Tales of a Spellsword - as told By Iona

[Trouble_x_2]

** This is a finely decorated and well written journal, chronicling the tales and stories of Iona, the lady Bard of Belinara. Many tales fill the pages, some well known, some not, and some seem exagerrated beyond possible belief. But one tale, which she constantly refers back to in most her tales, is of her encounter with a man named Vincent... to which she dedicated a whole section in flamboyant writings **

Tales of a Spellsword - As Told by Iona the Bard

I guess it's only right I be the one to tell the tale of Vincent. Some may wonder who he was, and what he did to earn such a large section of my book.
I leave it to you to make your own conclusions.

Although I didn't know it at the time, I was one of the first to meet him.
I lay by the fire at Stormcrest, cursing quietly at the dwarf who now walked away. A two hour tale from one of my finest collections, and he leaves me a meagre four True for my troubles. Dwarfs! They wouldn't know a good story if it were carved on Mithril for them.

Anyway.... as it usualy does, the air went still, as though the wind was suddenly holding its breath, and I rolled over lazily, watching the portal to see who might suddenly step through.

And there he appeared.. looking a little dazed.... as though this were the first time he had Portaled to anywhere.
Long strandss of cloth wrapped around his body, purple and red, enveloping him, looking like some kind of robe. But through the gaps of the cloth I could see tanned leather, which he seemed to prefer to keep hidden. And as the wind returned and buffeted his clothes about, the scars were the first thing I noticed.
Old and healed, but apparent, especially the thick one running down his cheek. He looked around cooly, then walked over to me. He didn't smile... but his voice sounded pleasant enough.
He asked if this were Stormcrest. I replied simply yes.
He looked around the camp again, then nodded to me.... still no hint of a smile... and walked off.

Granted, not a grand meeting...not even an introduction. In truth, I forgot I even met him here until later.
But as is usual.... little did I know our paths would become so entwined in the days to come.

[LordCove]

The second time I saw him.... he seemed to remember me.... and actually came over and introduced himself.
Vincent he said his name was.... and he didn't seem to pleased when I asked where he hailed from. "Around" was all he said.... and basically looked at me in a way to suggest I shouldnt pry.

It seems he'd been busy as of late.... and I wondered if it were by chance he'd come across these troubles....or if he had actually went looking for them.
Something to do with some undead thing in a Crypt... and an essence he was being paid to find.
It was then he surprised me.... muttering a few words of the Weave and calling down a simple Light spell. I pointed to the armour he seemed to try and hide beneath his purple cloth and asked if that didn't hinder his casting abilities.
He looked at me sternly, as though some memory flashed before his eyes.

" Its amazing what you find you can do.... when.... you are left with simply no alternative other than to die...or....be killed." he said, rather simply.

He said it pleasant enough, but of course, not a flicker of a smile graced his lips. Which I found later.... it never does.

[Trouble_x_2]

The second time I saw him.... he seemed to remember me.... and actually came over and introduced himself.
Vincent he said his name was.... and he didn't seem to pleased when I asked where he hailed from. "Around" was all he said.... and basically looked at me in a way to suggest I shouldnt pry.

It seems he'd been busy as of late.... and I wondered if it were by chance he'd come across these troubles....or if he had actually went looking for them.
Something to do with some undead thing in a Crypt... and an essence he was being paid to find.
It was then he surprised me.... muttering a few words of the Weave and calling down a simple Light spell. I pointed to the armour he seemed to try and hide beneath his purple cloth and asked if that didn't hinder his casting abilities.
He looked at me sternly, as though some memory flashed before his eyes.

" Its amazing what you find you can do.... when.... you are left with simply no alternative other than to die...or....be killed." he said, rather simply.

He said it pleasant enough, but of course, not a flicker of a smile graced his lips. Which I found later.... it never does.

[LordCove]

This time was different.
I was regalling some local merchants with a small tale in the Wild Surge inn, when he and a few others walked in, a big burly man and a little halfling. He looked quite handsome in his new long coat, although I could still see he made an attempt to hide that leather underneath.
I never understood this. It seemed he'd rather people not know he had the ability to fight if he needed to. He would rather they see him as some lowly wizard, which I later discovered, was exactly what he was before the Orcs took him.
He spoke at length to the Inn's resident bard, who hadn't been impressed with another female competitor in her Tavern. But he handed her something shiny, and she squealed in delight, giving him a hug and handing him and his friends a few True.It was then he spotted me. He said his farewells to the other two and came walking on over just as the two merchants I had been spinning tales to got up and left.

He didn't smile....of course.... but greeted me pleasantly and took a seat. We talked at length about various things, and I must confess, as far as men go.... I found him intriguing.
He had a whole host of ideas, ranging from Exploring Northern Dregar sometime in the future, to opening his own business of food supplies and provisions. I eventually asked him how his studies were going with the weave.
" The Weave....was a part of me many years ago," he said, scratching the scar on the side of his face, ".... before certain...."things" happened. As much as I'd like it to be the main source of my studies.... I find that....without a blade in my hand, without some form of armour over my chest.... I just feel naked."

I knew perhaps I shouldn't have, but I did anyway. I asked what had happened for him to have changed in such a way. He regarded me thougtfully for a long moment, took a quaff of ale and stood up.
" Perhaps....another time....we will talk of that one."
And with another polite nod he turned, purple streams of cloth whipping about him, and headed out the door.

[Trouble_x_2]

This time was different.
I was regalling some local merchants with a small tale in the Wild Surge inn, when he and a few others walked in, a big burly man and a little halfling. He looked quite handsome in his new long coat, although I could still see he made an attempt to hide that leather underneath.
I never understood this. It seemed he'd rather people not know he had the ability to fight if he needed to. He would rather they see him as some lowly wizard, which I later discovered, was exactly what he was before the Orcs took him.
He spoke at length to the Inn's resident bard, who hadn't been impressed with another female competitor in her Tavern. But he handed her something shiny, and she squealed in delight, giving him a hug and handing him and his friends a few True.It was then he spotted me. He said his farewells to the other two and came walking on over just as the two merchants I had been spinning tales to got up and left.

He didn't smile....of course.... but greeted me pleasantly and took a seat. We talked at length about various things, and I must confess, as far as men go.... I found him intriguing.
He had a whole host of ideas, ranging from Exploring Northern Dregar sometime in the future, to opening his own business of food supplies and provisions. I eventually asked him how his studies were going with the weave.
" The Weave....was a part of me many years ago," he said, scratching the scar on the side of his face, ".... before certain...."things" happened. As much as I'd like it to be the main source of my studies.... I find that....without a blade in my hand, without some form of armour over my chest.... I just feel naked."

I knew perhaps I shouldn't have, but I did anyway. I asked what had happened for him to have changed in such a way. He regarded me thougtfully for a long moment, took a quaff of ale and stood up.
" Perhaps....another time....we will talk of that one."
And with another polite nod he turned, purple streams of cloth whipping about him, and headed out the door.

[Trouble_x_2]

When I spoke to him again, he seemed a little angry.
I could see he'd now removed his old leather, and was wearing a set of fine chain under his usual purple robes.... and even whilst we spoke... he called upon the weave and invoked another light spell... just like that.. the armour hardly hindering him.
Anyway... he told me of a druid he had bumped into... who had tried to get him into trouble with the local guards. She'd been trying to take possession of a box of mushrooms he'd been collecting... and he of course... was having none of it.
It ended with the guards breaking up the arguement, but ruling in his favour... which he seemed happy enough to say angered the Druid a lot.
And then he pointed out how a Dark elf approached him..... in the very town where they were supposed to be banned... with an offer of work for him.
Despite the usual mistrust and hatred most have for the deep dwellers , he was intrigued, but kept her at a blades length.
Its possible this Druid has been causing trouble for other folks... and this Dark elf might want some vengance.
He was undecided about what to do.
But... after we talked some more about random things.... he said his farewells.... whispered words to the weave... and still wearing his cumbersome armour.... vanished on the words of an invisible spell.

He is so starting to impress me.

[Trouble_x_2]

And so.... several days later.... there I was... making my way through the Ire mountains. A small job had come up in Spellgard.... some wizards retirement or something, and I'd been requested to come and play a few songs and tell a few tales. I'd normally been through on this path many times before, and had little trouble... but.... thats always when the unexpected comes.

They came from nowhere... leaping down from a cliff above me... Gnolls, around a dozen of them. Before I even managed to mutter a single spell... an arrow thudded into my arm... and down into the dirt I went.
They loomed over me, swords and axes with their dull gleam, drool dripping from their maws.... I thought I was done for.
And then.... out the corner of my eye.... I saw the flutter of purple cloth in the wind, and the gleam of the sun off chainmail.
He shouted... he actually made his presence known to them... as though mocking them. I inwardly groaned... thinking he had just made a fools move.

Two of the gnolls dragged me up and held me back, whilst the others charged him... rushing forward with their weapons drawn.
He did nothing.
He simply stood there.... watching with a strange expression as they closed in on him..... and then.....to their surprise.... he began chanting the words of the weave... louder and louder.
In one swift movement he held two swords in his hand, and one burst into flame before their eyes. His very appearance shimmered and waved, as though he had become transparent... and an orb of light suddenly surrounded him.
Several of the gnolls slowed in their tracks, fear and confusion hitting them. They understood the basics of the weave... and knew well to fear wizards. But here... a fully armed and armoured man... casting spells?
I smirked to myself... knowing what was coming....

[Trouble_x_2]

.... sadly.... it didn't work exactly as both of us expected.

One... much more brazen gnoll charged him... and with a flurry of blades... it was cut down. The other's... perhaps seeing their comrade fall... lost all their fear and began charging him.
He stook a quick step back, his blades going back in their scabbards, and began whispering words to the weave, making the intricate patterns in the air... and I recognised the words to Burning hands instantly... a grin appearing on my face....
...the gnolls closed in....
...Vincent finished the spell....
...and it fizzled... nothing happening.

With a curse... he tried to quickly grasp for his blades, but a gnoll bowled him over, knocking him to the floor and  leaping on him, hacking and biting anywhere it could. I heard him cry in pain... and tried to rush to help... but the two Gnolls behind me held me fast.

The rest of the Gnolls stopped.... watching... suddenly seeing this man would be easy prey. Vincent clambered to his feet, blood pouring from his nose, his lip, his arm, and a chunk out his leg.... the gnoll rose with him.... seeing an easy and... entertaining kill.

They fought hand to hand for a few moments.... and the gnoll seemed to get the better of him... punching and kicking and biting him repeatedly... till it seemed he could barely stand on his feet. But then... with a sudden leap... Vincent jerked forward, grabbing the gnoll by the neck, and with his other hand... whispered swift words to the weave... and a small icy blast exploded in the things eyes.
The rest was almost a blur. The gnoll roared in pain, and Vincent kicked it to the floor and spun around, his blades suddenly finding themselves in his hand.
The threw them at the nearest gnoll.... which went down in the dirt.... and not a heartbeat later... I heard the same sounds of the weave as he extended his hands to the remaining.

A bright flare of orange.... shrieks and cries of pain... and the sickly sweet smell of burning flesh.... and the remaining Gnolls slay in cinders on the dirt.
I felt the hands on my arms loosen.... and turned to see the remainder of them running down the valley... fleeing for all they were worth.

Vincent slumped to the ground, bloody and exhausted... but surrounded by the still, silent corpses of the Gnolls.

+

[Trouble_x_2]

.... I dragged him behind an outcrop of rocks out of sight, should the Gnolls return... and tried bandaging his wounds whilst he stared dully at the arrow still stuck in my arm.
Without a word... he leant forward and yanked it out swiftly. I screamed in pain and started whacking him.
" What are you doing?! That hurt!"
Then he smiled.... just a little.
" Better your not ready for it. If you were...you tense... your nerves tighten... and it bleeds more."
" You know..." I said, tightening a bandage around some teeth marks on his leg, smiling a little as I saw him wince.... " That battle would have went so much better if you weren't wearing that."
I poked the chainmail he still tried to hide under his coat.
He nodded.
" That much I know... but still....it serves well."
" Not if it doesnt work." I said a little angrily, yanking out another bandage.
He sighed a moment before speaking, his voice sounding distant.

" When i was a prisoner in Frindahl.... every few nights for...as long as I could remember... the orcs tossed me into a pit to fight things....for their entertainment."
" I had no escape.... no where to run. It was fight and live or die. When they started putting armour on me and setting me against more dangerous things to fight.... by that time... i didnt care if I lived or died anymore.
And so...I would cast whatever spells I had.... in full armour. And the strange thing was... in the heat of battle, when the adrenaline is flowing and the cheering fills the air and the blood pours from you by the pint....
... its then when.... it can be done. I used to cast many spell in the middle of battle, with full armour on.... and each time it worked!"

I sat back a moment, regarding him curiously, realising what he was saying.

" Im trying to find it again.... I know its there.... Ive done it before. Something about the feel of the armour perhaps... or the awareness of being in it...hindering the gestures and runes carved into the air. I dont know yet. But Im close to learning it...very close."

He stopped with another sigh, leaning back against the rock, the wounds taking their toll on him. I shifted up beside him.
" But is it worth it..." I said, " ...to suffer these wounds for the sake of learning it?"
He simply looked into the distance and nodded.
" I've had worse and learnt much less."