Dreamscapes (Chapter 1: The Crescentheim Assault)

Chapter 1: The Crescentheim Assault

There was I, the acrobat, and there was Timeaus, Crito, and Delaigo. We sat at the corner room of the large tavern, my hands full of playing cards and my fingers curled around a brimming drink. I always liked to keep myself occuped while out on excusrions such as the one we were currently involved in. 

The Alexandra brothers, Timeaus and Crito, could not get along. This was nothing new. While both mages, they had pursued very differnt paths. Crito was two years older than his younger sibling Timeaus. And my childhood friend Delaigo, the human with dark purple hair, was talking to the bar patron over an investigative matter. 

It was a fine island, Saeleon was. Situated off the South coast of the summery providence Croil, the Saeleonites were an ostentatiously friendly, but proud people. Delaigo's family was from Saeleon, and I imagined this excursion felt more meaningful to him than me.Growing tired of the ethical bantering of the two Changeling brothers, 

I stepped away from our modestly sized table to see what my old friend was up to.A thick aroma of smoke shielded the ceiling of the main room, a large first story place. The aroma of which was caused by the heat of heavy roasted steaks and ridiculously spicy ale. It all meshed with the roar of the huge fireplace. I tapped the purple haired Samurai on the soldier.He swung around, albiet a bit too sharply than the situation merited. 

"What's up, Kytaari?" the samurai asked.Standing at 6'1, he has much taller than me, though size never intimidated me. I was 5'7, and my shortness proved a very valuable asset in my profession.I pointed at our table nonchalantly, and my Samurai friend rolled his eyes toward the Alexandra brothers arguing rapidly. His mannerisms had always been pecuiliarly quick.

"I've had enough of them," I said. "I'm stepping outside." With that off my chest, I swished my olive skinned tail with its large tuft of red hair at the end, and sauntered out the door.My medium length bright red hair sank to my broad, round shoulders as I sat against the red stonned wall. 

Aside from me there stood a signpost. "The Silver Phoneix Tavern," the sign read. And adjacent to the cursive lettering was etched a simplified caricature of a large winged bird. My mind retraced the haphazardly painful chain of events which had insofar concluded our being present here on the East Rim of the Island, as the Saeleonites named their regions.I gazed up in the stark blue night sky. The moons Ember and Frost were vividly abreast. Ember was gibbous, vibrant red with black craters; and the smaller Frost was crescent. The craters of the pale blue moon were hardly noticable.I stretched out my arms and lay back against the hard brick wall, although I did not mind it. I slowly began to close my eyes, but was in no condition to fall asleep in this light spring snow. 

As I lay with my head against the wall, I scarcely thought I could hear the scattering of metals Curious, I propped myself up into a more alert sitting position, and my feline ears twitched with mental arousement. Where there soldiers patrolling the city this late at night? Luckily I had very astute hearing.At first I could not make out much, there was just grumbling coming from the east. But several seconds later I stood up. I heard the clang of metal beat more loudly from the east, and my curiosity got a hold on me, pushing me to investigate. I saw five spearmen circling an imp, three and a half feet in length. It had bat like wings and six small horns on its tiny head.

THe Imp squeeled obnoxiously as one of the bronze spearmen drove a spearhead through its armorous hide of skin. Greenish-red wounds marked the underworld creature where it had been jabbed by the metal multiple times, and still it stood, screeching defiance.I drew out my longdagger, intending to help the spearmen. They had left an opening in

their circle, and I saw it about to slip through. I dashed through the scrubs and bushes, low in the East Rim of the island, as the land here was very temperate, and the only kind of vegetation that thrived here in the sand dunes were harsh and thick.

My huge hiking boots landed with an echoing thud just as the Imp slipped through the manmade ring by the speamen. I crouched in my fighting position, one dagger drawn in my sturdy feline hand. Swishing my red lion-like tail, a swung my dagger a diagonal breadth of the Imp.

The imp let out a very harsh screech, and then flapped its bat-like wings, trying to take to the sky.

Until a spear lodged itself with a thuck into the imps back.

It stumbled a few steps, then fell to the short brown grass native to the island, finally succumbing to all its wounds.

I looked at the ring of the spearmen. “What brings you here, Nekojin?” called one of the men to me. It was the one who threw his spear into the back of the fleeing imp.

“I can ask you the same about this Shadow Heart,” I responded. “This island is too prosperous to hold natives of the Underdark.” Standing up straight, tucking in my dagger, “Do the commoners know about such things?” I asked.

“Ah!” said the guardsmen. “No native of this Island are you, male Nekojin. Indeed I can tell by your tan of skin and shades of red hair you must be Croilian.”

I nodded. “A sharp eye for race you have,” I mentioned.

The guardsman waved a hand as though his observation were nothing.

I introduced myself to the captain of the guard –Barris was his name. “My name is Kytaari Seafare Bounder,” I said, my solid green eyes gazing him forward. “Treasure Hunter,”

Barris spat. “Thief more likely,” he corrected. “I know your breed of adventurer.”

I smiled, and my expression did not change.

Barris scratched his chin. The other four spearmen were

returning to what looked like a makeshift camp, and Barris, leader of the batch, motioned for me to follow him towards the small roaring fire and wide but otherwise low hanging brown tents.

“You seem to be an experienced traveler,” Barris said, eyeing me down. I was indeed wearing heavy leather armor and much steel on my person.

“I'm prepared is all,” I said offhandedly.

Barris scratched his black beard.

“Have you ever thought about using your talents for honest work?” he asked.

I chuckled. That seemed answer enough.

“Don't cause the illegal sort of burglary on my island,” Barris said seriously.

“About the Shadow Heart...>” I said, glad to change the topic.

“What is it about there presence here that surprises you, Thief? You are from the Mainland, are you not? Do they not have tarnish on the Sworded Coast?”

“They do,” I agreed. “However, I expected prospects on this Island to be more fortunate.”

Barris shook his head. “The invasions are minor,' he said. “Nothing a small squadron cannot handle.”

I nodded, then looked up into the sky. It was getting dark.

“I’m returning to my inn,” i said, standing.

Captain Barris bid me ado as I ambled back to the Silver Phoenix Tavern to tell the news about the Shadow Hearts to my companions.