rolled on the ground, spinning and spinning until it landed on what should have been a bloody stump, lips contorted into a rictus, eyes that had only moments ago seemed so lifeless now seemed to have a haunting significance. The men looked on in stunned fascination until their dark reveries were banished by a dying scream.

“TROLLOCS!” instantly twenty, no, now it was nineteen, swords left scabbards as all eyes swung to the north end of the circle, a spear lodged through their comrade’s body as around twenty, no, perhaps twenty five roaring figures charged their group.

Daedric blinked as his fellow Saldeans formed up and met the charge as best they could. Twilight had fallen, casting shadows as the last of the sun’s dying light slowly began to ebb away. It was too late to form up. It was too late for anything except survival. Daedric looked on as a few more soldiers died in moments to the Trollocs’ surprise attack.

“Daedric! Fight, boy! Fight for your life!” Jerrah screamed, charging into the fray. Daedric’s sword was in his hands as he hesitated, battle swirling around him, horses and sword and axe wielding beasts carrying him into battle. He’d had instruction with his weapon, but his was no sparring field. Life and death swirled around him with grunts and yells and screams.

The Saldeans were holding their own after the initial shock, slaying the Dark Touched beasts even as their own still fell and died around them. Suddenly one of those crooked, Thakan’Dar forged blades swung at him, and Daedric found himself reacting by instinct, deterring the thrust with Moon Rises over the Water. He deterred another slash, and another, muscle coiling as adrenaline filled him, doing everything in his power to keep the snarling, eagle faced Trolloc at bay. His personal battle seemed to last forever, until finally, Jerrah, dear old Jerrah, slashed down from his mount, behind the Trolloc and into its neck, causing it to twitch and die.

Jerrah met Daedric’s bright green eyes with calm blue hues of his own before instantly turning and finding another foe. Most of the Trollocs had been dispatched by that point in the battle, but, so had most of the Saldeans. Daedric looked on as the last few Saldeans, including Jerrah, encircled what could only be a Fade. Dark blade flashed with amazing speed and accuracy, deterring thrusts just as it delivered its own. And then Daedric saw its face. Met the eyeless’ stare. And he felt fear. Paralyzing, all encompassing, fear. Fear he hadn’t even felt when fighting for his life.

He couldn’t move. Couldn’t react. Couldn’t do anything except stare in horrified, catatonic silence. Someone had wounded the thing, and then, with a snarl, the Fade swirled and decapitated the man. It was then Daedric was knocked from his horse, a catchpole blindsiding him, catching him along the ribs, sending him sprawling to hard, snow licked dirt, his sword rattling as it hit the ground a few feet away.

Blood bubbled on his lips as he coughed, trying, Light!, how he was trying, to catch his breath, watching as the menacing horn-headed creature approached him with glee, running toward his inert form. No! No no no! His mind screamed, his eyes blinking, his body torn apart in agony as he tried to operate his fingers, as he tried to move his arm.

Was this the end? Was his thread in the pattern to be snuffed out, just like this? Severed, forever. No. He would not die. He. Would. Not. Die! There.. yes, there, his fumbling fingers at his waist, freeing his long dagger. One shot. That was all he would have. The Trolloc was close now, having had to momentarily stop to slash at his horse, which was on the ground, feet kicking, body twitching.

Mother… I hope you taught me true. Light! Lend me strength.

Muscles coiled in his arm as he brought his hand back, blade against his palm as he stared into the thing’s face, stared into those gleeful eyes as it approached. Yes. One shot. Impatience caught the shadowspawn at last minute, its hunger for death too strong as it went from fast walk to sprint. As Daedric released the dagger, sending it in a swirling arc.

The thing’s greed for blood was what saved Daedric. As its head leaned forward in the midst of a spring, his blade penetrated the thing’s eye, buried to the hilt, causing the Trolloc to buckle to its knees, and then, finally, to fall face down, life leaving its body with a twitch.

Grunting in pain and spitting up yet more blood, Daedric rolled over, reaching out and taking his sword as he struggled up to an elbow, dark hair matted with sweat and blood to his brow as his eyes looked out, seeking comrades, Trollocs, anyone. It was then he realized he was alone, except, there, yes…

The Fade’s body was twitching on the ground, spasming, arm swinging as it fought death. One arm decapitated and head missing the spawn was surrounded by those who had died to kill it.

Dead flesh surrounded him. Nothing alive was in sight. A horse. He needed a horse. Yes. Horse. Home.

Dark had enveloped the land, a pall taking over the field, adding to the death, adding to the destruction. And with that Daedric closed his eyes, fingers clutching his blade as he fluttered on the edge of consciousness, blood and spittle dotting the side of his mouth as his mind spiraled out, churning in dark and horrific wonder as his body shut down for a time, heart beating a weak cadence. Weak as a whisper dancing in a crowded room.

Handle: Dasterly

RP: Daedric Zeramene

Daedric was just approved a few days ago, but I'm hopefully going to get a post up on the 'North' board very soon. He's going to be wounded and Eqwina is going to, by some twist of the pattern, be in the area to offer him healing before he dies. After that.. well.. we'll have to see. -smiles-. Eqwina has also been a great help getting my bio approved and what not, and she said she suggested my character start at WS - 5. Don't know if that's confirmed yet or not.. but.. yeah .. there it is.

Though this character is new to DM, i'm not new to RP. I've been doing it for years, so yeah, if your character happens to run into mine... Awesome. :).

Average estimation: Hard to say.. At least a few times a week I'd hope. It really will depend on how busy I am at the time and how intense the RP situation is for my character(s).

Previous Postions: None. I'm new. Though about 5 years ago I was a Stone Dog here at DM.. I can't seem to remember his name for the life of me. So, just starting from scratch.

(edit: made name the link by request)

Hi everyone!,

I'm new (in a sense) to Dragonmount and recently had a bio approved for freelander roleplay. His name is Daedric Zeramene, a Saldean, and I'm going to hopefully have my first post finished and up on the 'North' RP board very soon. His bio is on the 'biographies board'.

Anyway, I'm looking forward to my experience as a freelander. :).

And congrats on the position Mystica!

Awesommme. :)

Silly me.. I needed to subtract the (s) from .bio. -slaps self-

I have similar concerns..

I just tried to email my bio to freecastle.bios@gmail.com and gmail sent the email right back to me and said the recipient failed permanently. Just wondering where I should direct the email now so that I can get approval and get to RP'ing?

Thanks much!

Hello. :)

This handle is new to DM, though a long time ago I was here playing as an Aiel Stone Dog. As it shames me to admit, I can't remember the name I gave him. I used to have ICQ and had several friends from DM on my list, but that was also lost when my old computer crashed.

Though I roleplayed here for a while, I think I started roleplaying around 2000 in Yahoo! chat, or rather 'Ayenee', back before they axed the user rooms. That being said I have considerable roleplaying experience. Just not any on DM within the last 5 or so years.

All that in mind, I think i'm going to write up a bio tonight for the free landers. My character's name is going to be Daedric, I think, and he is going to be from Saldea. His mother is going to be Saldean and his father is going to be Shienarian, though I may change that around. Haven't quite decided yet. -smiles-. Anyway, I think i'm going to make him a soldier, though his path will probably twist and turn and he may go on a path as a mercenary, or a hunter for the horn, or.. well.. anything. -grin-. So if you'd like to interact with him and become an influence on his life and decisions, let me know! I'll probably be RPing on the 'North' RP board once I get approved.

Besides that, some personal information about myself is that I'm 23 and currently single, living in Ohio. I recently graduated from college with a degree in public relations and marketing, but sadly with the recession in full force I haven't been able to find a job in my degree area as of yet. Sooo I've been doing things like finishing concrete and working at a restaurant. I've also been debating moving to Maryland with a good friend of mine in the next couple months. We'll have to see. :).

I love writing. I love the Wheel of Time series as well as the Song of Ice and Fire series. And I love meeting new people!

/ends his post before her rambles out even more information that people probably don't care about.

If you want to RP lemme know!

Thanks for the help everyone!...

And I think I'm going to write up a bio for a freelander. He's going to be from Saldaea, with Saldaean mother and Shienarian father. He's going to be young. (18 or 19, I think). And naive and bloodthirsty until he gets a shock of reality.. I haven't hammered out the specifics yet, but basically he's going to be soldier-esque witha lot of soul searching to do. Maybe he'll end up joining an army, maybe he'll be a mercenary, I don't know yet. Depends on what kind of people he runs into and what kind of life events happen to him. Like I said earlier, i'm very easy going. I love to write, so I'm up for adventure. -smiles-

Other than that.. I'm more than willing to try my hand at something else if someone has a story line that could use a specific type of character. I'm not new to roleplaying, just new to DM. So if anyone has any suggestions or could use some 'fresh meat' I'm more than willing to help out and participate!

Feel free to IM or PM me via Yahoo! or AIM. Or msg me on here. Whatever works.

-nods and laughs-. Gotcha!

I was just browsing through the orgs and wasn't sure which I wanted to join. I thought I could hear the Dark One whispering sweet rewards in my ear.. Or maybe that was the whisper of insanity?.. Hmm...

I'd like to create a Bio for this certain character idea. But will this bar me from participating in other roleplays in the future if I decide to make another character? Or will I just need to make another account, or...?

Well..

I'd probably begin the post with the battle scene and then have him straggle back onto a horse (possibly his, possibly one that was wandering around.. dunno yet.) I'd have him meander toward the nearest point of civilization. Possibly a small, kind of isolated village/town. They are up north near the blight, so we'd have to keep that in mind.. And, well, I don't really know where we'd go from there. Your character could be anyone. We'd meet because I'd be dying. -laughs-. And I'd need your help. And then I'd probably feel indebted to you and help you on some quest? Or join your regiment, or become your warder, or end up in your trolloc cookpot, or really anything.

I'm quite easy going and love a good story. So whatever/whoever you'd like to play, I'm sure we could make it work. -smiles-

Hello!,

I've been browsing over the RP boards, and initially I wanted to start an RP thread that involved a common soldier. Perhaps Saldean. I was going to post on the 'North' board and have the thread start by having my character be the last surviving member of a patrol that was attacked by some trollocs. I know I'm new, so I was going to have be the characters first battle, and he'd be wounded severely, though not past recovering his full strength.

Then, as I was thinking about just dropping this post on the forum, I figured it wouldn't be that easy. -grin-. Wasn't sure if I need to write a bio or join an org or something.. I was kind of just going to free lance it.

Anyway, please advise. I just want to RP, and I'd be down for pretty much anything. Soo... if you'd like to start one, let me know! Or if I need to join an org, I'm open for recruitment.

I also just finished TGS. I don't want to spoil anything, but as a certain general recently appeared was recently 'put' up there, I'd be willing to RP the scene.

Just throwing it out there. -smile-.

Let me know!

Yahoo Messenger: siege_truthbind

AIM: Valence80808

E-mail: artiestarner@gmail.com