Runic Renewal, Pt 1.
This is a bit of something that came to mind at random during the time I am supposed to be sleeping. It is very rough to me. Unlike how my Meeting Dracasis had a strong feeling behind it, Runic Renewal is all based purely in my own motivation to write. There is likely to be a bit of inconsistency, as I haven't edited or proofed it yet. If you have questions about the writing, suggestions on how to write better in your opinions, or would like to see what happens next, just comment about it down below. ^_^
Dragons of the Storm
Equal exchange of service
With mankind nearby
In a village nearby a wooded mountain, a small town enjoyed its evening shade underneath is earthen guardian. The walls protecting it were nothing more than some 6 foot tall with only a few manned towers to inform the citizens of incoming visitors. This was a stark contrast to what most borderland settlements tended to be. A ruined stone fortress stood just outside the mountain's shadow, devoid of any presence of empirical law. Its center square held a stone-fashioned platform, likely made from what was left of the fortress from a time before.
Today, an armored visitor with a strange metal and leather cape traveled down the low-traffic road from the mountain, a small pack on his back filled with different plants and other items. Once through the gate, guarded only by a couple men with spears and chainmail, this man made his way to the local bar. Its wooden sign was marked with bronze, forming the words, "Storm Front". The traveler walked through the door with a smile on his face, waving a hello with two fingers to the bartender. It was obviously not his first time through the town. He quickly sat down, his back towards the general public of the room mostly made up of citizens celebrating some great occasion. He was happy enough to keep to himself as a pint was placed in front of him.
Unfortunately, fate did not see it as so. Another man in armor came through the door, its colors darkened the room in its blood red and ash grey metal to match the wearer's dark hair and white skin. Most of the patrons kept their eyes to themselves as he stomped past in frustration, slamming a few coins on the bar for a drink right next to the other armored traveler. "Another empty day of dragon hunting! I, Henry Locksman, Master of the Hunt am confounded by this town and its rumors!" Exclaimed the man, making the room go silent as the other armored traveler choked on his ale.
The silence stayed in the room for only a moment before the patrons returned to their own conversations. Henry's attention barely wandered, instead it took hold of the closest person available and the earth colored armor plates and leather he wore. His first assumptions were of a rival in the hunt for this creature he sought after. "What say you? Have you heard of such a town surviving without the help of some government or higher being?"
The traveler stayed silent, drinking a bit more of his pint before speaking. "It is proper to introduce yourself before shouting, good sir." His lack of a helmet betrayed short kept hair, swept back to keep out of his yellow eyes, another good match to the armor's green , brown and ash matte finish. "I shall not ask you to repeat it thus, but pray thee to be softer of tone." The traveler added as he brought one hand over one ear to emphasize his request.
Henry frowned at the flat tone of his supposed brother-in-arms. "My apologies, but it has been against my every instinct that this town exists." He brought up one hand, balled up as one metal fist, as if it could show his frustrations further than shouting. "And what shall I call you, sir, and what brings you to this God forsaken settlement?"
The traveler drank his fill of his current pint before raising his mug in signal for another of the town's brew. "Ramah Stormset, Storm Clan Runic Guardian." He replied in short. "This town has an agreement with my clan, set in place before my existence upon this world..." His pack suddenly felt heavier, which he shirked the entirety of next to him as his next pint was set down. "Sir Henry, it would be wise to stop your hunting. Such an act against dragons is forbidden in this town."
"Surely you jest! Dragons and their kin bring chaos in their presence and destruction in their wake!" Henry continued in his shouting, which made Ramah bring one hand up to his ear again. Silence once again came upon the patrons, this time their sights set on the blood-ash man."What gains could be had but by what we win with their extinction?" He added with a smirk as some of the larger men stepped out from their tables. "It is our right, nay, our divine duty to remove these creatures to bring order to the world!"
With the last few words leaving the mouth of Henry, Ramah stepped away from his second pint. A quick pivot and shift of weight brought one armored hand up and into the breastplate of the master huntsman. The force was enough to push him into several men, who responded by grabbing his arms and head before kicking out his legs. He of course struggled to an extent until a knife came up to his throat, provided by one of the patrons. Ramah quickly waved one hand and the knife returned from whence it came. Henry's complaints quickly died before he could voice them as he saw the armored cloak of the traveler lift up, the cloth falling away to reveal yellow scaled wings and a similarly colored tail.
"Wha - What sorcery is this?!" The master hunter would have crossed himself if his arms were of use. "Do you hold these people under your dark sway?"
He was only faced with scorn by Ramah and his peers. With a gesture, Henry was raised up from his kneeling position and dragged outside of the bar, the central square in sight. The darkening sky as the sun set allowed a soft glow to be seen over the rock surface that was the platform in central square. More random celebration could be seen even in the coming darkness inside the rest of the town.
"Your timing couldn't be more taxing, Hunter." Ramah walked out of the bar and toward the central square as Henry was dragged behind him. His features becoming more draconic as he went. "These people celebrate what you hate but once every ten summers, and you so happen upon it." Once he came upon the stone platform, only as tall as the thickness of stone that made it, he stepped up and turned around towards Henry with a genuine smile. "By God or by Fate, you are the first outsider in four generations past to witness the runic renewal ceremony. Perhaps it will change your mind regarding my 'chaotic' kin?" By now, all of his draconic features bared full semblance to Ramah's original form. With his parting words, he stepped backwards into the middle of the platform and its glow.