Week 4

The blue moon watched over Sanctuary with a vibrancy that Rio had not seen since the passing of Lady Penastra. Night time provided him with the peace and clarity he needed to reflect on the events of the day.

Common pick pockets! Incensed by what his “friend” had referred to him and his guild as earlier that day Rio paced up and down the jetty. The cool breeze helping somewhat to calm his temper. Not one to often allow his emotions to rule him Rio had been taken back by this remark and he intended to tackle this head on.

The guild was empty now, the prison looking cold and uninviting. Rio had no reason to be here either other then he needed to get away from the festivities. That and he wouldn’t want to be accused of lifting a few silvers from a few drunks. His guild where no doubt at home, some with their families, other perhaps at work. They are all decent people he thought. All working hard to make a living by day, and all eager to come together and discover, retrieve, uncover some sort of lost treasure. Some way of opening up that door of infinite possibilities.

What hurt Rio the most was that one of the most influential people in Sanctuary thought of their endeavours as deceitful, and dishonest, and akin to common thieves and this did not sit well with the Shadow Master.

The past two weeks had been bitter sweet in their achievements. After Chorlen they hoped to repeat their success when they were commissioned to retrieve stolen taxes from a local village by a notoriously hard to find group of bandits and mercenaries known to many as the brothers of nightfall.

The brothers showed why they are so difficult to catch and set a trap for Rio’s guild members. The small group, led by the promising Lazlo had not seen it until it was far too late. Rio never usually went with them on their quests. He wanted them to learn, to experience and always tried to gauge the difficulty of the task at hand to those he sent out to do it. 3 had died that night, a few made it back with some injury, Lazlo included. Markham, Janod, and Trayvan had been killed. 3 good men, two of which were married, Trayvan had children.

When Rio saw them return in the state they did he felt something that he had never really felt before. An overwhelming sense of responsibility and failure mixed in to one. He had let these men down, somehow this was his failing to them. Had he not trained them harder, had he not taught them more sooner, perhaps 3 men wouldn’t have died.

It was shortly after their return that Rio took Lazlo back out to the site of the incident, the master and his apprentice. Raging with emotion Rio knew that this was far from sensible, and his chances of success where dramatically lowered in this raw state, but he ignored his teachings, he ignored his instinct and he knew that he was wrong to do so.

At the site he laid each of the fallen to rest and promised that their families would not go wanting. The blue moon still shining brightly overhead took each of the men to a safer, kinder world beyond.

What happened after that will never be spoken of. Lazlo and Rio returned to the guild later that night. The brothers of nightfall where all dead, the taxes sent on their way again. Lazlo didn’t return to the guild until several days later, and still will not speak of what he saw that night.

Rio reflected on these events. “The people of Sanctuary are ignorant as to what we do” he thought. “It is my place to educate them”. Looking back at the empty prison, the absence of light creating a wonderfully haunting image, he remembered those fallen. “These men deserve better”

Week 3

Week 3

Relief swept over Rio as he saw the caravan return that morning. His men celebrating their victory, their excitement building as they reached the mooring. Carefully they unloaded the wagon, stacking each box in to the small boats on the far side of the lake. The banter and comradery between them plain for all the towns people to see.

Nearby townsfolk stopped in their tracks to see what all the fuss was about. Some were asked to help load the boats, others ran over to join in. Soon the boats where filled with their spoils and the merry men joined them. Together they sailed back over to the guild where upon landing Rio was there to congratulate them all.

That night the wine flowed freely and Rio felt great pride, after all, he had taught them all, and all of them had made it back alive. It was upon this realisation that he was able to relax a little and slouch further in to this chair as he let the wine take its hold, drinking deeply from the large goblet.

He’d recently been commissioned by a retired Dwarven soldier to take back his goods that were stolen by a group of mercenaries. Tomorrow he would make the exchange. That shouldn’t be a problem as the noble Dwarf had already paid up front and Rio being a man of honour and faith himself held great stock in a man’s word but knew sadly that not many others shared the same sentiment.

As he knocked back another glass of wine he spoke to Lazlo, a student of his with a great deal of potential. Lazlo, a human of around 28 years of age listened intently whenever Rio had something to say. It wasn’t so much that he was particularly taken by the Sea Elf, more that he had a deep hunger to learn and succeed and knew that what Rio spoke about was spoken from a position of experience.

Lazlo was seated next to Rio at the feast table when Rio leant in. “You lead the team exceptionally by all accounts Lazlo, congratulations”.

“Thank you master, I owe my success to the preparation before that night largely. The many evenings sat in the rain amongst the roof tiles”. He smiled. “Watching for guard changes, waiting for the windows of opportunity”.

“Well look around you” said Rio. “Look at our brothers sat atop of these spoils. Look at how happy they are, and look at how they hunger to repeat this success”.

Lazlo studied the gathering. All around him his brothers drank deeply, swaying uncontrollably as they reached for another bottle.

“They look drunk master. Hardly the stuff of legends”

Rio raised an eyebrow at the remark. “The stuff of legends? Small steps Lazlo, it’s our first success and one that they should rightly celebrate”.

Lazlo’s body language betrayed him and he spoke openly. “They’re out of control. You all are” Lazlo seemed almost annoyed at the chaos and merriment around him. “What if we were to be attacked tonight in retaliation? What then??” He stood up and left the table, the others slowing in their enjoyment as they watched him leave, before picking up right where they left off.

Rio left also and walked up to where Lazlo watched out over the lake.

“Calm yourself Lazlo, and focus. Not all is as it seems. I for instance show people what I want to show them.” With that Rio poured the rest of his glass of water on to the stones below. “A guardian of Penastra is ever vigilant under the wandering light of the moon”

Realising he had fallen for the illusion, Lazlo relaxed, comforted by the revelation, and content that his mentor, the man he aspired to be was not some drunken fool, but instead a very clever and sharp Shadow Master.

At ease, Lazlo leant back against the wall as he looked up and asked “Why is the moon a strange blue colour Rio?”

Walking out to the edge of the balcony Rio looked up to the moon. “Because Lazlo, the blue born hero is about to meet his destiny”.

Week 2

Turning the window ever so quietly inwards he leant in feeling around for the rest of the trap mechanism. He’d disarmed it earlier in the day knowing full well that this would be the night. Having studied the building over the past couple of days he had decided that this would be his point of entry. It offered maximum protection from the shadows and made for an excellent escape route after. Suffice to say he was more than a little pleased with his progress so far. He glanced back once more to see if he’d been spotted but all appeared calm outside. With great care and anticipation he climbed inside the building, and with little effort landed neatly and quietly about 10 feet below. For a moment he sat and listened for movement. Had anyone heard him? As each minute passed his confidence grew. He felt the shadows around him swallow him up and he knew now that he was truly invisible.

Carefully he crept around the perimeter of the room, always keeping in the shadows, one eye open for the map he had come here for.

A door at the end of the room opened and a guard dressed in leather armour entered. He had a sword by his side and a torch in one hand as he paced across the great room, looking to check that everything was as it should be.

Hidden by the shadows he waited, making no sound at all. Patience was a good virtue to have in this game, and he had plenty of it. The guard soon left closing the door behind and what little light remained made it easy for him to manoeuvre his way towards the glass cabinet.

He checked it over for traps and found a wire alarm running away from it. Reaching for his toolkit he rolled out the soft leather and set to work. A simple alarm trap was no match for him but there was always a chance something could go wrong, and tonight of all nights he could do without making any embarrassing mistakes. Expertly taken care of, tied off the alarm was no longer a threat. The lock to the cabinet however beckoned next. A moment or two later and the final obstacle had been neutralised. He lifted the great glass lid to the cabinet and carefully lowered it down the other side.

Reaching for the map he was startled suddenly when a hand grabbed his shoulder from behind. In that moment 3 or four torches lit around the top of the room and Rio walked in from the recently closed door.

“Well done Alder, you did much better than last time. There’s still some way for you to go yet if you want to keep yourself and others safe, but what a start. Truly, well done”

Slightly disappointed with himself Alder composed himself and walked to meet Rio and the others. “How did you…?” Alder began. “The window was left open” Rio replied. “The guard noticed on the way round when he was completing his tour and instead of alerting you chose to remain calm and alert the guard, us, outside. Had this been for real you may have felt like you were in control of the situation right up until the point in which they had surrounded the room, blocking any chance of escape. Remember everyone, leave no clue that you have been there, no trace, nor sign of an entry. All it would ever take is a passer-by to raise the alarm. Alder, you’d done the hard work, just a little more attention to the details”.

Rio looked around at the small crowd assembled. They had all worked tirelessly to hone their skills in anticipation of this first job, working day and night to plan their route, and choreograph their movements. “The wagon waits outside to take you to Chorlen. Remember the goal, and watch each other’s backs. I will expect you all back by sunrise”

As the room emptied Rio eagerly watched them climb in to the wagon. He was excited for their return, and the tales they would tell.