2003-11-28 - 10:52 p.m.

Empee: The Origin

*I*
The Road to Fortuna (continued)

Brief summary: As a young child Lance grew up with his grandparents in a small village called Varil where he spent most of his days minding his wards' chores, listening to stories, and exploring the forests and rivers of the valley with his best friend, Eve. Restless he seeks out adventure. When he comes upon a cave he ignores the advice of Eve, and boldly explores the cave on his own. He finds a great treasury, and awakens a giant scorpion upon trying to take a beautiful translucent stone. He and Eve are saved by a mysterious man whom disappears after returning them to the village.

Realizing his weakness in his inability to protect Eve, Lance focuses his life on trying to strengthen himself. Listening to the news merchants bring to the town, he comes to understand that the world is in the middle of a crisis. Monsters have been appearing in greater and greater numbers. Indeed, some had been seen just outside the valley. In an effort to do something about this, Lance decides to leave Varil, Eve, and his grandparents, to join the military based in Fortuna, the capitol of the humans country. After traveling for a day and well into the night Lance arrives at a town on one of the main roads of Noria. Based on his instructions from merchants, this is Trias. He seeks out a tavern where he can spend the evening.

Lance looked about the tavern taking in the sights. Groups of people in leather outfits crowded around low wooden tables eating dark broth and fighting over bits of meat. A few people sat away from the crowds eyeing them, some nervously, others with contempt. A middle aged man was standing behind a counter wincing as he heard another crash from the tables. He beckoned to Lance.

"Ahem, yes, looking for a room I assume. That'll be ten coins." Lance's eyes widened.

"Ten coins? Do people actually pay that?!"

The man responded calmly as if this were expected. "You could try somewhere else, but I assure the rates are all the same."

"Why so high?" Lance said. Silus ran a tavern back in Varil for the merchants and he made out just fine charging a coin for the room and three bits for a meal.

"That's just what it costs to do business around these part." As he said this he eyed the men sitting at the table. "Like I said, its the same all around, try somewhere else if you don't believe me."

Lance sighed. He had the money, but it wouldn't last him much longer at this rate. "I think I'll do that." As he turned to leave one of the men sitting at the table looked at him and then proceeded to block his path.

"Leaving so soon?" He asked; there was something sinister in his tone. Lance tried to ignore his annoyance with the man.

"This place is too expensive."

"All places is to expensive then. Besides," he gave a toothy grin, "you'll have to pay the toll if you want to leave." Lance glared at the man.

"What toll? I don't owe you anything."

"Oh but you do," he was quick with the reply. He smiled to his friends who were now watching with great anticipation. "You can't just come into our tavern and expect to leave without paying the toll. That's not how we do business around here." Lance had had enough he started to walk around the man but he was pushed back. "If you refuse to pay, then well just have to take it from you." Suddenly Lance heard the voice of the owner again.

"Don't do this Lorn. I've paid all of your stupid fees, so stop scaring the customers!" He stopped and looked at first surprised by his boldness, and then afraid as Lorn started towards him. He had forgotten about Lance, the path to the door was clear.

"Well Seamus, I think were changing the deal then, aren't we?"

"But you said that if-"

"You haven't been selling enough rooms Seamus. If he's got the money to pay for it he should have taken a room. We have to get ours one way or another though, and so he'll have to pay if he can." Lance took in the situation. Most of the other guests had fled to their rooms, but one stayed behind watching, and five of Lorn's friends were still seated at a table.

"I'd pay you all but you charge too much! The only reason no one's staying is because the rates are too high. I can't run a business like this." His voice was pleading. Lorn's expression grew fiercer and he grabbed at the front of Seamus' shirt.

"You trying to blame us for this? Let me tell you, you're just lucky you have us for protection." He smirked and pulled out a small knife from his belt. "Maybe you need a little reminder of what it is we've been so gracious to do for-Aahh!" He staggered back clutching the side of his face. He looked up to see the Lance holding his ragged iron sword towards him.

"Leave him alone!" Lance trembled slightly, he shouldn't have done that. The other men had gotten up and were drawing weapons. Recovering Lorn approached him brandishing his dagger.

"Just what the hell do you think you're doing? If you play with toys like that you'll hurt yourself." The men all laughed. "You don't stand a chance kid." Lance knew he was right, but it was already too late for that. He backed up slowly until he felt a wall at his back.

Suddenly there was a large crash and two of the men fell unconscious to the ground. Everyone's attention turned to the broken dishes on the ground and a young man drawing a polished sword at the far end of the bar. He looked fiercely at Lorn. Lorn spat.

"Damn you Kyle, we've warned you too many times about interfering. It'll be your head this time!"

"Shut up Lorn! We're all tired of being extorted by you bunch of cowards, even if I am the only to do anything about it. You can't get away with this any longer."

Lorn growled. "That's it!" He moved for Kyle, but was sent crashing to the ground with a deafening ring as Seamus brought a skillet down on his head.

"Kyle's right, we've had enough." The remaining three now lunge towards Seamus but find Lance and then Kyle quick to his aid forcing them back.

"What's this, it's a fair fight now; better run, cowards!" Kyle geered. The three looked amongst themselves and then at the Lance and the others.

"The boss will hear about this one! Your days are numbered Kyle." One shouted, and then they backed away leaving the tavern and their felled companions. Kyle proceeded to toss out the bodies of Lorn and the others befor returning to Lance and Seamus.

"Are you okay friend?" He said looking to Lance. "I think that might have been a little foolish back there, but if you hadn't done something I probably would have, so I thank you." Lance smiled weakly.

"Glad to be of help, but something tells me those guys aren't going to leave you alone." He paused. "Are there many of them?"

"A few dozen perhaps. They always travel in groups, they know people here won't make trouble for them, and the sentries from Fortuna don't do anything about them. They say there's no evidence, but my guess is most of them are being paid off or are too afraid themselves."

"What are you going to do when the come looking for you?"

"Not be here... and you shouldn't stay here either. You too Seamus." Seamus nodded. "You should take Lance to the hiding place, make sure no one sees. I'll join you shortly, but first I have to tell Tony to get everyone a message. I want to assemble at dawn and get rid of these thieves once and for all." Seamus nodded again.

"Be careful Kyle." As the two were talking, the relization was slowly seeping into Lance that he had come across something much larger than mere bar fight. His pulse was still racing, his hands shook as he watched Kyle leave.

"I want to help," he said. Seamus turned to face him.

"Just come with me for now and be quiet about it. It looks like you're gonna be involved in this whether you like it or not anyway."

Lance followed him as he left the inn. Cautiously they struck a path off of the road and worked their way through the outskirts of the town. They circled behind a hill on the north end of the town and then to the top of it where an old house sat next to barn and stables. Seamus stooped around feeling the ground with his hands; Lance couldn't figure out why until he suddenly stopped and gave a great heave. A crack appeared in the ground at the edge of the house that was slowly widening as Seamus wrenched at it. "Here, give me a hand with this!" he called out. Lance ran over and helped lift the heavy door. He held it up as Seamus slipped in and then let it close over him after entering himself. All was pitch black inside.

He heard a small rattling sound, and then made out a dim light. He looked for the source and saw that Seamus was holding glowing stones in his hands witch he proceeded to place in holders around the room.

*Time for sleepin, more later*

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