2012-366 Day 25 – Short Story

Just exercising my creative writing muscles, you can read if interested or move along.

Aldrich looked over at the neatly stacked armor in the corner. Though he had been long adjusted to hefting his plate armor on many journeys over hundreds of miles, there was always a noticeable lightness whenever he got a chance to take it off. The room at the inn pressed in on him a bit, as it had been designed for a species with a slightly smaller average height. While the armor could stay in the corner, his shield and sword rested propped up next to his head, ready to be borne at a moment’s notice, as one could never be too careful.

The trip to the village had been uneventful, taking most of the day. He did not know much about his travelling companions, they had recently recruited him back in town. Out of the five members of the party, only one or two had even been to this area (although apparently they had accomplished great deeds here, as they were welcomed back with open arms). Upon arrival, they headed directly to the Mayor’s manor and had a quick discussion with him. Aldrich himself said little, his place was not to negotiate, merely to get any pertinent details. The Mayor merely confirmed the original missive, that a band of Goblins had been terrorizing the area, and the village was looking for someone to deal with them.

The party had arrived in the village in the early evening, so it was decided that they would stay in the village and go looking for the Goblins in the morning. Three people in the party opted for rooms in the inn, while one person stayed in the manor, and the final party member decided to sleep in the park, owing to his vow of asceticism. Aldrich was one of the members in the inn, not wanting to be a burden on the Mayor or his staff. After a generous dinner provided by his hosts, he retired to the bedroom and prepared to get some rest before embarking on the next day’s quest. With equipment removed, arrayed, and in place, he said his prayers and then closed his eyes to get some fitful rest.

A loud crash from outside his room jolted Aldrich from his sleep, and he barely was able to focus his eyes before realizing that two Goblins stood by the side of his bed, weapons at the ready. They swiped at him, barely connecting as he rolled his lower half away while grasping for his sword. Securing it’s handle, Aldrich drew it and drove it in a deft slash at the nearest Goblin, who raised is blade in attempt to parry the blow.

The Goblin was nowhere near quick enough, the blade striking deep and true, dropping the creature to the ground from whence it would never rise. Aldrich jumped to his feet, the remaining Goblin swiping again and again barely connecting with a blow that would have glanced off the armor that was usually in place. Aldrich spared a glance at the doorway and saw that one of his compatriots had not had the chance to fight back, with two Goblins in their room attempting to do. . . something. Another swipe from the Goblin in the room, this one easily parried. A mighty blow from the Paladin felled the second Goblin where it stood, Aldrich jumped over their prone forms and headed to the doorway, arriving just in time to see the two Goblins from the other room attempting to carry his traveling companion towards the stairs leading out of the inn.

The creatures plan suddenly seemed to emerge from Aldrich’s sleep fogged mind, it seems as though the Goblins were sent to capture the raiding party before before they had a chance to even start their task. Another strong blow nearly cleaved the closest Goblin in two, causing the final Goblin to stumble under the suddenly doubled load. Aldrich quickly spared a glance at their third party member’s room and saw the door opened, with a giant creature already slain, but no trace of the summoner. The Goblin dropped his captive, whirled and landed a solid blow in the confined hallway, but it was not nearly enough to incapacitate the Paladin. A final sword strike eliminated the remaining threat, and Aldrich knelt next to his unconscious comrade and healed some of the damage with a quick word and touch.

The party prepared for the trip to where the Goblin base was purported to be. Regrouping after the capture attempt, Aldrich’s suspicions were confirmed, the large creature and eight Goblins had silently made their way into the village that night to capture the party. Had their ascetic friend not been sleeping outside and been awakened by the approach, it was quite possible that only one party member would have been left, as the Mayor’s manor was on the other side of the village and unlikely to have been a target. This led to several questions: How did they know the party was there? Who coordinated this strike? Did this somehow fit into a larger plan?

Aldrich knew one thing; he was anxious to get some answers, and the story was far from over.

Weight: 234.4 Max: 240 Min: 234.4 Body Fat %: 24.9
Yearly Mileage: 6.5 miles
Current Belt: Purple – Next Belt: Orange (Blue?) – Next Test Date: 3/12
Fitocracy Level: 10 (10318 points, 1218/2250 to next level) – ID: disciplev1

POSTSCRIPT: This story is loosely based on the last role playing session I attended, although, since I didn’t take notes on specific things like people’s names and exact actions, take it more as an interpretation than direct relation of story.