Fantasy Roleplay Starter

[Mora Ghostsong]

From the outside it looks pleasant, cheerful and colorful. Bricks and huge, stone pillars make up most of the building's outer structure.


It's impossible to see through the closed windows, but the energy and excitement from within can be felt outside.


As you enter the tavern through the heavily used, metal door, you're welcomed by aromas of roasted meats and the strong smell of alcohol.


The bartender is a little preoccupied, but still manages to welcome you with a short wave.


It's as lovely inside as it is on the outside. Squared, wooden beams support the upper floor and the sconces attached to them. The walls are littered with so many different kinds of memorabilia, you're not sure if they tried going for a specific style at one time or just put up anything they like.


The tavern itself is packed. Travelers seem to be the primary clientele here, which often means great company. Several long tables are occupied by, what seems to be entire families, all enjoying the food, drinks and company of each other. The other, smaller tables are also occupied by people who are indulging in great food and drinks, while some do try to strike a conversation, others can barely speak a word between eating what must be delicious food. Even most of the stools at the bar are occupied, though nobody seems to mind more company.


You did hear rumors about this tavern, supposedly it's famous for something, but you can't remember what for. You manage to spot a seat by one of the smaller tables towards the back of the bar. However, the tables other seat is occupied by a rather mysterious, quiet woman clad in a midnight black hooded cloak. Her head is down, hiding much of her full face, her eyes focused on the mug or ale in her hand. Resting comfortablely against the side of her chair must have been her weaponry. A long, slim black bow and matching quiver full of finely honed arrows.


You wonder to yourself whether it would be a good idea to take a seat next to the mysterious out of place woman.

 

[Midnight Paragon]

I would cough lightly, trying to catch the womans attention as I gesture to the seat.


"Excuse me, do you mind if I sit here? Everywhere else seems full."


I adjust the gold-plate chest piece I wear in nervousness, my other hand sliding nonchalantly to my mace at my side. Something tells me I might need it.

 

[Mora Ghostsong]

I scan you up and down, taking notice that you place your hand on your weapon while keeping my cloak over my face as much as possible to avoid attention. I lazily wave a finger to the empty seat next to me, offering you the seat without a word before returning to my mug of ale.


"If he was here to kill me he would have done it by now." I think to myself.

 

[Midnight Paragon]

"Thank you. I'll admit, I'm a bit surprised; I thought for sure you would be one of the types who really enjoys their privacy."


I sit down softly in the wooden chair, the armor that covers my whole body clanking in the process. I remove the golden, battered helmet that covers my head and set it gently on my table, brushing the black locks of hair that fall into my bright blue eyes and partially cover my pale white skin. I wave over the bartender and order a mug of his strongest ale. With the usual 'Right away, Sir!', he was gone again, and I look back down to my old battered mace. 'Why haven't I replaced this yet? All Paladins usually have one made of stronger steel by now....'

 

[Mora Ghostsong]

I shoot a glance at your weapon,taking note of its appearance and clear age as well as your armor. It's heavy, golden and has definitely seen it's fair share of combat. I mutter quietly before taking another sip of my ale, "Nice piece, family weapon? Or weapon given to you when you received the armor?

 

[Midnight Paragon]

I snap myself out of my reverie and look back to you.


"Believe it or not, family. My father's. Come from a long line Paladins. It's seen it's share of battle, just like my armor. I sometimes wonder if I should just return it and buy a new one, but Father was adamant I use this one for some reason..."


I stare at my mace for another second, it's dull silver reflecting the torchlight, before I turn my head to your bow and then to you.


"Strange looking bow. Haven't seen anything like it. Make it yourself?"

 

[Mora Ghostsong]

I eye my bow for a moment and are filled with both pleasant and painful memories. That bow was my life, the only thing I had from my past... my most treasured item.


I glance at you, showing a bit more of my face before replying in a soft but hesitant voice.


"It... was a gift from someone close to me, the materials it's made out of are not something you could find easily."


I finish my mug of ale, placing it gently on table before waving my hand to the barmaid for another. She looked at me and frowned but still knew she had to serve me so long as I had gold to spend.

 

[Midnight Paragon]

As I listen, one of the bar hands has brought me my ale, and I take a hearty swig as I keep my eyes on the bow. I put the mug down and wipe my mouth as I look back to you.


"Hmm......it's strange, but....I feel like I know that bow. Like I've seen it somewhere before..."


I stare at the bow for another minute before I chuckle and look back to you.


"But where are my manners, I haven't even introduced myself. I'm called Gaius. A Paladin, as you might have figured out, and a Bounty Hunter slash Adventurer."

 

[Mora Ghostsong]

I grabbed my new mug of ale and took a deep sip as you introduce yourself. I raise my mug slightly.


"It's a pleasure, I've heard your name before, heard about your skills as a bounty hunter and I must say, I'm impressed."


I place my mug down and remove one of my gloves from my hand, offering my slender pale hand for a handshake.


"A test... I wonder if he knows what I am yet..." I think to myself. While most all undead are seen as vile and out of place, especially around humans, I could sense there is something odd about the man in front of me. Something strange indeed. What however, I couldn’t put my finger on.

 

[Midnight Paragon]

I take your hand gently, and freeze on the contact. After a moment, I shake it firmly, then retract it quickly as I sit up in my chair and give you an inquisitive look.


"I'm flattered, and I was unaware I had gained such a reputation so quickly. However, what intrigues me more than you knowing about me is the fact that you've managed to keep everyone here oblivious to the fact that you're.....undead, somehow. But raises even MORE questions is that you knew I am Paladin, a Warrior of Light, and yet you risked touching me. Most curious, wouldn't you say?"


I keep my eyes locked onto yours, speaking in a soft tone, so as to not attract the townspeople's attention. I reflexively keep a hand on my mace, ready for any sudden attempts of aggression.

 

[Mora Ghostsong]

Having already drawn one of my knives when I offered my hand out but kept it under the tables veiw I smiled slightly at you. My pale white eyes locked firmly on yours. Knowing full well that true, you could strike at me without a seconds notice and as a Paladin you are sworn to stamp put any and all undead you come across.


"Half of what I do, I do out of curiosity. I have to admit though I had a plan the moment you sat down, it's not everyday I get to chat with a paladin. Usually we skip the chatting and they just try to kill me but you're different." I motion towords the seat again. "So how about you sit back down and we don't make a mess of the tavern in a brawl. I'd rather not waste an arrow on you... at least not right now."

 

[Midnight Paragon]

I glare down at you, my blue eyes reflected in your pale ones, before I slowly return to my seat, and clasp my hands together on the top of the table.


"You must think very highly of your skill to assume I would be taken down by a single arrow. However, I have not come here to kill you; though doing so would line my pockets for years to come, it seems. You're rather infamous."


My voice has returned to its usual friendly, chipper manner. The tavern has seemed to have taken little interest in my standing up, and has returned to their conversations. As I talk, however, my gauntlets ever so slightly tinge white.

 

[Mora Ghostsong]

Fully interested in my new "friend" sitting next to me I turn, having slide my knife back into its sheath i lean my arms on the table before looking at him again. This time I don't hide my face. My pale skin reflecting the light of nearby candles and my eyes darting between his hands and his eyes.


"Imfamous, how so?" I ask with a slight smile.


" I am usually pretty good at avoiding the living and hiding my tracks but if what you say is true the I must have slipped at one point or another. I also make it my job to know other potential bounty hunters."

 

[Midnight Paragon]

I grin, watching you closely as you dart between me and my hands.


"Well, you're a Hunter yourself. You should already know the dangers. Do a job someone doesn't like, get a target people don't want gone, and it doesn't matter who you are, you'll get a bounty. Rumor has it that you've been straying a bit less towards Hunting and more towards....the darker jobs. Assassination. And you're right, by the way; you hide your tracks well. Just not perfectly; and the little tidbits you leave behind are just what I need."


With her face revealed, I am little surprised at what I see; despite her being 'undead', she still retains a surprising amount of beauty. For a second, my thoughts drift elsewhere...but I quickly correct their course to the matter at hand, closely observing her to try and find anything out of the ordinary.

 

[Mora Ghostsong]

I lean back, showing both that I'm not as intimidated by him as he thinks and that I find comfort in this conversation despite it possibly taking a bad turn at any moment.


"My... abilities provide me with an excellent opportunity to do those types of jobs. Quick, quiet and no one seems me.coming is how I play the game." I say, turning my head to scan the room, admiring how everyone seems so blind to the two of us and the tension as we talk.


"When you have lived as long as I have, you tend to tried new careers out, after a hundred years of bagging people for bounties, it does start to get bland." I say in a strangely while also disturbingly chipper tone.

 

[Midnight Paragon]

My eyebrow raises at this. A hundred years? She doesn't look much past twenty....


"You do realize that you've made people angry, right? A lot of people. People with influence. And they want your head on a platter, they don't care about the cost. Your little 'career change' has turned too many heads. You may have lived for a hundred years, but how long do you plan to survive when entire countries start putting up prices for you?"


I grow increasingly irritated at her calm demeanor; the way that she just doesn't seem to care annoys me to no end. I take a look around the tavern once more, making sure no one is listening to our conversation.

 

[Mora Ghostsong]

Turning my head towards him I smile again, sensing his irritation.


"Because, after a hundred years I have the skills to make sure I don't get caught, plus," I pause and turn back around, eyeing the tavern goers as they enjoy their meals.


"The living already want my head on a platter because I'm dead anyways, it doesn't matter what I do, they still see me as unnatural."


I glance at you, my voice softer now as I speak.


"So what do you believe, do you think all undead are the same, that we're all monsters that deserve nothing more then being put to the sword."

 

[Midnight Paragon]

My eyes lock with hers in a steely gaze as I ponder the question, not once looking away. After a minute, I give her my answer.


"As a Paladin, we're taught that all undead are evil, beings that need to be cleansed in order for mankind to stay safe. But that's not why I became a Paladin, like my Father before me, and his Father. For most of us, we just find something evil and root it out, not even bothering to learn what it is they're rooting. But I'd like to think I have a better way. I don't want to banish the undead; in my eyes, they are still human, like us, bound by dark magic to serve some sort of evil purpose. I believe I can revert these undead; heal them somehow. And I'm close to doing so. Part of the reason I sought you out."


I take a long swig from my mug and place it back down on the table, looking back at her.


"So no. I don't think you're all monsters."

 

[Mora Ghostsong]

I sit, your answer rolling around in my mind for a long moment. I've never heard one answer that question so... sincerely. I slid my glove back over my hand nervously before getting up from the table.


My voice cracks slightly as I speak, memories filling my mind again and making me uneasy to say the least.


"If you truly sought me out then you should know that I can't be healed, I just... I just can't be."


I knew that i couldn't be healed, to revert undeath, one my go to the source. A source that I have been searching for for over a hundred years. A source that I am not closer to finding then when I started.

 

[Midnight Paragon]

I watch you rise, grinning a little as you do so.


"Is that so? A pity. And here I was with a lead to both revert you from undeath AND clear you bounty, but hey, if you say so."


I take another long swish from my mug, enjoying the tangy taste as it fills my mouth, and I pull a piece of parchment from my pocket and lay it on the table face down.

 

[Mora Ghostsong]

With caution I eye you and then the price of parchment you had just put on the table in front of me.


"What is that?" I ask in a nervous tone. My mouth turning from a worry to a grin. "Should I... No I shouldn't but I know my curiosity..." I say in my head knowing that my natural curiosity will probably get the best of me.


I lead over the table, staring at the parchment but don't pick it up all the while sliding a hand behind my back towards my knife, gripping the leather bound handle tightly. Preparing incase you choose to "collect" on my bounty.

 

[Midnight Paragon]

I place my mug back down on the table and wipe my mouth again before gesturing towards the paper.


"It's my lead. I did a little digging on you before I arrived. My sources say that this person, a Necromancer mind you, is probably the best candidate for the one who raised you or cursed you somehow."


I grab the parchment and and read the writing over again before looking back up to you.


"This is what I came here for; to help you. You can choose not to believe me but its the truth. If this is correct, and it is the one who's done this to you, then you could be healed. Doesn't this perk your curiosity even a little?"

 

[Mora Ghostsong]

My eyes widen, both in intrigue and in joy. Joy... that's an emotion I have not felt for a long time. I turn around, pacing slightly as I contemplate this rather strange turn of events in my head.


"You could... You're willing to... help me find the one responsible?" I ask. The Bleeding Effect begins to show itself again as my mind starts to slip into instability for a fraction of a moment. (See profile information on "The Bleeding Effect")

 

[Midnight Paragon]

I raise an eyebrow as I slowly stand and look you up and down, before placing a small sack of gold in the table as payment.


"Aye. But if you ask me, there really isn't much other choice. I can tell; you're having trouble keeping your sanity in tact. And while it may seem like just an inconvenience now, it's going to get worse. If we find this person, and I learn what I need to, then I can perhaps heal you."

 

[Mora Ghostsong]

"I can manage just..." I trail off knowing that in a way you are correct. You may be able to help me but whether or not I truly believe you is something still to decide.


I sit down slowly and glance at the parchment, this parchment, this clue to the one responsible is within my grasp, I can't just throw it away so easily.


I shoot you a glance, my joy turned sour, no not sour, angry, thrisy for revenge.


"Where do we start looking?"