Endless Perspective - Open Role Playing :: The Adventures of Regis {Working Title}

Mirage · The Adventures of Regis {Working Title} (Wed Oct 08, 2008 5:58 pm)

I will release more of the story If it seems to generate intrest, other than that enjoy this fantasy piece.

The rain poured down heavily from the grey, sullen sky. The trees rustled anxiously in the autumn wind and their leaves floated at the mercy of the furious wind. The road to the city of Moni was muddy and difficult to traverse and most merchants, adventurers and travelers alike would have avoided the road today. Two men could be seen walking along the road, both wore heavy cloaks to defend themselves from the harsh winds and heavy rains. One man was tall, and a huge sword, almost as big as the man himself, was sheathed on the mans back. The other was a stout, tough looking man who led the mule that was carrying the men’s belongings. The shorter of the two looked up and decided to break the silence.
“We should find shelter; at this rate we won’t get ta Moni for a few days.”
The taller man turned his head slowly as if he had awoken from a trance.
“I suppose.” He paused and looked ahead of him and gestured toward the east of the road.
“A good area protected from the weather is just a while away from here.” He said with a weary voice.
“What sort of area? An inn do ya mean Regis?” The stout man asked.
“No. I mean an area near the face of those mountains that can provide a small cave for us.” Regis laughed.
“I thought you a hardened man from the barbaric lands of the south Stoli?” Regis said still laughing.
“Aye, that I am but even we men from the south need a good bed every now an then.” Stoli replied gruffly.
The two men were both mercenaries who where short on money. A mercenary needs war, and without war a mercenary is out of business. War had been scarce these past few months with most nations either exhausted from previous battles or had reached some sort of peace. Regis and Stoli had little money and were relieved when they heard of a disagreement between the kingdom of Calak and Vin over land. The city of Moni was Calak’s capital and because they where short of their own fighting force, had requested the support of mercenaries for an ample fee. Regis and Stoli had hoped to get to Moni yesterday evening, but a storm had slowed them and their mule down to a sluggish crawl along the muddy road.

Regis sat on a flat rock, warming his hands on the fire that had taken nearly an hour to get alight due to the violent winds outside. Stoli was polishing his steel armour making it shine; he had said that he wanted to impress his employers when they arrived in Moni, as to make sure they would use his services. Regis didn’t need to make such preparations in order to make sure he got a job, he was well known in most nations. He was usually known as “Regis the Berserk” among other names and had only been a mercenary for three years. He had earned his name after the way he fought in battle, wild and furious, like a demon. Men feared his name and few could withstand his massive swords swing against their fragile bodies.
He was proud of his name, as well as sickened by it; before he had become a mercenary he had tried his hand at being a farmer as well as a few other menial ways of making money and he was poor at all of them. He returned to what he knew best.
War and death.
Stoli had finished polishing his armor and was now packing it back into one of the bags on the mule. He looked over at Regis, who seemed to be brooding as he stared into the fire.
“You ok Regis?” Stoli asked with concern.
Regis looked up startled at his friends question and gave him a reassuring smile to rid his friend of any suspicions of unhappiness.
“I’m fine Stoli; I was just wondering how much money those Calakians are willing to pay for our services.” Regis lied.
Stoli still looked concerned and sat down on a rock adjacent to Regis on the other side of the fire.
“Ya just looked down is all; I’ll bet a lot when they hear you’re asking to join em in battle.”
“Probably” Regis replied distracted by his own thoughts.
He didn’t care how much they would pay him, as long as he could eat and provide himself with another bottle of alcohol to give him an easy night’s sleep. Regis was a dangerous man in battle, to both friend and foe. When he went into battle, sometimes he would black out and be in a strange trance. When he awoke, not a soul would be left on the battlefield. The only exception to this rule was Stoli, who had twice now avoided death at the berserker’s mighty sword. Regis greatly liked Stoli, the man was charismatic, caring and loyal, all the things Regis wasn’t. He’d often wonder why Stoli traveled with him at all sometimes, as well as risking his life on the battlefield with him. He was just lucky he guessed. Without Stoli with him, Regis wondered if he would fully regress into the demon he felt that was trying to become him. Stoli, perhaps, was the key to keeping his humanity and he thanked his good luck he had run into him.
It was getting late and Stoli had already retired. Regis had finished the last bottle of wine that he had and hoped that they would reach Moni by the day was over or he would have to face the gruesome nightmares that had haunted him since he had starting having his black outs. He had decided it was best to get some rest for the journey tomorrow would be a long and difficult journey if this storm persisted until the next day. He unpacked his sleeping mat and cover and found a comfortable spot close to the warm fire, which was now coming to its end, and took of his boots and cloak. Regis decided it best to wrap himself tight for tonight was going to freezing. He yawned, closed his eyes and quickly fell asleep under the influence of the strong wine he had finished. He slept throughout the night dreamless, just as he liked.

Regis awoke at the sound of Stoli sharpening his axe with his whetstone. He smiled when he had seen that Regis had awoken.
“Mornin Regis, ready for a hard days trek?” He asked him with certain vigor in his voice.
“Yes.” Regis groaned and sat up.
The storm had resided over the night and this pleased Regis greatly and wondered what they had left for breakfast. He placed his boots on his tired, worn feet and began rummaging through the bag that held their food. He was disappointed at what he found, only a morsel of dried meat and half a loaf of bread. Regis sighed and produced a knife from his belt, he began to slice himself some bread and asked if Stoli wanted any.
“Nay, I’ve already had a couple slices myself already my friend. Eat up all you want.” Stoli replied not turning his head.
Regis ate the whole loaf; he knew that he probably wouldn’t eat till late when they arrived in Moni. After eating the loaf, he decided it would be best to get some fresh air.
The day was truly beautiful, the leaves of the forest surrounding the mountain dripped from the storm from the previous night and the thick smell of dew hung in the air around Regis. He breathed in deeply and smiled broadly, he hadn’t seen a day like this in some time and this heartened him greatly. The road was no longer sloshed mud, but dry and cracked and Regis knew that they would reach Moni by the early evening if he and Stoli left within the hour. So, he began to make to the cave and found Stoli had already packed away most of the cooking materials and his own things, leaving Regis’ cloak and sword. Stoli turned to him when he entered.
“Back are we? Is the road better now?” He asked.
Regis picked up his cloak and hung it around his neck loosely and tied his sheathed sword around his back.
“Yes, it will be much easier to walk on now and the mule will have little trouble.”
Stoli seemed pleased by this and smiled.
“Ah good, we’ll probably reach Moni by early evening then. Come, let’s get moving.”
Regis nodded and soon they were on the road again, plodding along at a steady pace. But definitely much faster than yesterday Regis thought, he was in a good mood and was glad they would reach Moni soon.

They traveled along the road without incident for some hours until they could sight a merchant’s wagon stationed on the side of the road. Regis could just make out three figures, they seemed to be having some form of dispute and as he got closer he could see that the merchant was being mugged by two brigands. The merchant was kneeling on the floor, obviously begging for his life, as one of the brigands held a sword close to his throat and the other stood close by him, sneering.