"Ware the skies!" Walker shouted as the creature swooped near. He raised his bow and was about to take a shot when he heard the scrape of steel on stone and the startled cry of Durke just behind him. Turning, fighting against the force of rushing air from the powerful wingbeats from above, the ranger watched in horror as his knight reached desperately for the ledge while falling backward and down, down, down to his death far below!
"NO! DURKE! GODS SAVE HIM!" It was an anguished cry that escaped the lips of Tybalt the Ravenbow as he turned and dashed back down the long trail toward the twisted heap that was Sir Durke Aldiron. Upon reaching him and seeing that the knight's lifeblood had already painted the jagged rocks, Tybalt bowed his head in sorrow and momentary defeat. So far they had come on this quest, so much they had endured, only to fail here, at the very steps leading to discovery!
"It's up to me now isn't it?" Tybalt asked the dead knight.
"Me, the last of the Aldiron line... and certainly the least worthy to take up the mantle. Damn you for dying and leaving this burden upon my shoulders you arrogant, incompetent fop!"
Bitter tears came then as the ranger tore the sword belt from the body. He drew the weapon free and tossed it aside, strapping the empty scabbard to his own waist. Into this he placed his own sword, a crude weapon compared to that which truly belonged therein, and that which was the focus of their quest,
Aldiron, the enchanted sword and family namesake. Its recovery was now Tybalt's responsibility, one which he neither coveted nor even wanted, but was honor bound enough to take upon himself.
"Rest well Durke, I envy your slumber, for now my dreams will be fraught with Aldiron's endless allure..."
Tybalt began to place the jagged broken stones upon which the knight had been dashed, over the broken body, making a crude cairn. When it was finished, the Walker muttered a quick prayer and then began the ascension once more to catch up with the rest of his party, wondering at what point he himself would expire in this foolish quest to find a lost sword.
~~~
OOC: Alrighty then, let's do this! Character motivation and backstory in place. May the Gods watch over and the minstrels put to song the death of Durke and the Quest of the Last Aldiron...
This message was last edited by the player at 15:44, Wed 15 Apr 2020.