01-24-2015, 01:32 PM
Once the crowds had finally dispersed, the pair made their way to where the paladin was housed. At the sight of the plain, unimposing hovel, Shang felt his stomach twist up in a knot. So he’s one of these types too? Chivalry was one thing, but asceticism was another thing all together. It made Shang think back to his time with the Shaolin monks…
“Disgusting,” the sorcerer muttered just beneath his breath.
“What was that?” Atelos inquired, glancing over at his companion with an expression that indicated he hadn’t quite heard what the other man had said.
“Just admiring the house.”
“It is very simple.” As a Spartan, Atelos probably wouldn’t bat a second eye at plain living arrangements. “Let us see if he is home,” with that, he walked up the wooden steps and gave the thin wooden door a few solid raps. From the horrible sound the wood made as it rattled on its hinges, Shang was surprised the whole thing didn’t just fall down.
“I am coming!” The voice was strong, boisterous, and carried with it a natural exuberance. If he hadn’t before, Shang knew he hated this man. A beat later, the door swung inward to reveal a man of about thirty years. He was clean shaven with short brown hair and blue eyes that seemed to sparkle even in the absence of direct sunlight. It was then that Shang realized he had already seen the individual that stood before them. On his first day in Darkshire, the crowds were celebrating a man who had just returned from slaying a monster. As he looked at the paladin, he realized he was staring at the same exact man.
“Good afternoon…” Argento’s eyes drifted to the two medals that indicated to him that he was speaking with members of the town’s defenders. “Guardians of Darkshire! It is always a pleasure to speak with individuals such as yourselves. I ask that you please enter my home.”
Atelos and Shang shared a quick glance before they followed the still fully-armored paladin into his house. While the town hall had been slightly nicer on the inside, the paladin’s abode lacked even the most basic of necessities. The sorcerer spotted a few wooden stools, a rack for armor, and a large chest. In another corner, two wooden pallets had been stacked on top of one another and covered with straw. He would sleep on a straw.
“What brings two upstanding gentlemen to my residence?” Argento inquired. For whatever reason, the paladin’s voice was still as strong as it had been when they were speaking through a door. “I take it you’re not here to receive the blessing of the sun or to try and force your tithes unto me?”
People actually give this guy money? Shang cleared his throat to prevent his thoughts from spilling out of his mouth. “We were recently promoted to full members of the garrison for defeating a band of skeletons and their necromancers near the city walls.”
“Yes, I heard of this… I take it then that I am speaking with the ‘Sorcerer and Spartan’ that everyone talks so highly of?” Coming from anyone else, Shang would have thought the remark was sarcasm, but he doubted that someone like Argento was even capable of speaking anything but the truth.
“You are,” Atelos responded. “Although I believe that Shang and I are well-aware that stories often become a little inflated as they spread amongst large circles.”
Ahhh, playing the humility card, Spartan? It was not only ingenious but also something Shang regretted not thinking of on his way over here.
“You mustn’t doubt the truth of the masses, my friends.” Argento boomed with a smile as he walked over to his chest and flung it open. When he turned around, he was holding two small bottles filled with water. He proceeded to toss them to his visitors before shutting the chest once more. “The water is from a river near the Black Gate. Despite the heavy corruption that still infests the Pale Moors, the water there still flows pure and uncontaminated. It is surely a sign that there is still yet hope for this troubled verse.”
“Well that’s why we’re here,” Shang replied as he fiddled with the cork. “While we know that guarding the walls and hinterlands of Darkshire is a noble cause, we seek to make a greater sacrifice for this town. When we heard of you, we knew it was surely a sign that our fate lies with you, protecting Darkshire out there in the heart of the Pale Moors.”
Upon hearing the sorcerer’s remarks, Argento nodded his head but otherwise remained quiet for what seemed to be half a minute. “It is truly noble of the two of you to want to join my retinue, and I have never been one to turn down the assistance of competent warriors, especially those who have shown their dedication to Darkshire by shedding blood in its defense.
“I must warn both of you… my next crusade is not for the weak of heart.”
For the first time, Shang was genuinely interested in something the man was going to say. “What do you mean?”
“My retinue and I intend to travel to a place rarely visited since the souring of the Moors. A place where we know death or worse is quite possible.”
“Why go?” Atelos inquired. The Spartan cared little about the threat of death, but the expression on the paladin’s face told him that there was much more to be spoken.
“I have an associate who is an arcanist and a historian. His research has led him to believe that it is possible to step outside the Omniverse and into a realm known as ‘the Void.’ This Void is supposedly linked to every location in and outside the Omniverse…including the realm of Omni himself.”
The sorcerer knew that Omni was the entity who had created this collection of realms. Up until now, he figure that Omni was just an abstract notion, much like the Christian ‘God,’ but if such a being existed… Shang could only begin to fathom what he might gain from an audience with such a creature.
“We do not fear the unknown, Argento,” Shang replied. “Tell us, where is your group’s destination? Where do you believe you will find your clues to the truth?”
The paladin nodded, knowing that the two men were unwavering. Frowning for the first time, the paladin pointed to a map on his wall.
"We go to Silent Hill."
“Disgusting,” the sorcerer muttered just beneath his breath.
“What was that?” Atelos inquired, glancing over at his companion with an expression that indicated he hadn’t quite heard what the other man had said.
“Just admiring the house.”
“It is very simple.” As a Spartan, Atelos probably wouldn’t bat a second eye at plain living arrangements. “Let us see if he is home,” with that, he walked up the wooden steps and gave the thin wooden door a few solid raps. From the horrible sound the wood made as it rattled on its hinges, Shang was surprised the whole thing didn’t just fall down.
“I am coming!” The voice was strong, boisterous, and carried with it a natural exuberance. If he hadn’t before, Shang knew he hated this man. A beat later, the door swung inward to reveal a man of about thirty years. He was clean shaven with short brown hair and blue eyes that seemed to sparkle even in the absence of direct sunlight. It was then that Shang realized he had already seen the individual that stood before them. On his first day in Darkshire, the crowds were celebrating a man who had just returned from slaying a monster. As he looked at the paladin, he realized he was staring at the same exact man.
“Good afternoon…” Argento’s eyes drifted to the two medals that indicated to him that he was speaking with members of the town’s defenders. “Guardians of Darkshire! It is always a pleasure to speak with individuals such as yourselves. I ask that you please enter my home.”
Atelos and Shang shared a quick glance before they followed the still fully-armored paladin into his house. While the town hall had been slightly nicer on the inside, the paladin’s abode lacked even the most basic of necessities. The sorcerer spotted a few wooden stools, a rack for armor, and a large chest. In another corner, two wooden pallets had been stacked on top of one another and covered with straw. He would sleep on a straw.
“What brings two upstanding gentlemen to my residence?” Argento inquired. For whatever reason, the paladin’s voice was still as strong as it had been when they were speaking through a door. “I take it you’re not here to receive the blessing of the sun or to try and force your tithes unto me?”
People actually give this guy money? Shang cleared his throat to prevent his thoughts from spilling out of his mouth. “We were recently promoted to full members of the garrison for defeating a band of skeletons and their necromancers near the city walls.”
“Yes, I heard of this… I take it then that I am speaking with the ‘Sorcerer and Spartan’ that everyone talks so highly of?” Coming from anyone else, Shang would have thought the remark was sarcasm, but he doubted that someone like Argento was even capable of speaking anything but the truth.
“You are,” Atelos responded. “Although I believe that Shang and I are well-aware that stories often become a little inflated as they spread amongst large circles.”
Ahhh, playing the humility card, Spartan? It was not only ingenious but also something Shang regretted not thinking of on his way over here.
“You mustn’t doubt the truth of the masses, my friends.” Argento boomed with a smile as he walked over to his chest and flung it open. When he turned around, he was holding two small bottles filled with water. He proceeded to toss them to his visitors before shutting the chest once more. “The water is from a river near the Black Gate. Despite the heavy corruption that still infests the Pale Moors, the water there still flows pure and uncontaminated. It is surely a sign that there is still yet hope for this troubled verse.”
“Well that’s why we’re here,” Shang replied as he fiddled with the cork. “While we know that guarding the walls and hinterlands of Darkshire is a noble cause, we seek to make a greater sacrifice for this town. When we heard of you, we knew it was surely a sign that our fate lies with you, protecting Darkshire out there in the heart of the Pale Moors.”
Upon hearing the sorcerer’s remarks, Argento nodded his head but otherwise remained quiet for what seemed to be half a minute. “It is truly noble of the two of you to want to join my retinue, and I have never been one to turn down the assistance of competent warriors, especially those who have shown their dedication to Darkshire by shedding blood in its defense.
“I must warn both of you… my next crusade is not for the weak of heart.”
For the first time, Shang was genuinely interested in something the man was going to say. “What do you mean?”
“My retinue and I intend to travel to a place rarely visited since the souring of the Moors. A place where we know death or worse is quite possible.”
“Why go?” Atelos inquired. The Spartan cared little about the threat of death, but the expression on the paladin’s face told him that there was much more to be spoken.
“I have an associate who is an arcanist and a historian. His research has led him to believe that it is possible to step outside the Omniverse and into a realm known as ‘the Void.’ This Void is supposedly linked to every location in and outside the Omniverse…including the realm of Omni himself.”
The sorcerer knew that Omni was the entity who had created this collection of realms. Up until now, he figure that Omni was just an abstract notion, much like the Christian ‘God,’ but if such a being existed… Shang could only begin to fathom what he might gain from an audience with such a creature.
“We do not fear the unknown, Argento,” Shang replied. “Tell us, where is your group’s destination? Where do you believe you will find your clues to the truth?”
The paladin nodded, knowing that the two men were unwavering. Frowning for the first time, the paladin pointed to a map on his wall.
"We go to Silent Hill."
![[Image: Shang.jpg]](http://www.omniverse-rpg.com/images/Shang.jpg)