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(Story by Koviell Sashermasock)

Arkum of Kapazu, also known as Moonblade. Some say I'm a Hound, other say I'm a Bounty Hunter. What we can be sure, I've learned to track down and dispose of people that mess up too much with the laws. I'm not scared of the dirty work.

I've met this guy on the road, Sir Draselth of Starfire. He says that he comes from a clan that no longer exist, poor guy. Just like me, he does want to bring the law where it's needed. I didn't mind getting strong arms from a fellow kobold to help me on my mission. I had to dispose of someone, a job that pays well since he's a wanted criminal.

I've lost his track, for now, but soon this will change.

We're about to reach Crowhack, a village on our way. Interesting fact, as we approach, we can see many crows around the city. We're going to stay there for at least a day.

This is where our story begins...

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"This place looks a little grim. I don't like all those crow looking at us." State Draselth.

"We're going to stay here for the night. The next village is hours away from there, anyway."

"I still don't like this. Where do we go first?" Ask Draselth.

"To the tavern or the inn. It's a great place to learn about people passing by."


We pass the city gate and see a few people looking at us. I can see a grey elf, a gnome, a human and a guy in a huge armour. Mmm... A knight, maybe. He looks a bit... intimidating... Anyway, we found the inn. Inside, there is an elven lady behind the counter, quite muscular in fact. She got a masculine look. There is a guy sleeping on a chair, in a corner.


"Good afternoon, little guys." Said Elven Lady, in the tongue of the dragons.

"Good afternoon to you. I would like to ask you some... infos."

"What would you like to know?" Ask the Elven Lady, now in the common tongue.

"Did you see this guy before?"


I show her the portrait of my target. She looks at it and take some time to think. Draselth look at me, and at her again. I place a gold piece on the counter.


"I didn't need this. I have never seen him before. But I know someone that might help you." Said the Elven Lady.

"Who?"

"Zolthan, a friend of mine. He's a hunter that pass by often. He should be there tomorrow. I'll ask him to meet you guys, if you want. May I ask who are you guys?" Seek the Elven Lady.

"I'm Arkum, and this is my friend Sir Draselth."

"I'm Nova Vertefeuille. Nice to meet you. Would you like to rent a room for the night?" Ask Nova.

"Yeah, one for both us will be fine."


She looks at Draselth, then back at me and take the coin still on the counter and hands me a key.


"Room number 3. There is a bathroom at the end of the corridor, if needed." Said Nova.

"Thanks, Nova. See you soon."


We get to our room to drop our gear and bags and then get ready to take a bath. It's been 4 days that we're on the road; this is much needed. The bathroom is at the back of the inn. No one else is there at the moment. Interesting enough, it's a magic bath. I've seen one of those before. You drop a coin in a bowl and the bath will get filled with water in a few minutes. I drop a coin and it and the bath get slowly filled with water.


"I'm impressed that she can afford one of those here."

"Are they costly?" Ask Draselth.

"Very costly. Either this inn is pretty successful, or someone gifted them one."

"In any cases, let's use it. I needed a bath." Express Draselth.


We undress and jump in the bath. The water is warm.


"Tell me Draselth, what do you plan to do after my mission?"

"I don't know, it's been 3 months I wander around with no one else. It was great to meet a fellow one on the road." Recognize Draselth.

"Why are you travelling alone?"

"I can't stay in one place for too long, I feel like I could grow roots sometime. In fact, I have said this often to my group." Remark Draselth.

"Funny. Do you miss them?"

"I miss some of them. An interesting band, but they move at a turtle speed. It's annoying when you want to save someone, and at the end, you waste so much time that you end up saving no one." State Draselth.

"Sad. You won't have this problem with me. I rarely need to stay somewhere for long, unless I'm tracking someone hiding in a city."

"How many people have you…?" Ask Draselth.

"Twenty-three. It's a dangerous task, but someone has to take it."

"Why do you do 'this' by the way? Could you work on something else instead?" Demand Draselth.

"Back at Kapazu, I was trained to be one of the Stalkers of the clan. When Kapazu has fallen into the hands of the Grey Ones, I was a guard like any other. On the surface, I received special training from a wanderer. He was a vigilante. He took me under his wing because I had talent. And now, I'm doing a similar job; the dirty job."

"So you bring justice in your own way." Conclude Draselth.

"It's a way like any other. My hands might be dirty, but this world is a little bit better now."

"Justice… Last time I tried to bring justice somewhere, I almost got crushed by a drake." Confess Draselth.

"How in the world did you end up in front of a drake?"

"She was the protector of our clan, apparently. She let the clan get slaughtered at the time where we needed her the most. When we told her what happened, she put the guilt on the survivors." Said Draselth.

"This is horrible."

"She's the reason I hate the dragons now. I hope my blade will bathe in her blood one day." Said Draselth.

"Maybe, maybe not. Let's talk about something else. Do you have anyone in your life?"

"What do you mean?" Ask Draselth.

"Someone, a lover?"

"I don't understand" Answer Draselth.

"Do you love someone?"

"What does this mean?" Ask Draselth.

"Love?"

"Yes." Return Draselth.

"You don't know what is love?"

"Two fellows mentioned this before. We tried to figure what it was and… I still don't understand what it is." Confess Draselth.

"This… this is unfortunate. This is really sad."

"Can you tell me what is love?" Ask Draselth.

"Love is a strong feeling you can have toward someone. There is friend love, family love and romantic love. Friend love is a stronger friendship bond with a friend, when you want to spend more time with it. Family love is like friend love, but with family members. Romantic love is… complicated. It's similar in a way to friend love, but it's a stronger bond. You feel attracted by it, in a way, you would like to own it, and be owned by it. You would like to spend all your time with it."

"Like to own someone... and to be owned by it…" Whisper Draselth.

"Yes, this is the idea. It might sound a little weird, but it's a strong feeling. It can't be explained by words, you must feel it to understand."


I look at Draselth. He started crying.


"What's wrong Draselth?"

"I think I begin to understand now."

"You love someone?"

"I think I did." Answer Draselth.

"Who it was? A good friend?"

"Sorta..." Return Draselth.

"What happened to it?"

"He was with my last band, when I left Starfire. I suspect him to 'love' my brother instead." Confess Draselth.

"I'm sorry, I didn't want to..."

"Let's move on, I need to sleep in a bed, for once." Said Draselth.

"This will be good."


We dry up, get new clothes on and go back to the room to rest. The night was calm. I can hear the wind in the leaves, but nothing else. Sleep...


"Arkum? Arkum? Wake up!" a voice said.

"Mmm? What? Who it is?"

"It's me Draselth. Get up and check outside!" Command Draselth.


I get up and I look outside. I'm surprised by what I'm seeing right now : a man is trying to break in the church mausoleum.


"Come on! Come on! Come on! Take your gear and let's get outside and see." Rush Draselth.

"Let's get going!"


We dress and gear up and run outside to see what's happening...