Gerdaan

[Gerdaan Va Talon]

Hail weary traveler. Come sit for a spell, share my fire and help yourself to some rabbit. You must be the one I was told of. Please forgive me, but I was told that I would be visited at this time by one who is interested in my tale. I assume that person is you? Good … very well then. Oh before I start, help yourself to some wine. It will help take the ache out of your journey. Consider yourself fortunate for I do not normally talk of myself.

My name is Gerdaan (jer-dan) I have traveled for much of my life. My parents were good people. My father was a trusted, honorable man and died a hero’s death. My mother is still the healer of my village. Though I have not been there for many years, I know she still lives. My brother well lets say I have no brother! The coward that was my brother has not been seen for a long time.

I found various mercenary companies to travel with and earn my keep. I was never much for the rank and file soldier’s life. I was best as a forward scout.

You look tired stranger … perhaps I should finish after you rest. Have no fear, I will keep watch.

[Gerdaan Va Talon]

Ah ... Good Morning Stranger! There is fresh water by that tree for you to wash the sleep from your eyes. I have some bread here to break the nights fast.

Hmmm ... Where was I? Ah yes. The mercinary companies. I have some knowledge of woodsmanship. So like I had said I was placed with the scouts. After a few years there, the Captain found that I could blend in with people, so I was used occationally as a spy. ( Pausing ) Be advised stranger I will not devulge names or companies. I will however reward betrayal with death!

Perhaps this was not a wise meeting after all < Gerdaan pulling his sword from his sheath. > Fear not stranger I clean my blade every morn from the nights dampness. I am not in the "habit" of killing because of my own mis judgment.

I may tell more of myself later, but for now I will tell you this. I don't know exactly how I came to be here, but I was looking for this land. I will find out why I was drawn here in good time. If that be the will of the Gods.

[Gerdaan Va Talon]

I return!

[Kazzell KumoKi]

welcome BACK!
I'm gonna read this now.

[Kazzell KumoKi]

great writing.
I mean great story thus far. I'd like to hear more from you scout.

[Gerdaan Va Talon]

Thanks for the feed back.

[Sir Nichtmar]

Wow can't believe I missed this, very cool way of telling your tale!

So your not necessarily a pirate per say, more like a rogue ish?

[Kazzell KumoKi]

A scout i belive.

[Sir Nichtmar]

ah yeah that'd make more sense

[Gerdaan Va Talon]

I thank you stranger for being patient. I will continue my story. As I had said, I have been a scout and a spy. I have also served as a soldier … I even sailed for a while. I have held command and been betrayed. THAT is a story for later! I’ve had a varied life thus far.

Huh? Oh, I see, you wish to know how I came to know to look for this place. That is an interesting story. One I hardly believe myself, but as I am here, then it must be true. That or you and this entire place are a product of a mind that has gone mad…

It was some years ago, I was in the employ of the Red Wolf mercenary company as a scout at the time. I would lead a 3 man squad to patrol the border lands of a small, but rich province, four to five days hard ride, south of New Chicago. Oh, my apologies … that is, or was, a city in the lands where I came from. I was leading my squad out on a routine patrol. Attacks from the “changed ones” were more frequent now. Huh? Oh … the “changed ones”? … well you call them “Orcs”. There are stories that say that centuries ago, before the great battle of wizards, we were the same. Anyway, we had started our patrol. We would travel together for a few miles then split up. Before we could split up we were ambushed! A small party was waiting for us. Somehow they had known the route we were taking that day. My Blade-brother Hothor and I took a stand to give young Runill time to sound the alarm. We danced that day! Our blades drank deeply! The day was not to be ours though … I remember seeing Hothor stumble, it happened as if in a dream. I could not get to him in time to block the sword that took him to the next world. I remember hearing strange music though. Then … nothing, just blackness.
I awoke finding my wounds dressed, with food and drink next to me. There was a voice telling me to be calm and to eat what I could and rest. I tried to ask what happened, but to no avail. I was too weak. After, what felt like ages and many strange and terrifying dreams, I awoke to an old woman sitting across the room smoking a small pipe. She looked at me and chuckled, “I told you to rest Gerdaan, not die!” She did not give me her name. Just to call her “Healer”. When I asked what had happened, her face grew grave. “Your Blade-brother did not survive his wounds, He died well! You, however, I almost killed. You were berserk with rage, I thought you a demon at first. After your Blade-brother fell, all but two took off after the younger. You literally butchered the last two! You fell unconscious as I approached. <pausing> You are needed elsewhere, Gerdaan. Find the Land Between the Lands. You will know where to look.” As soon as she said that, I fell into a deep slumber again. When I awoke this time I found myself inside a cave … no trace of a room, old woman, anything! My gear was next to me, so I gathered it up and went outside. I felt a pull to the south, but I went back to town to report in and see if Runill made it in time. I found what was left of Runill and the town. All was a blackened skeleton. From the way things looked, a large force had attacked the town. I found a horse and rode as hard as I could to the next town. They had been able to repel the attack. I left the Red Wolf company, replenished my supplies and headed south. It took me a few years of searching, but I found the mist or it found me. I entered the mist and woke up here in this land.