A Good Man Awakens

Smoke

It was the second year of men, several years after the end of the celestial war. The world had begun to rebuild, though scars of conflict still marked the land.

A battered wooden door, barely held together by rusted strips of iron, flew open with a thunderous crash, slamming against the stone walls of the Kyneshed Inn. The impact sent chunks of stone flying through the air, the once solid wall crumbling under the force. The door itself sagged, barely hanging onto its hinges.

Beyond the threshold lay a void of the deepest black—a doorway to nothing but darkness. A cold wind howled through the opening, biting with the icy grip of a winter's night. The frigid breeze swept through the inn, touching the necks of those inside, sending shivers down their spines.

The room, once filled with the warmth of conversation and the crackling of the hearth, was abruptly silenced. The familiar clinking of tankards, rustling of papers, and even the comforting roar of the fire ceased all at once, replaced by an oppressive sense of foreboding. Something unseen had disturbed the equilibrium, and the patrons felt it deeply—a sense of dread, an ominous force had entered their midst.

All eyes turned toward the now-open door, squinting as they tried to pierce the blackness. Gradually, a shadow took shape in the light of the inn—a massive figure, one that seemed to fill the entire doorway. The silhouette of a man emerged, his size rivaling that of a Trakonas horse. At seven feet tall, his immense frame creaked and groaned under his own weight as he stepped inside.

He was a mountain of a man, even by the standards of the Trakonas. As he sniffed the warm air of the inn, the smell of mead and bread brought the faintest smile to his lips. Clad in battle-worn leather armor—its varying shades a testament to years of repair—this man had seen more than his fair share of war. Draped over his broad shoulders was a bison hide, the massive fur trailing behind him. The sheer size of the beast it had come from suggested that it would have taken many men to bring it down.

Another man followed him in, still impressive in size but more human in scale—over six feet tall with arms like anvils. He was clad in polished Argon plate, the green metal gleaming with a fine patina, revealing hints of the deep purple beneath. Such armor was more of a status symbol than practical protection—its polish and craftsmanship spoke of wealth, though its effectiveness in battle was questionable.

The patrons quickly turned their gazes away, the quiet murmur of conversations resuming, though noticeably more subdued. None dared provoke these newcomers. Wealth and power, especially when combined, were dangerous to cross. In places like this, the rich took what they wanted, and the powerful took what they needed, leaving nothing but misery in their wake.

Removing his Argon helm, Lord Victus placed it tentatively on the well-oiled bar and slowly adjusted the collar of his leather gambeson. His eyes darted around the room, scanning it as if he had only a moment to find what he was looking for. Then, his gaze stopped, locking onto a small man hunched over a table, nursing a tankard of mead. A black cloak obscured the man's features, blending him into the shadows, but Victus knew he had found his target.

"There you are, old-timer. You weren't the easiest washed-up has-been to find," Victus sneered, a self-satisfied grin spreading across his freshly shaven face. His skin was as smooth as a Trilos egg, a stark contrast to the worn armor he wore. "Hiding in a dump like this—typical. Aren't you going to turn around when your Lord Victus addresses you?"

A small redheaded girl tending the bar moved toward the visitor, trying to prevent any trouble. "My lord, we don't want any trouble here tonight. Shall I set a table for you and your companion?"

"We have some Sprite nectar in storage that I'm sure you'll enjoy." The barkeep interrupted. "Shenna, fetch the good stuff for our esteemed guests," The girl ran out behind the bar, as the barkeep walked to welcome the new patrons..