No Storm Lasts Forever, a DND inspired story, by Allan Concillado

Chapter One: Nightstone, Part One

The cold wind settled on to the party as they traveled to their destination. A group of adventurers, seeking fame and glory. Ledias slept peacefully in the carriage. She was one of the youngest in the group; she became a doctor at 12, and a Paladin at 15. Now that she is 17 with new friends, she is ready for adventure. The horses stopped suddenly, jolting everyone in the carriage.

"We're here," Phil said, shaking her awake gently. She opened her eyes slowly to a familiar face of a Rogue. A handsome, blonde man with sparkling white teeth. His face was smooth, but his body has collected scars from multiple battles. He looked like a prince in "shining armor," even though he wore simple leather armor, but looks are deceiving, for Ledias and everyone else in the party knew who he was.

But even his reputation of stealing and killing couldn't keep her away from slightly smiling with the knowledge that she had friends she could trust.

"Welcome to Nightstone Everyone!" said the one giving us our ride.

"Finally! I'm a little low on booze, ya know?" Cyprus giggled, highly intoxicated from her alcohol. She reeked of booze. Her highly exposing leather armor was very inappropriate for battle; showing too much skin gives soldiers a disadvantage in the battle field. Ledias dislikes her, for they seem to be complete opposites in personality, and morals, for she was a Rogue, a Teifling, inhuman, and a practical slut at most.

"Riley. Don't get killed on your first day as a rogue!" Sorvex chuckled. Sorvex is a Veteran Rogue. He's had 20 years of experience, and is only at the young age of 20. He's been a thief since he was a baby. Ledias disliked all of the rogues except for Phil, since he has some good values, and she respects that.

Riley is also a Rogue, but a new one. He's only 15, so his pubic state of being an undisciplined teenager and having a huge ego has made him into one of the worst criminals in multiple towns. Now he's in an actual mission with them and many are worried that he'll get killed or start to cause a mutiny.

"Don't worry," he said with a crooked grin, "no one can touch me." He started to silently cackle like some kind of mad man until Justin Time started to poke him in the cheek.

"You seem very physical to me, young one. Why is it that you claim to be 'untouchable', when I can touch you? I ask in a posed look," he said, not in a posed look.

"You damn elves..." Riley mumbled under his breath while gritting his teeth in anger. Justin Time is an elvish frost Bard from the north. He's 800 years old with the appearance of a little boy. He can't understand human emotion, though he tries his best.

"Ledias, why is he angry?" Grog asked. Grog is a Goliath, standing 7 feet tall with a huge muscular body. He could easily tear apart people's limbs for fun, but he had a broken mind of a child. At times, he's like this. And at other times, he goes insane. It's as if his personality is rolling a dice to decide whether he's lawful neutral, or chaotic neutral.

Ledias holds his hand. It's soft, but rough with scars at the same time.

"Don't worry about it, Grog. Say, why don't we head out side and get fresh air?" she said softly and smiled under her mask of white and gold.

"Fresh...air? Oh, yes, it is very cramped here. I want to go and eat roasted beef," Grog said, smiling as if he's in a wonderful dream. He started to head out, shaking the whole carriage.

"Woah there boy, if your going, I'm going too. I need a refill," Cyprus said as she followed him.

"Guess we should all head out too," Phil said with a smile.

As they all exited the carriage and the horses whines and headed down the road they came from, they looked up at the what was beautiful castle, but now it was covered in holes, dust, and ruble everywhere. The drawbridge was laid down before them with dead bodies and skeletons littered on it.