This Solo Quest is for Mash'al who is striving to become a Beast Charmer.
OOC
||. The quest prompt must be answered with a 1500 word reply (can be more).
||. Respond to the prompt given with an adventure of your own creation as long as it meets the requirements of the specific tasks.
||. NPCs may be used as long as they advance the quest in an interesting manner.
||. You cannot include any playable characters other than the quest taker.
||. Your responses will not be graded but should be looked over by staff once it is completed.
||. This response can be used toward your Character's Solo Requirements.
||. Questions about quests can be asked here.
IC
After a long harrowing journey through the savage lands known as “Tendaji” Mash’al had been relieved to be returned to his homeland of Oba; he had just wished it had been under better circumstances. Under the surveillance of a royal entourage Mash’al was marched to Sulburi to answer for charges they would not speak about; which usually meant they were severe.
Upon arrival he was presented before a court of the kings advisors… but they were not the advisors he had met when the war started, and that didn’t bode well for him. As they shuffled all their papers in order and looked to the center of the table, the woman in the center rose and cleared her throat, “Mash’al Tahan. We have gathered here today to overhear your trial to answer the charges placed upon you. Mash’al, you have been charged with Treason for abandoning your post in the heat of battle, thus leaving your squad without command and endangering everyone on the battlefield that day. Should you be found guilty of these charges; the penalty is death.”
||. Mash’al has to recount his time on the battlefield to answer for the crimes he is accused of.
||. The advisers should get an answer for the following questions (which can be phrased however you choose):
- Why did you abandon your post?
- Why did you not return to the camp after the battle?
- Why did you not return to Oba sooner?
||. At some point Mash’al should learn of the new king on the throne.
||. The advisers should find him not guilty of the accused crimes and have him released.
Days spent in the company of Tweedledee and Tweedledum has ground his tolerance down to the last nerve... He had spent far too long in these savage lands, and though his travel companions brought with them a welcome relief from the elements, they weren't much for company; in fact he had never seen these men before... Something was strange, but they were less than an hour from the capitol city of Sulburi and soon he would be able to begin his journey home.
As the caravan rolls to a stop at the gates of the palace grounds. Mash'al recognized where he was, but hadn't been here since he was a boy... His father Ghaib had ties to members of the kings court and occasionally brought him along when meeting people of importance ; good opportunities to show off the future of his company and also get Mash'al familiar with the inner workings of the royal court. Stepping into the sunlight he found himself standing before three Oban court appointed officials, advisers maybe; though it was no one he recognized, which did not bode well.
The female in the middle gave a swift nod to his goon escorts, who promptly gave him a nudge forward. Mash'al returned the bump with a glare and started toward the clustered advisers, “What is the meaning of this?” He asked while turning his gaze back to the advisers. They exchanged glances as the woman indicated for the group to follow then started into the palace. The other two swiveled on their heels and began after her. Mash'al furrowed his brow and felt the frustration building as he was forced to travel in suit. “Listen, I've been lost in hostile lands for the last couple months. I'm exhausted and would really like to return to my home and inform my family I'm alive.”
The advisers didn't respond, they didn't even flinch. He had given everything for his country! He supported the war, donated a portion of his company to support the war effort, even gave his own talents to the cause and this is how they repay him?! He was on the verge of an outburst when the female adviser halted the entourage in front of a door, “Open it.” she spoke to the man on her right, who stepped out and swung open the doors to reveal a massive room that likely hosted many events at the palace... presently it lay empty except for a table, some papers, and three empty chairs.
A pit formed in Mash'al's stomach as he scanned the room. The advisers took their place behind the table, and gathered their papers. The woman who sat at the center of the table rose and cleared her throat, “Mash’al Tahan. We have gathered here today to overhear your trial to answer the charges placed upon you. Mash’al, you have been charged with Treason for abandoning your post in the heat of battle, thus leaving your squad without command and endangering everyone on the battlefield that day. Should you be found guilty of these charges; the penalty is death.” The goons shut the doors behind him and stand firmly on guard.
“Well... s**t.” He hisses under his breath as he sizes up the men he spent the last week with. They weren't very intelligent, but there was no way he would be able to muscle through them. They hadn't spoken to him, so he has nothing to hold over them... He was trapped. Turning to the advisers he strode across the hall and approached the table, “Treason~” He crooned, “I gave blood, sweat, and gold to this country; this cause, and you accuse me of Treason?”
The elder adviser to the left spoke up, “Mash'al, I understand how difficult this must be for you, but you have to understand it from our perspective. We lost track of one of our commanding officers at a critical time in the final battle against Tendaji.” The man's voice died off as he took in the gaze he was receiving from the accused; frustration, defeat, borderline loathsome. “Mash'al I was acquainted with your father, I am familiar with your families history... You're loyal to this country. I asked to oversee this trial to give you a chance to set the record right.”
“What do you want to know?” He snarled trying to suppress the rage building, “I have nothing to hide.”
“Excellent,” Began the Female adviser, “Perhaps you can start with,Why did you abandon your post? As Lieutenant in command of Arwa 2 you had a responsibility to your fellow tamers to - ”
“Second Lieutenant,” Mash'al corrected, “Therefore second in command... Arwa 1 was critical, they lost their master tamer and their second in command choked. If I didn't try to assist what good was I? I informed my Lead of the situation and crossed the field to aid my comrades.”
The Young man to her right stood, “But you never made it to Arwa 1 and the creature eventually fell to the people of Tendaji. Perhaps you can shed light on that.” He stared down Mash'al with a heat of his own, this adviser had an agenda.
Mash'al rocked back on his heals and began to pace, he had to choose his words carefully with this one. His demeanor shifted to make him more passive and he spoke softly, “I dismounted Arwa 2 and got swept up in the chaos of the battlefield.” He paused for affect, letting his eyes scan the floor as if the trauma of war was taking him elsewhere, “Navigating was difficult... I was familiar with the beast I controlled, trained with it for years... but their thunderous steps coupled with the screams of my countrymen, the clash of steel.” he trailed off.
The younger adviser settled back into his chair, “Clearly this is difficult for you, Mash'al, but any detail you can provide about the battle is crucial to piecing together what happened out there. We lost a very majestic creature that day an-”
His eyes snapped to the adviser, “The beast was felled?!” His face paled slightly as the gravity of the situation set in, “They managed to kill an Arwa.”
“Nearly two... The creature survived the battle, but passed shortly after the treaty was arranged;” The woman broke into the conversation, pulling Mash'al's intensity from the younger gentleman, “The injuries were too severe to treat.”
Mash'al's nostrils flared as he turned back to the tiled floor on which he stood, “I was shot, several times, by one of those.... Alkidike things.” he spat, “Before I could reach Arwa 1 the poison set in and I didn't have the strength to mount the creature and give aid to the team.” His lips were firmly pressed together as he struggled to recall the events, “I don't remember much after that.”
“Where did you go after that?” The elder adviser asked, "You never returned to camp and we had to send out a search party to locate you; well outside of Oban Territory. ”
Shaking his head he turned from the advisers and released a slow breath, “I awoke in a village of some sort... entangled in trees, glowing plants, massive bug like creatures...” Mash'al seethed through clenched teeth, “I was still weak and delirious from the poison. One of those ruthless Alkidike harpies and a dark skinned earthling kept me hostage.; they kept me alive, for ransom I assume?”
“After the accords were signed all hostages were returned... you were not among them. ” the Young man explained while looking down the table for clarification.
“Nor were you listed as a hostage,” the woman explained while revealing a list.
“I escaped when I was able.” Mash'al chuckled, “You honestly think I was going to wait around for them to torture me? Eat me?” He shook his head and continued pacing, “I fled their captivity and took what I could. There was a map, but it wasn't very clear. I was turned around more times than I can count while trying to navigate the thick overgrown jungle. By the time I found flat lands I was half starved, dehydrated, and clinging to what hatred for those savages I could muster to keep moving forward.” Mash'al snorted, “Then these two found me.” He indicated to the guards standing by the door and smiled ever so sinisterly to the advisers, “Returned me to what I thought was going to be civilized society...” He approached the table and slammed his hands down on the table, looking the female adviser directly in the eyes, “And then you have the audacity to hold me for treason?! I'm a damned prisoner of war and deserve a metal for the hostility I've had to endure.” Pushing off from the table he swiveled on his heels and headed for the door, “I'm done here.”
The female adviser was frozen in her chair, breath ripped from her lungs. As she was being comforted by the younger male, the elder rose from his chair, “Mash'al!”
Mash'al paused mid step and glanced over his shoulder coldly, “Yes~” he crooned.
“We appreciate you detailed account of the events that unfolded in Tendaji and on behalf of the royal court we apologize for any hostility or disrespect we have shown you.” He stammered while making his way around the table with a stack of papers in his hands, “These are a list of your affects recovered from a thief we found spying on one of our camps. The old administration may have been overthrown, but I assure you, your commitment to the advancement of our society will not go unnoticed.”
Mash'al turned to face the elder and received the documents he held. At the bottom they were signed by a name, not his kings name but... “You have got to be kidding me...” he murmured.
“Part of the accords required the current king be overthrown. The clearest successor to the throne , approved by both Oba and Tendaji, was the King's Cous-”
Mash'al cut off the man with a hand gesture, “I.Want.To.Go.Home.” He stared in the man's eyes for a good moment then continued, “Do you plan on holding me for anything else?” Without waiting for an answer he stared down the guards who quickly parted, threw open the door, and soaked in the sunlight as he stepped out of the palace hall. Everything he fought so hard for was gone, and though he should feel defeated, distraught... He just grinned. He had a family to return to and for the first time in months, he was free.
1763 Words
