Rolfolf's Adventure #1a

This is a bit of an experiment for a weekly series. I played my first game of Dungeons & Dragons yesterday and I absolutely loved it. But I came up with the idea of turning it into a story, I have condensed our session a bit and created two small parts and hopefully if you guys enjoy it I will continue to write them up. Any suggestions or feedback please leave in the comments.

The room was dark, small and plain. My small eyes peered into the darkness scanning for any light, I held hopefully out into the darkness with my hands. I felt the cold wall upon my palm and my body relaxed somewhat. Light did creep in but only from the entrance which was a small jagady hole in the ceiling. I leaned against the wall, exploring it with my hands. Indentations and grooves stretched in every direction, as far I could reach. With just my stubby fingers it was a futile task trying to work out its meaning. Just as I give up Aelin spots a faint light coming from the corner of the room. Me, Aelin and Aurixia all curiously walked closer, my big boots causing echoes across the room. Aelin was leading with her long green fluorescent flowing jacket being just about recognisable in the darkness. Behind me I could hear Aurixia and her long strides scraping along the stone flooring. Even though lighting was poor we made out a small rotting wooden box with many pictures spireling onto the wall behind it going up about two feet, onto the indentions which I had felt earlier, it was now clear even under poor lighting that this was some sort of language, an incredibly beautiful one with each letter flowing into the next, I was mesmerised and tried to work out what language it was, frantically wracking my brain and stroking my beard, curling the end with my fingers. Whilst doing my investigations, Aelin recognised the pictures on the wall were of some Elves, she began using her own knowledge to investigate further, the pictures seem to create a small tree and, it soon becomes apparent, they must be related in some way. Aelin searched the box as well as closely examining the pictures themselves, I also take closer looks and found it strange how similar all Elves look, Aelin does looked different, not her appearance but her demeanor, she seemed lost compared to these Elves who seem like they belong. Aelin continued to look for any leads but after quickly expending all of her patience, began tearing some pictures off the wall aggressively grunting and swearing to herself.

With all the noise Robin came bellowing down the ladder “anything shiny! Anything shiny! And quickly began searching the wooden box, Aelin tries to warn him about the consequences of upsetting a sacred family shrine, “you will upset the gods Robin, is it really worth it…”. “Yes” Robin replied with a grin which pushed through his well combed beard. “The gods haven't punished me yet so I doubt they will now” he said as he continued to search the box with speed. His hands efficiently rummaging in each draw. The box seems empty but then, under some old paper, Robin lifted a blue orb which had an incredible vibrancy, blue and purple seemed to swirl around, intertwining like fighting snakes. Before I could get a closer look Robin snatched it from our eyes and shoved it into his leather bag. “What?” Robin said with a harsh tone as we gave him disappointed looks. “You won't be looking at me like that when this buys us our boat trip out of here...come on, there is no more shiny things in this shit hole!”, Robin said as he climbed back out of the basement of the castle. Aurixia’s shy quiet voice came from behind me, “We do need to get back to the camp”.
“yes… my sweet Juylia will be waiting for me at our campsite”, Aelin said in concerned tone. I nodded in agreement, this place unsettled me, especially all these mysteries, that carved out a piece in my brain which seems focused on. I couldn't get the images of the writings on the wall out of my head and as followed the rest up the wooden ladder I took one last glance at the inscriptions before pulling myself out of the jagady hole in the ceiling. We came up to the hall of the castle, which was filled with light that filtered through its crumbling walls, after taking a few seconds to adjust to the light I followed the rest to the exit.

The castle was more of a ruin, having no ceiling and only a few standing walls, we had already searched its adjoining buildings but they were also now decayed so badly that we couldn't enter. I was relieved, tension is so rife constantly that any brake from that was a sweet restbite. We carried on through the way we came which was a long, meandering slow descent down from the steep mountain from which the castle sat upon. At the bottom of the hill was a large moat which was a mile from the castle to the land, it was a spectacular site, I paused a few times just to admire the natural beauty of this ruthless and harsh island.

As we reached the bottom, the thick ice stood between us and the land. I tested the thickness dropping my shield onto it, the others looked on, hopeful the ice would support it. The shield smashed as it hit the ice and rang a dull thud and from that we knew it was safe enough. As we walked the ice held, and with each small crack I stared across the blue plain and saw the forest which met with the ice, “only a few more steps” I said to myself as I carefully moved my feet and balanced my stocky body. We made it across onto the cushioning white carpet which held our temporary home a few miles in. But then we had to navigate the forest, which was now almost dead from the persistent snow, however a few tall trees still stood strong and the dark brown specks stood out clearly on the white snow and deep blue sky. Our campsite was only a mile into the forest and we got there with good speed. We walked in silence with our fur coated hats and leather scarves covering most of our faces. Robin tried to get us singing as we entered the forest but was shot down with a sharp glare from Aelin and grudgingly wrapped his face up again.

I should have heard the camp from here. Some fifty travelers encamped with us, and the roar of a campfire always accompanied the evening hours. Instead, all I could hear was the crunching of our footsteps, compacting the snow underfoot. I drew my weapon, the familiar heft of the longsword a welcome reassurance. Robin and Aelin loaded their crossbows. Even Aurixia, the meekest of us, drew her darts. I led us forward, passing by row after row of empty tents. That terrible silence pressed down on me, every step, as we began to spread out the silence became absorbing, my heart racing I began checking each tent, quicker and quicker, more panicked by the silence and loneliness than possible lurking enemies. Before long we had checked every tent, once that was announced my heart rate slowed, and I sheathed my longsword, grateful that I didn't have to use it again.

I stumbled into the middle of the campsite where everyone bar Robin was chatting in deep concerned conversation. Everyone was dumbfounded by the strange situation, and I could see the fear and worry seep deeper and deeper into Aelin’s face, her green skin was no longer plain but blotchy with circles of brown littering her skin. Creases and wrinkles now ran across her usually youthful face. I went to comfort her but just as I rested my hand on her shoulder Robin shouted “Come quick! I have found Juylia!” from what sounded like a tent deep in the center of the campsite. Aelin ran ahead frantically with Aurixia whilst I tried to keep up with my small stubby legs I turned left then right navigating through the maze of tents, following the persistent shouting. But the time I arrived at the right tent, as I walked into the squat, patchy tent I saw Aelin crying and sobbing into the corpse of Juylia right in the center of the floor, her body lay twisted, and blood was escaping quickly out of a deep wound in her back. The smell of death filled the room and although I had smelt it many times before It still made me gag as it tinged the back of my throat. Juylia’s skin had already begun peeling, a feature of dragonborns, her eyes wide open staring at the side of the tent. The silk long dress she always wore was now ruined by the blood which had flowed at such speed that my black boots were becoming splatted.

I stood at the entrance of the tent, the cold breeze pierce my back, I shudder both from the cold and the dark thought that had crept into my head. Next to me was the towering figure of Aurixia, her pale, translucent face looked deep in thought, and she seemed uncomfortable as she rubbed her hands and stroked her face with her long claw like hands. I decided to share my dark thought, the creeping thought had now become the center of all my thinking.

I craned my head upwards and stated in a calm quiet voice “A dragonborns heart is incredibly useful to ward of evil when combined with certain spells”

“Rolfolf I doubt Aelin would allow it given she was her companion for many years”, Aurixia replied in a concerned voice emid the Aelin’s cries.

I began to realise the sickening action I would have to take, but after pausing for a few seconds, the thought reasserted itself, continued to show its dark intentions and my voice was no longer my own.

“It could save our own lives, surely the lives of the living is more important than the state of an already dead corpse” I said, with gravity and harshness.

“Fine...“I’ll take her outside you get it done”, Aurixia whispered coldly, convinced by my usually genuine intentions.

Aurixia stooped down to Aelin and whispered something in her ear and took her outside. As she left the tent I saw her face covered and hair matted with Juylia’s blood. She was still sobbing, but less intensely now, due to Aurixia’s calming voice. And once she left it was me and Robin in the tent with Juylia’s body on the floor between us, he was opposite me leaning casually against a tall dark wooden wardrobe which pushed up into the roof of the tent, his big bushy beard was blowing gently with the breeze that snuck in through the door behind me. Once I glanced back down at the corpse below me my mind began perplexing because of the evil thoughts that had almost consumed me, and I was still not completely in control, realizing fighting the thought was of no use, it seemed determined and although it was against my morals, I had to endure losing my morality in order to not be completely consumed by evil. And so I decided to go through with it, my hands trembled and my brow dripped with sweat.

“I’m taking her heart” I said under my breath,

“What did you say?” said Robin

“I’m taking her heart” I repeated loader so Robin could hear. He paused for a few seconds, looked down at me
and then broke down in laughter

“You sick fuck...I expected that from Aurixia not you”, he sputtered between his cackling. “I thought you were a man of God Rolfolf? Have you seen the way?”.

“No, bad acts, good intentions” I gulped as I brought my dagger out.

“Woah, wait… even for me this is messed up, wait till I get outside”, Robin said in an offended manner, although he still managed to smile, seeing me struggle. Robin strode out whistling and let me get to it.

My hands trembled as I prepared the body, her light wrinkled old skin peeling more as I undressed her, her face was drooped, but her eyes seemed unaffected by death, they became transfixed on mine causing my skin crawl, the sensation moving up my arm filling my body until it sucked all the breath out of me and darkness crept across my eyes filling my vision, the tent slowly becoming smaller and smaller until there was just darkness.