Prologue~
It was a hot day in the island nation of Aegina. In the cliffside capital of Saga, the normally hectic marketplace crowds seemed to move in slow motion through the heat waves. While slightly cooler in Ganta to the north-west, the city watch still retreated into their shady barracks.
Ganta was a relatively young and small city, sitting in the middle of a patch of perfect farmland surrounded on two sides by a large forest. It's ruling Daimyo had a large estate on top of a small hill at the outskirts of the town proper.
Guarding the entrance gate was a group of about half a dozen men, wishing that they hadn't been volunteered for this duty by their sergeant, a burly half-orc named Mercutio Rindomaku. While his guardsmen crowded into the little shade cast by the gatehouse, Mercutio stood right in the middle of the path that led up to the Daimyo's mansion.
Few people visited the towns ruler even in nicer weather, and less still came of their own will, escorted up the hill by the town watch or the Daimyo's own personal mages. Thus it was a surprise when a singe peasant leading a heavily burdened packhorse approached them through the sweltering midday heat.
Mercutio held out his hand to signal the man to stop. "Halt," He said gruffly, "What's your business here?"
Looking slightly pale despite the bright sun, the peasant looked down towards Mercutio's feet and stammered, "J-Just delivering some su-supplies...Er, I me-mean items requested b-by his lordship."
Mercutio gave the man a good looking over before yelling to his men, "Oy! You lot! Get over here and search his bags."
This seemed to panic the man, "N-No, please sir! I-I was told no one c-could look inside."
Pushing the peasant to one side, Mercutio stalked to the packhorse and started searching for himself. It only took about half a minute before he pulled a hand back out of one of the bags, bringing with it something odd. Obviously magical, it was a perfectly round, clear orange gem. Even the normal guards could see it literally pulsing with arcane energy.
"What is this?" Mercutio almost yelled, rounding on the frightened man. "You know magical artifacts aren't allowed on government property with approval."
"I don't know sir, honest! I didn't pack the bags, I was just told to bring the here and make sure no one looked inside."
"Yeah, well, you're gonna pay for it now." Before finishing his sentence, and before the man could try to escape, Mercutio grabbed him and slung him over one shoulder before carrying him up towards the mansion.
The other guards stood a little dumbfounded at what had happened, then Mercutio yelled back over his shoulder, "WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR! GRAB HIS HORSE AND COME ON." And, chastened, they followed him up the winding path.
Reply
