Abduction- Archeron

Somewhere south of Zur, in the central mountains of Archeron. 15th of Latespring.


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It had been over four months since the council had been assassinated. And the assassins had not yet been found. It was odd. Usually, the assassins were found out and caught within days, thanks to the work of the Bounty Hunter guild. But this time nothing had been found. It was being murmured in taverns and guild houses around Archeron that the Bounty Hunters were behind the attack. But Solana Gytran, Master of the Husbandry Guild, knew that it hadn't been the Bounty Hunters. She also knew that it was not any other humans, nor slyg, nor any other threats known to men. She had been working on who, or more specifically what, had killed the council members for the last three and a half months. So far she only had a vague idea of what it was. But she was soon going to find out much more.

As she rode through the crisp mountain air on her Ieorian bird she thought about her upcoming mission. 'Find and question the four armed bard. Find out where he came from. Shouldn't be too hard.' she thought to herself. Suddenly, she heard a rumbling sound from behind and to her left. She glanced quickly over her shoulder. "What in Trellarya is that?" she whispered to herself. Then she knew no more.

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In the high mountain pastureland, about 7 miles south of Zur. 6th of Midsummer.

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"Tell me where she is!!" Dulaman shouted at the pathetic heap of a man in front of him.

"I know nothing! Truly, sir." Whined the pathetic shepherd. He was at the moment very flustered, between the wall of his shack and a very angry guildsman.

"If he knows anything, which I doubt he does, you'll never get it out of him like that." Said a voice from behind. Dulaman stopped and turned around. There was a man in strange black robes a few paces off.

"Fine then, if you think you're so great, why don't you get him to tell me. I'm looking for a woman, about 1.5 metrons tall, with long blond hair. She rides an Ieorian bird."

"Very well." replied the other. He strode up to the cowering shepherd. Dulaman noticed that as the man walked his robes made no sound, though they were loose, especially on the torso.

"Now," began the man, "You may have a miserable existence now, but I guarantee you that if you do not tell us what you know, I will give you pain like you have never experienced before." The shepherd didn't say anything. Then the man in black produced a strange implement from somewhere within his robes. "Do you know what this is?" he said as he held it up to the light. "It's called a Demon's Whistle. Do you know why? Because when used properly on the correct places of the body people make sounds like that of a demon's whistle. Now, tell me what you know of this girl, and who payed you to keep quiet about it." The shepherd was almost sick with panic.

"Okay, I'll tell you! I don't know anything about the girl, but I found her bird back in Latespring! It was dead in the pass of Skilshry, beyond the village of the same name! It's about three hours down the trail! A man dressed in a great black travelling cloak payed me 60 Turins to not say anything! He didn't give me his name or anything else. I never even saw his face, let me go, please, let me go now. Don't hurt me." The man in black robes looked pleased with his work.

"Very well," he said. "I shall spare your life. Be gone!" He stepped back and the shepherd ran around his shack and off into the mountains. "That," said the man, "Is how to persuade something." He then turned to Dulaman. "The name's Yiri Jasdn." Yiri held out his hand, and Dulaman stared at it quizzically. "Don't you shake hands?" asked Yiri.

"How do I know I can trust you?" replied Dulaman.

"Well, we're both here for the same reason-"

"Which is?"

"Solana Gytran."

"How do you know about master Gytran!?" Dulaman instantly demanded.

"I could ask you the same question." Yiri replied.

"I'll be asking the questions, thanks." shot back Dulaman.

"And why is that?" Yiri coolly responded.

"Because, I have the drop on you." Dulaman said as he drew his sword.

"Oh, really?" Suddenly, Dulaman was in shadow. He looked up and saw a huge, floating, metallic disc, rapidly descending on him.

"What in the name of-" Dulaman whispered. Suddenly Yiri sent a crushing blow across his face, and he knew no more.