At the first gleam of light, nature wakes up from its slumber. The brightness laps, one by one, all the flowers, which regain their daily splendour: they are colourful jewels adorning the greenlands and the paths travelled by all of us. Just as an invisible fluid diffusing, a bright azure blanket takes grasp of the land and empathically comprehends the joys and the sorrows of a thousand souls; Talad, superior spectator, is speechless before the Dawn of the Crystal and everyday this is a magic moment he doesn't miss.
Not longly after, the creatures of all the races are awake and can resume their daily endeavour. They are large in number but each single one is special, each one carries a unique story and they all are part of Yliakum.
Someone passing absently would be unaware of what meaning even an apparently simple "prattle" among two girls could conceal. But mired by dissatisfaction, age and inability to grasp the essence of things, everyone minds only daily business, in the hope to get enough trias for a sword and begin the true adventure, away from the fields or miser workshops that chain their existences.
-Have you heard of that guy down there in the Hydlaa sewers? - kindly asked the Dermorian maid.
-Who, that fool who doesn't want to get out? - replied her Yacha step sister, somewhat sarcastically. The two had no blood in common, both were orphan of one parent and the remaining two married, forming what they deemed a bastard family. The girls were unhappy for the decision and hated each other with fervor, but had little word in the argument.
-Hah! So you know him too...
-Yeah everyone has heard of him in town! - She grinned. - The story is simply too weird and rumors spread quickly. Apparently that guy's mental health is not alright. He is a fool.-
Pretzia, the Dermorian maid, displayed her sorrow, heaving a long sigh. She'd been wondering for quite a long time about that man.
-But don't you think he could have a reason to get stuck within the sewers?
-I couldn't possibly care. Why don't you go and ask him...? - provoked her.
Pretzia kept silent for a dozen of seconds, as her step sister laughed. Then finally spat out: -Fine, I'll go.
-What?
-I'll go down there, find that man and ask him why he's decided stick inside the sewers for so long. Lyriya, do you want to come with me?
-Are you mad?? - remarked Lyriya in the snobbish expressive way typical of Yachas - That's out of question! I won't climb down to that fetid and filthy place. If you want to go down there, then go alone.
-But I could use some help! There are hostile creatures in the tunnels and I'm sure this experience will be interesting for the mind...
-Make silence! - exclaimed Lyriya - My father should have listened to me. What a mistake to marry that dermorian bitch! And you are her worthless offspring! -
Pretzia didn't heed the insults. She was kind-hearted and just disappeared, headed to the sewers.
"Round and round she goes, where she stops nobody knows" they say.
The stench of sewage was the last of Pretzia's problems: her sense of smell had already gotten used to it, for so long time she'd spent in the tunnels, trying to find the way. Every corner looked the same, staircases went up and down, she couldn't even figure the altitude. Maybe she'd gotten very low, maybe just few meters under the surface. And then the following staircase would void her current assumptions, making her head tilt. Where was she?
Yes... she realized now. Pretzia was scared. She'd lost the way. Her young heart started to pulse like a smith's hammer strikes down on the anvil, as soon as the squeaks around the corner became louder. She halted her stride. A distusting one-eyed giant rat had already hasted to devour his new prey: her.
At the sight, petrified for few seconds, Pretzia screamed, and screamed again, emptying her lungs of all the air. Turning as fast as can be, she dashed away, running for her life. There was no time to realize or recollect, her thoughts however blinked on her mother and her blue eyes flooded with tears without intention.
Before her, there was now a fork and a new dilemma: to go to the left or to go to the right? There was no time for a decision. Left, she took. Horror struck her when she realized it was a dead end. She tried to turn but the beast was there. Running, for the few seconds it took to reach the wall could only prolong her life. She screamed again. Then she squeezed her eyelids shut, waiting for pain and death.
The filthy rat finally emitted a prolonged sqweak, ceasing any noise thereafter. Pretzia felt a a hand on her shoulder. Shivering, she opened her eyes, too see a klyros before her.
-Don't worr... - tried the klyros.
-AAAAAH! - screamed her and, with all her might, kicked him between the legs.
The poor klyros fell on the ground and rolled down desperately, grasping his own "attributes" with both hands.
-What.. the... *aargh* the hell... - panted him, mindful of his own pain.
The young dermorian lady, ascertained there was no threat, inhaled, looked up and slowly exhaled. The ceiling was dirty to give the creeps.
In the meantime the klyros had partly recovered. -Pfft... I'm not asking for anything, but if THIS is the gratitude...- fumed him. - I don't want to change gender!!
-Sorry - explained the girl - my name is Pretzia and thanks for saving me...
-Oh it is nothing - said the klyros, as if used to this kind of treatment - you couldn't know. I should have been more careful.
-Aren't you mad at me? - inquired Pretzia.
-Not at all, not at all. I'm glad moreso that you are alive. Name's Attersson by the way.-
Heard the name, Pretzia giggled and, amused, added: - Yeah, it's ok if you don't want to tell me what your name is, of course.
-No no... really! My name is Attersson Erinotte, what about it? -
As soon as the name was spelt, Pretzia burst into a fragorous and continuous laugh, not rolling on the floor just because of the dirt, else she would.
-Now what the hell about my name? - asked Attersson as soon as the laughter died down.
-Your name sucks, no offense! -said Pretzia.
-None taken. - unconvincingly stated him.
-Who gave you that name? - insisted her.
-If it means anything to you, I was born from the merging of two families: the Aternotte and the Erirsen. -
Suddenly Pretzia resumed her laugh, this time even more intensely than before. However, soon it died down and she was able to ask: - And from two last names clumsily mixed... you got your full name?? Oh and are you male or female??
-Sorry milady but this conversation ends here. - said Attersson, struggling to remain humble and in control of self. -Ah, by the way, I believe this is yours.- added him, handing a red ribbon to her.
The young lady immediately patted her blonde hair, noticing to have indeed lost her ribbon. -Awww thank you!! My mother's ribbon!
-You're welcome, young lady. Try to be more careful about possessions in the future and take care. Goodbye.- stated Attersson, sheathing his sword and stepping away.
-Wait! - exclaimed Pretzia.
-I apologize, but the conversation is over. I don't think your attitude is fit for a lady, honestly. Farewell!
-I'm sorry Attersson! - said her aloud. -But please, I need help finding the way out! I got lost!
-Awwwww... Yeah. Yes, of course, as a matter of facts, I was wondering why so young a lady could go this deep in the sewers, you know...
-I've come down here to meet the sewer guy.
-Sewer guy? What do you mean with "sewer guy"? - asked Attersson.
-There are rumors of this guy, you know, who keeps wandering in the sewers and noone knows why. Everyone thinks he's gone crazy. And given the filth and the stench that assaulted my nose, I have to admit the rumors are credible...
-Pretzia, what the hell are you talking about? I've seen nobody here and I've been down here for two yea.... - suddenly, quick as lighting, the realization was made. - Awww geez! That's me! Forsooth! I am the sewer guy... - said Attersson snorting.
-What? - grunted Pretzia questionably.
-Yeah, I'm the sewer guy. I've been down here for two years, so apparently that's me. And I'm not insane, but keep that attitude and you'll drive me. What do you want from me then?
-Really??
-Well, I don't know. Name's Attersson, that's how I call myself, but yeah, I've remained here in the sewers for at least eight seasons I'd say. - precised the klyros. - So what can I help you with?
-I was curious. Please tell me... why! Why have you decided to live here? Even the Hydlaa streets are more friendly than this place...
-I am waiting for someone, simply.
-Waiting for someone? For eight seasons?? - asked Pretzia.
-Pretzia, this person, Nathrian, is very important to me. So I will wait where we left each other.
-But what happened?
-I and Nat had come down here to perform a survey for a statistical purpose. I was about to give the report paper with the results of my calculations to Nat, when, suddenly, a pipe broke and the tunnel got flooded with sewage. Before running away, Nat said "Bah! Let me close this fucking thing. I'll be back!!". And I've been waiting since.-
Pretzia didn't know what to think. He wasn't insane as the townfolks thought, but an honest and loyal person.
-Haven't you thought of going out? Maybe Nat is waiting for you outside... - suggested Pretzia.
-Well, thanks for your concern, Pretzia, however I have already gone out and looked for Nat everywhere. I have come to the conclusion that Nat has just disappeared. So my only hope is to wait where we left.
-Incredible. - commented the dermorian maid - Can you please show me the report which is so important to keep you waiting down here? -
Attersson nodded and showed her. It was a paper with many noughts and crosses differently coloured and clustered in patterns.
-Incredible - repeated her once again - I can't understand anything. The sight of it already confused me.
-Yeah, it's somewhat complicated a schema, I admit it. That's why it's so important. -
Suddenly, out of nowhere, air took the shape of a vapor cloud and solidified, revealing a black cloaked man.
-Boo! - shouted him.
Pretzia screamed and hid herself behind the klyros.
-Ah it's you... -realized Attersson. -Be careful with my wings, Pretzia, back there. Come out, there's nothing to worry about.
-Ah so is this Nathrian at last?!? -asked Pretzia.
-Hell no! - exclaimed the black person, removing the hood - I am Ken Shinobi, Lord of Dice, Bringer of Luck.
-Ken, I have already told you... - tried Attersson.
-Attersson, my patience is coming to an end. You have to spit out where this "Nat" is hiding, or I'll make you talk.
-I have already told you, I have not the slightest clue! Nat just disappeared and I'm waiting. As you see I've gone nowhere.
-Exactly: "Nat has disappeared" and can't be found anywhere in Yliakum. I have already searched every alley, every house. That means this "Nat" is better than me at stealth and I can't stand it. I have to acquire the missing knowledge and you will tell me where I can find it, now!
-Let's stay calm, Ken. Try to reason. If I wanted to mess with you, don't you think at this point I'd have fled from here? What reason would I have to stay here for years?-
Ken enraged and fumed. He fastened his fists and immediately vanished in a cloud of vapor.
-AAAAaaaah! - screamed Pretzia.
Attersson reassured his dermorian new friend that Ken is a master at "disappearing", but, heard that this Nat, one day, just disappeared at all and is nowhere to be found, Ken's supremacy was beaten... he was no longer the best at "disappearing". He couldn't stand this shame. Since then, Ken had been restlessly wandering around Yliakum in the hope to find an answer. Once in a while out of frustration for his failed attempts, he would come back to Attersson and insist at interrogating him.
-Ah yes... and if Ken Shinobi, can disappear and appear out of thin air, in front of our eyes... then let alone Nat! Nat must be a GOD of disappearing!
-Bah... I agree - commented Attersson, while nodding profusely. - Nat just disappeared from Yliakum. -
Attersson showed the way out and Pretzia went home. She came back to visit Attersson everyday for a week and they talked about interesting knowledge and crafts. She discovered Attersson wasn't a warrior, but a magician! He carried a dozen of glyphs with him, in his pouch.
One day Pretzia considered an eventuality, but didn't know how to possibly tell Attersson. However, with one look, Attersson, who had gotten close enough to the girl to understand her concerns, noticed her preoccupation.
-What's the matter? Do you want to ask me anything? Please, just ask. You know, I've felt so lonely during all this wait that your company is the most precious thing I could ask for. You're entitled to speak freely.
-And if Nat just dumped you? - asked Pretzia.
-Come on, that's impossible and you know. You're hiding something. Please speak honestly.
-Well - shyly started Pretzia - I've thought about this whole situation again. Couldn't it be that Nat... isn't... well... among the living any longer? - finally managed to say her.
-Pretzia, you are a sweet girl, honestly. - Pretzia smiled but was still concerned about the eventuality - And as a matter of facts that was the first thing I thought. I was very worried, so worried that I sold all the tools and bought this glyph. - and he showed a beautiful glittering well-polished Blue glyph.
-Wow... I am enthralled - said Pretzia ecstaticly.
-And thanks to the glyph, I casted a spell of divination, thanks to which, I know for sure than Nat is alive. I cast it everyday. - clarified Attersson. -And it can give me a bit of consolation.
After much chatter about the glyph, Attersson decided to show her. He began to cast the spell.
The glyph was arranged in combination with others of the same Way, mana was charged and the formula was spelt:
"KHABS AM PEKHT!
KONX OM PAX!
LVX IN EXTENSION!"
Suddenly a bright flash of light extended and both Attersson and Pretzia were blessed by Light, realizing immediately that Nat was alive, but they couldn't figure out the whereabouts.
-See? - commented Attersson.
-You are a powerful magician - commented the young girl.
-If you think about it, without this spell, waiting here would have been pointless. But now I must wait because I know Nat is alive and this paper is too important. I sold all my tools so I can't make another survey and I can't even copy it, for too hard would be not to get mistaken.-
As a matter of facts, the paper, with all those noughts and crosses, would be incredibly difficult to copy, without making any mistake. A single mistake would, infact, render all the data wrong and unreadable.
In fewer words: I am stuck in the sewers. IRC isn't working. Any GM who reads this, can you please unstick recover Attersson Erinotte? kthxbai
