Atlantic Roleplay Community Boards

[Silent Poet]

---

It was late in the eventide when I happened to ride up to Hanse's Hostel. I dismounted from my beloved Buttercup, and taking up my walking staff I shuffled into the tavern.

Inwardly I grimaced as I tried to shake off the coldness in my bones. I have been feeling not entirely myself since placing the protective spell upon Ditto to keep the baby safe. Some have remarked that I have grown pale.

As I walked in I saw a gathering near the front doors of the tavern. There was Kard Ticklesong, and Tatiana and a few others talking. Even though I had not rinsed the dust of the road from my throat, I stumbled over Kard. Tatiana quickly gave me a chair, and I gingerly lowered myself into it.

I apologized for my having stumbled into Kard. He did not seem upset.

He and I sat and talked for some time. We were discussing simple things such as each other's health. I lied when I said I was fit and fine.

But then, the conversation drifted to something different. We were discussing deeds of a nonsensical nature. The final gist was this.

Kard dared me to go and kill a centaur and bring the centaur's bow back to him. The only catch, I had to wear only the clothes I was wearing. A simple black fancy shirt, my boots, and my kilt.

I agreed to the challenge, and went back outside. I mounted Buttercup and pulling on his reins he reared up and pawed the air with his hooves. And then I was off.

I rode as if the hounds of hell, or an angry husband were at my heels.

I ran past the gauntlet of Reapers and Imps at the Portal to the Shrine of Justice, and followed the road to Mistas. Then, I paused at the camp of the gypsies. I closed my eyes and meditated a moment, then girding myself for another run... I was off into Mistas and beyond.

I was not accosted until I passed through into the area near the abandoned library of Mistas, the same place where I had done much research concerning Vahn Shino.

Immediately, the sprites were upon me.. but luck was with me... I found a centaur, and we did battle..

I was severely wounded having been hit with four arrows and a few glancing fireballs from the sprites... but I overcame the centaur, and slew him. I searched through his belongings and found the bow...

After placing it into my pack, I rode hard... back to Sanctus and the Hostel. When I arrived, I was steal bleeding, but Kard was gone.

I had wished to thank him for such an exciting, albeit short lived contest.

Then I saw that the Hellspawn that has taken possession of Vahn was there...

(rest of page is smeared with blood and unreadable)