Forums » Fantasy Roleplay » A Wizard did it. (Open)

Storm clouds rolled quickly, much faster then the wind could push them, across the vast open blue plane that was the sky. Flickering tongues of lightning touched down on the earth as the roar of thunder echoed not long after. Staring of into the city that lay beyond the edge of her woods was Ceri, the fighter who resided within the Neverwinter Woods. A hand rested lightly upon the grip of her sword as she watched the smoke billow from the center of Neverwinter City. "They're always doing something to destroy their own city. They should really hire some competent guards." She gave a light sigh of irritation turning away from the city and back to the darker forest. She would need to find some assistance before entering the city to stop the cause of the spreading fire.

(Continued post)
Ceri, after having gathered her equipment and a few supplies from her cottage hidden within the depths of Neverwinter Woods, passed through the gates of Neverwinter City. She wrinkled her nose at the scent of burning wood, stucco, and filth that was littered about the city. Ceri grumbled to herself thinking that this mere act of heroism was for the chance to further make a name for herself. She found her way to an Inn & tavern well known among adventurers and wanna-be-hero's Called "Lapis-Lazulie Dragon", or "Blue Dragon" for short. What would be a lavish place that befits the gem-stone name, was in all actuality a rowdy middle-class place; though it was by no means unfriendly. Ceri sat down at the counter of the bar next to the Quest Board and looked at it briefly though uninterested in most of it's contents.

After a few minutes a large man entered the room. He wore a dark blue and black plaid kilt, a blue west, a chain mail t-shirt, steel arm and shin guards and had had a large claymore on his back. He walked inside and sat at the bar. He had short dark brown hair, and dark brown eyes which just looked forward until the bar tender came by, at which time he bought himself a mug of mead. "thanks..." He said quietly as he dropped a few coins on the counter, then went on to drink his mead

It wasn't that Ceri was bad with other beings, it was that she wasn't good with words. A fighter who lived alone didn't have any need for words. "Some one set Neverwinter on Fire again." She said, hoping that she was loud enough for the one who had just sat down to hear her without having to repeat herself. "Everyone else doesn't seem concerned with such a small-fry act of Arson, but with Neverwinter nothing's ever so simple." She was trying her best to put forth an offer, but she was sure it sounded like she was just making conversation so she held up a hand and bid the Bar keep to come to her. "Mead, don't skimp me." She sighed placing a few coins down.

Artair turned his head and looked at the Elf. She was a lot smaller then him, but didn't look like a weakling. He took a gulp of his drink "I don't know much of what you're speaking of miss...?"

She sipped at the mead she had been given. "Ah, I was afraid of that." she shifted slightly to look at him. "Neverwinter City doesn't know how to keep out of trouble by any means. Whenever something big goes on, like a smoke-tower you can see clearly all the way from Neverwinter Woods, it means that there is foul play. And what comes from foul play? A good boost in reputation and money when the hero turns over the culprit." She gave a weak smile that she hoped would further convince the much taller male human to join her in an investigation as to why the sudden fire had sprung up.

He gave her a confused look, "Right...So what does that have to do with me, Miss...?" He tired asking her name again. Who was she and what is she saying that he should go and look into it? He was a stranger here, it was none of his concern.

She looked down slightly in thought. "Ceri. No need to call me Miss." She looked back up. "I guess knowing who you're talking to is rather important in case they turn out to be a loony." Ceri shook her head lightly "What I'm trying to say, is although I'm strong and I have confidence in my skill at battle; there is no way I can really fight on my own if it's another one of Neverwinter City's big "oh-no we're all going to die because we pissed off the wrong guy" type of deals." She was really hoping that someone who looked as strong as he had, would not turn her down.

He looked at her for a few seconds, then asked. "I'm sorry Ceri. Forgive me if I am wrong, are you asking me to travel with you to this Neverwinter City place?"

Ceri looked at him thoroughly surprised, and although it wasn't within her norm to laugh at something that wasn't intended on being funny, she found herself chuckling lightly. "You're in the tavern of a city to whom's name you do not know?" she smiled again, stifling the little tickles of laughter that still wanted to be shed. "You are in Neverwinter City, I'm asking you to come with me to Neverwinter City's heart where that foul smell of burning is coming from and find the cause. Magic leaves residue that is distinct to it's caster or origin. If we can find the source then we'll get a nice reward."

Artair blushed a bit. "Sorry, I'm not from around here myself. I have nothing to do I guess, so sure why not."He shrugged his shoulders. He jugged his mead down, a bit going down the side of his cheek. After he finished he gasped for air then wiped the mead off his face. "So then when do we leave?" He looked at her giving her a small smile

Ceri smiled more cheerily now, and followed the other's example and quickly finished her mead. "Now. Better to get a start on things while the coals are still hot." She hopped off her seat and picked up the shield that rested against her chair. "The City guard should be at the center with the Magic division trying to quell the fire. Unfortunately this is the most annoying part of the job. The Neverwinter City Guard tend to be a bit high and mighty but they don't refuse help, which is a good thing." She stopped momentarily staring blankly before turning back to her new companion. "I. . .I seem to have gotten ahead of myself and never asked your name." Her cheeks had flushed from the embarrassment.

"Artair Tytler." He answered and gave her a slight smile. "I should be the one to say sorry. I should have given my name before asking yours." He said as he opened the door for her.

She gave a small nod and thanks for the kind gesture. "Well Artair, it's a pleasure to have your companionship in this, what will be no doubt, interesting trip." She turned towards where the smoke had come from and placed a steady hand on her sword as she began to walk. "be careful to follow me closely. If you don't know the city it's easy to get lost."

Artair fell in behind her, "what are we looking at by the way? I mean what are we gonna have to do once we get there? Like I said, I'm not from here..."

Ceri gave a small hum thinking about the question. "We'll talk to the City guard that should be on duty. We'll get whatever information we can out of them before we'll actually have to start searching for clues on our own." she took a slight turn and headed towards where a small blockade had been set up. Behind it stood two guards with the City's seal on their chest ushering people out from behind the makeshift wall. "Looks like the fire's already been put out here. That's good we'll get some attention from the guards."

Artair was still unsure about all of this. He didn't know this woman, but he followed her for some reason. He decided just to keep quiet and let her do all the talking.

Ceri held up a hand in a slight waving motion to the guard effectively gaining his attention. "I'm Ceri, and this is my companion Artair. I know nothing about the fire has been posted at Lapis-Lazulie Dragon yet, but I think it's in the best interest for the city if we start work now." The guard scowled over at the two before turning fully to them and explaining. "At this point we really don't need any half-bit heros. We got all the help we need from the Mage quarter." Ceri frowned, staring at the guard. "Yes you've got the situation perfectly under control, and that's exactly why the fire started in the first place." The guard sneered at them. "If you want to help so badly go to the sewers and dig around in the muck. I heard that it originated from there. Have fun with all those Dire Rats, knife-ears." Ceri's lips curled in a snarl and she whipped around. "How crude." she scoffed storming off back the way they had come.

He let her walk by him, and followed behind her. "Dire rats? Care to explain whats a dire rat?" He asked, getting beside her.

Ceri was quick to calm, though still a bit agitated with the racial slur, as she approached a large white-stone building with a thick dark-steel door. "A Dire Rat is a Giant Rat that has mutated to the extent it has bone spikes jutting out from it's back. It's about the size of a small child so they won't be hard to see. It's the swarming of Dire Rats we have to worry about." She spun the large circular handle of the door, opening it and wrinkling her nose at the smell of trash and decay that wafted out. "As long as we don't come across their nest we should be okay." She pulled one of the torches from the wall and lit it with some flint. "Or rather I should say, I hope those stupid guards didn't do anything to provoke the Dire Rats. If they did, then they'll all be looking for blood which will be quite the handful."
Dire Rat