The Light From Risembool: Chapter 1

The Tipsy Turtle Tavern was the ideal place to meet. There, people of all walks of life were present; some were from out of town, some were regulars, and some simply had a thirst for tranquility to drown their sorrows. It was a little after midday, and business was booming. It had a sign out front saying “Come one, come all, those great and those small.”

“Tsk,” said Ulysess, under his breath. “Motherfucker, I’m great and small.” A weathered-looking Kolbold with a face that implied “do not speak to me” came gruffly into the humble tavern. Its entrance was a swinging door painted appropriately with tipsy turtles. The Kobold was small enough to duck underneath, but instead he threw his hands high above his tiny head and slammed the doors open, making a loud bang for emphasis. It drew the attention of some of the patrons, but most did not notice, and their consumption and conversation continued uninterrupted. He joined a table with three other individuals. They called him “The Recon.”

“Can you not?” said Razeil Silverstrand as he rolled his eyes, exasperated. “We really don’t need to draw attention to ourselves.” The Tiefling had a half-cocked smile plastered on his sly mug and one could tell that he prioritized personal gain. His drink was neatly set to his left side, and as he took sips of it, he returned it precisely to the same spot. Serious he was, but did not lack for confidence. This was his chance to prove his worth in the eyes of The Shadow Guild. They called him “The Face.”

“No one is paying attention to us,” said Kauis Jarth calmly. There was no doubt that he was a Triton. Seemingly half-human half-sea-dweller, he had teal blue skin and deep blue eyes resembling the ocean. He was easily six and a half feet tall and quite muscular. Anyone could see he was strong, aye, but his cool and collected aura suggested his strength laid in both physique and persona. Fittingly, they called him “The Muscle.”

Last of the group, Eleathea Aviate was best described as stoic. She seldom spoke unless spoken to, but it was clear she was no meek maiden. The Air Genasi seemed to take no pleasure in things nor did she convey regret. She seemed neither happy nor sad in a given moment. Set on beginning the mission, she finished her brew in one quick swig. At the bottom of the glass there was a piece of parchment with instructions. Her main purpose was to keep most of the group alive. They called her “The Doc.”

The thieve’s guild, also known locally as The Shadow Guild, wasted no time when appointing members to a task. The job was simple; meet with a blacksmith, Shino, and follow him to his ancestor’s resting place to steal valuable items. He was a dwarf, hardened by trauma, as most Dwarves are. A disdain for his parents, who woefully disowned him, developed a rage that only retaliation could resolve. With haste, the four associates made their way to the blacksmith.

~~~

The shop in which they were to rendezvous was a sad sight to see. Dust covered rusted armor and weapons. It was cold and there were no customers present. Inside was inhabited by Shino, the shop owner and hiree. His appearance mirrored the essence of his shop.

“Let me do the talking,” whispered Razeil to his companions. He turned to face the dwarf. “Hello there, my friend,” he greeted with a bow. “We have come to assist you in your endeavors.”

“Friend, aye?” replied Shino. “That is yet to be decided.” He relayed to them their mission; get into his family crypt and purloin anything and everything it had to offer. Revenge was the name of the game, and nothing was to be left behind.

There was silence amongst the group as they awaited further instructions.

“Do you have a plan?” asked Ulysses, arms crossed and all of two feet tall.

The dwarf looked down upon him. “Is that not what I’m paying you lot for?”

Razeil put his hands on his hips and huffed. “Oh I have a plan,” he said, with confidence,

“don’t you worry.”

The dwarf looked up at him. “I bloody well hope so.”

~~~

Their journey to the crypt only took about half a day. It was a quiet one to start, but the Face would not let that continue under his watch.

“So,” he began, “I suppose we’ll all just walk in silence until we reach our destination?” It was a statement posed as a question.

“Would you like me to sing you a song, bard?” Ulysses mocked. “And then maybe you could turn scaly and shrink by three feet? Heh.”

“Now there is the entertainment I seek, my friend!” Razeil replied, laughing. “What would I do if I were two feet tall…”

“Maybe give us some peace and quiet,” the Muscle muttered under his breath.

“Oh ho WELL, then,” he replied. “What’s your story, my friend? What are you? Mr. Big…Sea…person?” It poured awkwardly from his lips and awkwardly offended the ears.

“Hmph,” the Triton said, rolling his eyes. “I’m just here for the gold.” He paused. “And the glory.” Another pause. And then, with the slightest hint of a smirk, “maybe girls as well.”

“Gold, glory and girls,” the bard replied. “Admirable. Maybe even song worthy…But you don’t strike me as the self-serving type. Perhaps we could be frien-“

“If you say the word “friend” one more time…”

“We could make it a drinking game!” the Recon inserted. “Every time “friend” is spoken, we drink. Has anyone got some ale? Wine?”

Elethea opened her pack and produced a flagon of wine. Ulysses reached up and snatched it from her hand. “Now that’s what I’m fuckin’ TALKING about.” Holding the large bottle with both hands, he tipped it up and took a long swig.”

“All right my Kobold friend,” Razeil joked. He went to grab the wine, but Kaius beat him to it. The Muscle knocked back several swallows and extended the bottle back to Eleathea.

She put her hands up. “I do not partake,” she said. Her goal in this mission was different from the rest. As far as they knew, she was along for the trip for coin or for station in the Guild. Her main objective was to kill the Face, and the situation called for clear-headedness. It would be difficult to gain one's trust and betray it in such a short time span, so she figured a drunken bard would be easier to fool than a sober one. She found herself thinking about the debrief.

“Razeil Silverstrand,” she said. “Tiefling, bard…annoying?” she read to herself as she glanced over the mission brief. “He wants to become a member of the Shadow Guild.” She looked at the leader, Ashvin, with a matter-of-fact countenance. “He seems like a capable candidate. Why kill him?”

Ashvin spat. “Because he’s egotistical, indiscreet and careless. Plus, he’s annoying, as you read.” He took a long drag from his pipe. He motioned to the Air Genasi for a puff, but she put up her hands, declining. He shrugged and continued. “He’s baggage and a Tielfing bard to boot.”

Eleathea nodded. “How do you want this done?”

“Don’t care how you do it,” Ashvin said, “just do it and report back.” He turned to leave. “But bring me his horn.” A laugh escaped his lips. “Oh, and his instrument as well. Heh. I’ll keep both as a trophy.”

Definitely annoying, she thought as she snapped back into the present. Her party members looked at her, confused. It was imperative that no one but Ashvin and herself knew her true mission. “What?” she asked in a calm tone.

“I asked why you keep booze on you if you don’t ‘partake’.” the Recon asked.

She shrugged her shoulders. Lie. “In case my ‘friends’ have a thirst.” Lie. “I am tasked with keeping you lot alive, and a drunken patient is easier to treat than a sober one.” Another lie. She did her best to smile at them and nod towards the wine. Razeil and Ulysses cheered and each took generous swigs from the bottle, and Kauis gave her a curious look. She ignored him. “Friend friend friend!” the two yelled, laughing. They continued on this way, and after a while Shino, leading at the front, fell back a bit.

“Friend?” he said. The Face and the Recon laughed harder and took more drinks. “What have these two been rattling about?”

“A drinking game,” replied Kaius. “Every time they hear…that word, they become closer to complete inebriation.”

Shino abruptly swiped the bottle from them and pressed it to his lips. He took about six or seven solid swallows before returning it to the terrible two.

“It’s…empty,” Razeil said, obviously upset.

“What the fuck?” Ulysses said. “That’s uncalled for. Now what are we gonna do?”

“We’re going to find a place for us to rest, allow time for you two to sober up and enter the mausoleum,” Shino said. And so they did.