3. A Second Chance

A Second Chance


  • Prologue

    _Another early day for the conceited senator. Another boring meeting. Ronan sighed, expecting it to be another long day about arguing over something so small. That is usually the case with these senate meetings. Oh well, he'll just have to grin and bear it.

    The day was long, and when senior senator Ashald finally said "adjourned," Ronan hopped out of his seat and walked out of there.. as if it were the last day of school. The fresh air as he left City Hall felt nice to him. He wanted to run round and frolic, though citizens may deem him crazy and wish him removed from the senate for such an act. Though it doesn't hurt to think about it.

    Firstly, he took a walk along the western wall. He enjoyed watching the foothills and seeing what the orcs are doing. Usually they are just picking fights with each other and getting drunk on watered down ale. But today was different. He saw something different among the orcs. It was a human man. Squinting, Ronan noticed that the man was unhindered by the orcs, and the orcs seemed to generally respect him. The senator was quite curious when the man simply just walked into one of the orc caves freely. Finding that suspicious, he figured it might've been one of those bandits crawling around in the pass. He had to know!

    Too bad he had a meeting in an hour. Mumbling to himself, finding that man more interesting than some paperwork, he decided to ask some able adventurers to go investigate for him, if they wanted.

    A few heeded his call… such adventurers as: Ludo the gnome, Reriana the Peltarch Defender, Aristos of the Ceruleans, Darius the warrior, Yngdir the ranger, Danika the silent scout, and Caelian the druid. Some reknown for adventures they have already been involved in before, all seeming able.

    Seeming satisfied with such a group, Senator Ronan gave them the information they needed, and then the brave souls headed off toward the orc cave.

    They entered the cave and were met with resistance early on. The orc warriors taxed the group of energy and strength, but the group continued to press on. Determined they were, to find this "bandit" and bring him to justice.

    Eventually, they made it to the bandit's cavernous room. The man's voice was raspy, and filled with malice and anger. There was no possibility of him heeding the adventurer's retorts and taunts. He promised death to all of them... to drink their blood along with the orcs. Though the adventurers remained confident, and decided to stay and face this madman head on.... which cost them much blood.

    The madman charged head on into the group, swinging his flail wildly. Reriana attempted to block him, and was successful and warding off most of his blows. Irritated by this, the madman turned his attention to Caelian, who was flanking along side Reriana. Caelian was hit with a hard blow and was forced to move off, only to be replaced by Darius. Blocked by both warriors at the moment, he returned his attention to Reriana, and caught her with two or three blows... though he had taken some arrows and blows himself during the scuffle.

    One of the orcs distracted the mages within the group of adventurers, which gave the unknown madman an opportunity to deal some damage to the group's warriors. Finding an opening, the madman rushed the archers behind Reriana and Darius! One of the archers, Yngdir, attempted to hold off the bloodthirsty human, but was met with blow after blow... attempting to flee, the madman gave chase and scattered the group's archers. But there were too many of them... eventually, the mages were not distracted, and with a few final missle spells, the madman was brought down... unconscious.

    Victorious, the adventurers dragged the limp body back to the senator... and were handsomely rewarded for their aid to the city. Good has overcome evil once again, for now. Though the madman was not one of the bandits reported in the pass... he was something new.

    Lieutanant Lisa took the man to the jail cell, and Senator Ronan soon followed... For a while the senator stood there, in front of the jail cell, waiting for the man to wake up.

    And when he did... Ronan stood there, peering at the man with a neutral gaze, speaking:

    "I am Senator Ronan Redralen. What is your name...?"

    ((To Be Continued))_

  • R

    ((bump))


  • _Early one morning, our vain senator awakens from his slumber. Having left the city to visit his fiance, he felt more rested than when sleeping alone. Smiling at the sleeping half-elf next to him, he kisses her cheek and goes to his pack, pulling out his journal to write down another day's events concerning a visit to Daren… only to find the note she had written, blinking to himself when he does.

    When finished, he turns to the sleeping half-elf maiden... and lays back down next to her, hugging her close. Deciding to leave his journal writing for another day, or maybe just forgetting about it. He whispers words of love into her ear, before falling blissfully back into sleep, a smile on his face._

  • L

    A short note is left on the next page. The script is neat though not Ronan's writing. The ink is green and it's written in elven

    <e>I am so proud of all you're doing and all you've become. Daily I thank the Gods that they've seen fit to bring you into my life and to change what could have been a disaster into a happiness that I never thought possible. If you ever feel down or alone, turn back to this page and know that you're never alone. I will forever be here for you.</e>


  • A Test

    _For several days, Daren recovered from his wounds. The goodly priests in the city seemed unwilling to heal such a tainted man, so the recovery was slow, but going nontheless. Daren mostly sat quiet in his cell when he was alone, but would snarl at any guards that came by.. even the ones to feed him.

    When Daren was in decent health, Ronan returned to ask more questions. Prepared for any of this madman's unnerving words..

    "Feeling any better?" Ronan asked casually, getting the conversation going.

    Daren replied with a growl, "What do you think you idiot?"

    Ignoring Daren's charm, the senator got right down to business, "Who was this Kate you spoke of last we talked?"

    "None of your business…" The prisoner folded his arms, eyeing off at the wall, the usual frustrated and angry look on his face.

    "You want to help this woman, it sounded like. You won't beable to do that in a cell. Maybe if you cooperate, something can be arranged to contact Kate."

    Daren just rolled his eyes, "You can't do anything. All you've done is get in the way. There's nothing you or your little lapdogs can do. It's beyond you."

    Ronan just stood in silence a moment, before speaking again, "And apparently beyond you. Look where you are, Daren."

    Daren hit his fist against the wall, shouting, "Let me out and it -wont- be! You righteous types only preach, you're useless."

    "Then allow us 'righteous' types to prove our use. If someone is in trouble, I'm sure we'll find another way to help them, other than allying with orcs." Ronan said calmly.

    Grunting, the prisoner thought of trying to rush the bars and grab the senator's neck.. strangle him before the guards could stop him. But no, maybe there was a way to use this senator.. if he died doing a task, then no loss.

    "Fine, you want to prove yourself? Then you'll need to get something that I left behind with the orcs."

    Tilting his head curiously, Ronan inquired, "What is it the orcs have?"

    "Shutup, I am explaining.." Daren snarled, "One of the chieftans have it. It's an object that's needed to help Kate. By now, the orcs are probably using it for their own gain, since I'm gone. Kill them all, and bring the object back as proof... then we'll talk some more, if I feel like it..."

    Ronan paused in consideration, his brow creased as he ponders Daren's task, speaking in return after a few moments, "Right, what does this object look like?"

    "You'll know it when you see it... now go get it, you're just wasting your time with more questions," Was all Daren said, before he laid down on his side, and curled into a ball.

    Staring at Daren a moment more, Ronan turned to leave... frowning to himself._


  • Daren Kesh

    The prisoner just sat in his cage, silent after the senator asked his question. Ronan spoke a little more loudly..

    _"What is y-..?"

    He was cut off by the sudden rushing of the prisoner toward the cell bars. Yelling nothing in particular as his hands gripped the bars, shaking them violently. Ronan took a few steps back, seeming surprised by the sudden outburst, keeping a healthy distance. When the man had grown tired of screaming, he attempted to yell some words.

    "Let me out! Your filthy city and its laws mean -nothing- to me! I have broken no law here, so release me NOW!"

    When the prisoner paused in his ranting, Ronan spoke..

    "You were out with the orcs, allied with them. As far as I know, they have no love for the city. You also tried killing one of the city's defenders. I cannot just simply let you go…"

    The senator's voice seemed calm, and neutral. He has seen such aggression before and was quite accustomed to it. After the senator's words, the prisoner grew more frustrated.. slamming his fist against the bars, and it did not even seem deter him for a moment.

    "You're an idiot. Such a fool. You don't know what you're doing." The prisoner snarled. "If you keep me here, then your precious city will come to ruin. And I will laugh when your blood is splashed onto my face."

    Again, Ronan responded calmly, "But for now, you are powerless to do anything. Perhaps if you answer my questions, you will get a lesser punishment... depending on what you give me."

    The prisoner screamed at the top of his lungs again, furious, frustrated. He moved away from the bars to sit in the corner of his cell, his hands grasping at his blonde hair, pulling. The man looked young, not over twenty five. If not for his bruised and battered body, he could've passed for a normal man. The senator was curious as to why such a man would be amongst orcs. Before Ronan could speak again, the prisoner interrupted..

    "You, senator.." The word 'senator' said in a snide way, "Are just another obstacle to me. Something I will push down, just like everything else." Lifting his head, the prisoner looked directly at Ronan as he spoke the next words, "Your defender was the one in the green armor, right? The elf with the mouth.."

    Ronan simply nodded in response.

    "Ohh how I enjoyed hearing her yelp as my flail crushed her bones. How the blood sprayed across my chest... how I was so effortlessly getting rid of another obstacle. Her screams of pain were my success... and it brought warmth to my veins. If not for her little potions and her little mage friends, she would be dead... mmm.."

    The young man licked his lips as he continued on, "You will share the same fate if you don't let me go." His eyes went toward one of Ronan's hands, noting the ring on Ronan's finger, "Tell me... what is it you cherish most? Give me the pleasure of taking it away."

    The faintest of frowns managed its way to Ronan's lip, almost losing his calm. But with a forced, steely resolve, the senator responded..

    "I am not the one currently in a cage, sir. You can do nothing. Now... give me your name as a start and tell me why you're amongst orcs."

    The prisoner just smirked, shrugging, he tossed his name..

    "Daren Kesh."

    Nodding, Ronan asked, "And why were out amongst orcs? What were you doing?"

    Daren returned to his original frustrated, annoyed state.. "Like I'm going to tell a pompous prick like yourself. Fark off."

    The senator just stood in silence a moment, "Very well. I think once you've calmed down a bit, I'll return to talk to you. Tell the guard once you're ready to cooperate, and then I'll come down to speak to you." At that, Ronan turned to leave the prisoner, stating to the nearest guard, " Please don't talk to him at all... let him steam for a bit in the cell"

    The senator took the first few steps up the stairs leading out of the jail, when he suddenly heard from Daren, "I'm trying to save Kate!" Yelling again, he gripped the bars and shook. "I need to save her!" And before he could yell and scream anymore, his body gave way to exaustion... the battle previously in the orc caves causing him to collapse into an unconsciousness again.

    Ronan turned back to watch Daren slump to his knees and fall to his side, passed out. Ronan gritted his teeth, "Try to keep him alive, I'll fetch some water and food... and perhaps a few healing potions to make sure he doesn't suffer to greatly from his wounds." He spoke to the nearest guard, and then turned again on his heels, heading for the surface...

    ((To Be Continued))_