Post by durwin on Dec 28, 2005 2:53:00 GMT -5
The Avant Fort:
You walk the plains of the Orcish Badlands near Gludin, wary of the night and the hostile “greenies” those orcs not fit for even the villages of their homeland. In the distance you see your destination looming, a frontier fort constructed of short and squat stone walls. There is only a single noticeable path to the gatehouse, the rest of them covered in caltrops and pitfalls meant to keep the occasional disorganized Orc and Goblin assaults at bay.
You approach the thick oaken gates, studded with steel, and look up to the gatehouse, waiting for some sign of life. A grisly man’s head pokes out and he shouts down at you in a booming voice, “WHO GOES THERE?!?!” You can’t help but stare, the man seems like a giant, it might be the fact that he’s staring down from spiked battlements, but you make a mental note to avoid the gatekeepers anger. “A lost traveler...” you lie, knowing to divulge your true intent would probably bring scorn. “Stay where you stand,” the giant shouts down, and as he turns you can see the glint of the mithril coated arrow in his cross bow. Your attention is drawn from the battlements to the gates as they open without a sound, and you now notice you can see no hinges. The gates swing outwards, to reveal five crossbow men, and a mage, their eyes quickly scanning the area surrounding you, their bows never leaving their mark on your chest. The mage speaks, “Enter,” and you dare not disobey, shuffling into a cobble stone courtyard, surrounded by two long wooden buildings, a temple, and a stone structure that must be the headquarters. You’re eyes scan over the compact, efficient looking grounds, you see training areas, stables, pasture land, and farm land beyond the initial courtyard. Occasionally a small waddle and dab dwelling pops up. At this point your mission is about to come to a head, all the years of preparing, you ready yourself for what you know is coming. The introduction to an officer, the evaluation, then the six months of hard training and apprenticship. You smile contedly though, knowing you will accomplish a status beyond that of a simple farmer, you will be a hero, you will carry the title, Avant Guardian.
You walk the plains of the Orcish Badlands near Gludin, wary of the night and the hostile “greenies” those orcs not fit for even the villages of their homeland. In the distance you see your destination looming, a frontier fort constructed of short and squat stone walls. There is only a single noticeable path to the gatehouse, the rest of them covered in caltrops and pitfalls meant to keep the occasional disorganized Orc and Goblin assaults at bay.
You approach the thick oaken gates, studded with steel, and look up to the gatehouse, waiting for some sign of life. A grisly man’s head pokes out and he shouts down at you in a booming voice, “WHO GOES THERE?!?!” You can’t help but stare, the man seems like a giant, it might be the fact that he’s staring down from spiked battlements, but you make a mental note to avoid the gatekeepers anger. “A lost traveler...” you lie, knowing to divulge your true intent would probably bring scorn. “Stay where you stand,” the giant shouts down, and as he turns you can see the glint of the mithril coated arrow in his cross bow. Your attention is drawn from the battlements to the gates as they open without a sound, and you now notice you can see no hinges. The gates swing outwards, to reveal five crossbow men, and a mage, their eyes quickly scanning the area surrounding you, their bows never leaving their mark on your chest. The mage speaks, “Enter,” and you dare not disobey, shuffling into a cobble stone courtyard, surrounded by two long wooden buildings, a temple, and a stone structure that must be the headquarters. You’re eyes scan over the compact, efficient looking grounds, you see training areas, stables, pasture land, and farm land beyond the initial courtyard. Occasionally a small waddle and dab dwelling pops up. At this point your mission is about to come to a head, all the years of preparing, you ready yourself for what you know is coming. The introduction to an officer, the evaluation, then the six months of hard training and apprenticship. You smile contedly though, knowing you will accomplish a status beyond that of a simple farmer, you will be a hero, you will carry the title, Avant Guardian.