I've been playing Descent 2nd Edition for some years now.
I could tell you all about the way my playing as been changing from the years, but mostly I want to speak about what I miss the most in this game. Life in the wonderful characters that were created to this game and universe. Though they have an amazing potential they always seem too bland too bi-dimensional.
So I´ve started writing some short stories about those I and my group use the most.
Here's a prologue. I hope you like it.
Disclaimer: My native language isn't English. I ask you for patience with my mistakes. These characters belong to FFG. I have no intention of using them for any kind of profit.
The Shadow of a Choice
1. A prologue - A Joining of Differences
Reynhart the Worthy
Once upon a time I was named the Worthy. But that time is long gone. Not that I'm complaining about my name. From here to Saradyn and up to Arhynn my name still stands. I can wear it with pride. I did. But now at this table in this mockery of a tavern, I won't use my name. I will plea like a beggar in the humble words one uses when one begs for help.
I look at my companion and she looks calm, her elf demeanor serene and intense at the same time. She notices me and half smiles to reassure me. And it works. I tremble with pride and love. I'm in awe. Every day I awake in awe, believing that it is a dream. But as I look at her, already awake and by my side I am forced to believe that some dreams do come true.
Then I return to the present and I look at the wizard seated on the other side of the table. If beautiful, she is completely different from my Laurel. Fragile and deceptive. A shadow in her semblance and an immense greed for knowledge. If I wasn't desperate I would never deal with this one.
I look at the door, waiting for the last invitee. I need him. If words of his deeds are true, his help will be invaluable. Laurel looks sharply to the closed door and I know then that he is here. Such keen hearing this elf of mine has.
Astarra
They're a couple. How interesting. He's not ugly. But a bit brutish and unrefined and she's a wild elf. So maybe that's why they combine. But as wild as an elf can be it's still too far ahead to accept a common man... There must be more to him than it meets the eye. But what do I care...
Maybe the promise of knowledge is true. He distrusts me and she doesn't even care about who I am. Who is this fourth member? A healer, Reynhart said. A healer is always welcome, but this also means deadly danger. Is the reward enough for this? We'll see. She's looking at me with such intensity. What? Or maybe she's looking at the door. Ah... the last guest is coming. What is that object that Reynhart plays with nervously in his hand?
Laurel of Bloodwood
Every morning I wake up and I think about walking away. Leaving him behind in silent strides. I would be long gone before he would open his eyes. But every morning I stay. I don't know why. But now, looking at him, at his worried eyes, I feel his pain and I would give a lot to be able to help him. What would my ancestors say about this? There's no future for us and yet, I linger. That's what love must be. Lingering willfully.
She's beautiful this wizard woman. Wouldn't she be a fitter companion to my warrior? No. Not this one, she's too devious. But we need her now. If she betray us, my arrows will pierce her soft and... beautiful... body without contemplations.
Ah! Here he comes. At least that is a happy thing in all this.
Ispher
Always fear. One should get used to this for once. Why can't I? Ah well, at least the fear stays the hand of hate most of the times.
There. At the table. My sweet Laurel. And a couple. She's a wizard and he's a warrior. That means combat, adventure and trouble. I'm tired of it... The wizard seems happy to see me. That's good for a change. But the warrior looks troubled... Wasn't he waiting for the likes of me?! As usual he distrusts and fears me! I should turn around and leave. But Laurel is there. Let's see! Let's see...
The big and yellowish lizardman walked to the table. As he stopped, Laurel stood up and touched his chest in the way of his people as a courtesy. Arash, his drake hissed at her proximity but calmed down immediately after.
"Thank you for responding to my call", she said softly. He nodded at her. Then his deep and powerful voice resounded.
"Laurel needs help?" he asked, his cold eyes investigating Reynhart openly. She pointed with her head at the warrior.
"He needs help."
Ispher growled. He looked at the human for a few seconds that seemed to go on for minutes, in the way lizardmen do when they're thinking.
"They're not fast thinkers", Reinhart mused to himself while he kept his eyes upon the yellowish eyes of the coldblood.
"You need my help, human, and yet you fear me as you all do. Why should I help you? I'm here because of her. Because she saved my life from the likes of you and because I owe her. I owe you nothing."
Laurel had warned him that Ispher was very distrustful of humans for the hate and fear they had of him and that although quick about healing anyone in need he was very reticent in giving his trust or help in other matters.
Reinhart stood up. Although he was tall for a human, he was a head short when comparing with Ispher.
"You are offering me the same generosity men offer you, Ispher."
His words were calm and soft. Ispher was caught by surprise.
"What do you mean?"
His deep voice boomed.
"You are judging me without knowing me. You're using the excuse of hate and distrust to decide without giving me real opportunity to explain my needs."
The lizardman exhaled deeply. Then he grabbed a chair, too small for him, and sat cautiously. "Very well. Explain."
Reynhart sat and collect his thoughts.
After he presented Ispher to Astarra he asked them to come near and softly in a low tone he start explaining his offer. He showed what he was playing with in his hands. A pendant.
"My younger and only sister is what's left of my family. A few days ago I received a letter from her with this pendant inside - given to her by my dear mother many years ago - begging for my help. After my escape from the Citadel, Zachareth sent several of his minions to kill me. As you might understand they all failed. Now he offered my little sister to marry one of his most terrible lieutenants. I fear for her fate and I have to rescue her. I am begging your help and I will offer all my riches to both of you if you help me rescuing her."
Ispher was looking at him silently. Astarra moved in her chair. After a moment she spoke.
"I believe that your intentions are noble, my friend, but I can't put my life in danger for money. That's not what I am. That's not what I do. I am sorry but you have to find another practitioner of the arts to help you."
And with a smile she rose from her chair. Laurel held her hand.
"Would the Book of the Leaves be payment enough?"
Astarra sat immediately and put her hands on the table.
"Can you offer such book?"
Laurel smiled.
"I can."
Astarra licked her lips.
"Show me."
Laurel smiled.
"I don't have it here."
Astarra half closed her eyes.
"How can I trust you will keep your part of the bargain?"
Ispher punched the table that almost broke from his might.
"If she says that she has it then she has it!"
Astarra looked at him, not fearful at all but musing at something.
"Very well. I choose to believe you. That book seems payment enough, but you need to be more specific about what we're going to do."
Reynhart nodded and then looked at Ispher.
"And you? Will you help me?"
Ispher looked at Laurel and then back at him.
"Is your sister worthy?"
"Worthy?"
"A good person. Generous. Loyal. Helpful."
Reynhalt opened his eyes wide.
"She's the better part of both of us, Ispher. She's stubborn. But she is honorable as honor can go."
Ispher looked at him.
"Very well. Let's have one of your awful beers and discuss what we'll do about it."
Reynhalt smiled and looked around looking for the waitress. And then he noticed that beside them there were only men in the room. And as soon as he noticed that they attacked.
They were eight or nine. Some were road bandits, but two of them were skilled fighters and probably with powers in them. Reynhart jumped between Ispher and Astarra before they could understand what was happening.
In a corner of his mind he noticed with joy that his elf lover was as fast as him reacting.
The two arrows that were aimed at Astarra's chest pierced his flesh in the arm and shoulder. He accepted the pain while his right hand went for the knife in his belt.
Laurel threw a dagger into a bandit killing him immediately. Then the others charged against them. Too many to dodge.
The drake spat a little ball of fire and one of the bandits cried in panic. Another slashed a short sword at him and a third tried to stab him with a long knife. He parried the short sword with his knife, accepted the wound of the knife in his arm and his fist broke the nose of the bandit that stab him and he fell down with the might of the punch.
Ispher was fighting with the two fighters. His curved blade parrying the weapons of his attackers. But what he had in sheer strength he lacked in finesse. He needed help quickly and Reynhart couldn't help him at the present moment shielding Astarra from the bandits.
Two of them flanked Ispher and attacked Laurel. Unable to free her bow in time she faced them with her long dagger.
Then the two remaining bandits surrounded Reynhart , both of them armed with knives and short swords.
From behind him a yellowish bolt found one of the bandits fighting him and pierced him from front to back. His shout louder than the deafening clash of steel in the room. He felt dead on the floor.
That gave time to Reynhart to grab one of the bandits with his left hand and cut his throat with his knife. The remaining bandit facing him stepped back a foot uncertain of himself.
Astarra broke a chair in the head of the bandit Reynhart punched in the nose. Clever girl.
From the corner of his eye he could see that Laurel was having no trouble with the pair of bandits fighting with her.
But ispher was losing his fight, blood spilling of several wounds inflicted by the fighters. Those were the real threat, Reynhart thought.
"Help him", Astarra told him, "I'll take care of this one."
He grabbed a chair as a shield and charged against the fighters. They were taken by surprise. The sword of the first tangled in the chair legs and as he was pushed back Ispher's blade cut him deeply in the belly.
Behind him a flash of light meant that the bandit Astarra was facing was no more.
Laurel inserted her long dagger in the neck of another bandit.
The remaining warrior and bandit ran away into the night. Laurel followed them without noise.
Ispher was healing him. Astarra was seating at the same table looking at the door. Then she looked at him.
"Aren't you worried about your woman?"
Both him and Ispher looked at her and then Ispher looked at him his face filled with sudden realization.
"She knows her art, " he said, his voice muffled with pain, and Ispher agreed with his head.
"You saved my life", she said with a note of disgust in her voice.
"I did."
"I will help you. No need for the book."
He smiled.
"The book is yours. It wasn't mine to give and what Laurel gives she doesn't take back."
Astarra smiled with the joy of a child.
"Very well. Let's..."
She went silent with the return of Laurel. They looked at her expectantly.
"That fighter was good. it took me a while to finish him off. Not a regular bandit. They will be expecting us."
Reynhart nodded with a worried face and Ispher began the chanting that would close the wound in his arm.
Edited by Bayushiseni