Verrek
Legacy Name: Verrek

Blue sky and tired yellowing long grass stretched out until they collided with the distant tree line to the East and the purple mountain peaks far to the West. A single dirt road cut through the brown landscape winding through the plains from the trees toward the mountains. Leaving those lofty peaks behind a lone man in a travel stained cloak carrying a bag on his back stepped off the path and sat wearily upon a slab of limestone jutting from the earth a few paces from the road.

Salt-and-pepper hair and beard wet with sweat, he removed his cloak with a tired huff as he shrugged the straps of the burden from his shoulders.

"That looks heavy, friend."

The seated man jerked with fright and looked all about for the source of the voice. His eyes passed over a vertical blotch on the road then snapped back only to realize the blotch was in fact the figure of a dark-haired man standing in plain sight.

"Wha- how- where?" The seated man gasped, clutching his bag tightly.

"I've come up the road from the forest, we've been walking towards one another for a while now." The newcomer waved a hand back at the trees, his stance at ease and the thumb of his other hand hooked into his belt.

"I never saw you coming down the road."The seated man replied, his eyes sweeping the grass to either side of the road.

"I hear that a lot. And I have no intent to bother you." The dark haired man added, taking note of the other's unease."I have business in the mountain valley town, I only wondered if I could bother you for a mouthful of water. This dusty road and unusual heat have me parched."

The seated man looked thoroughly conflicted on how he should refuse this request, but the newcomer's attention was drawn upward to where a crow circled.

"Ah sir, what have you done?"

The seated man's face flushed at these words and he leapt to his feet intent on dashing headlong into the grass, only to find his way blocked by the stranger.

"I- I didn't- I don't- what do you mean?" The man's mud brown eyes wavered as he stumbled back.

"Well, why is a gang of bloodthirsty hooligans riding out with what looks like intent to kill?" The newcomer asked stepping forward as the other retreated.

"What! They can't have- You don't understand- I had no choice!" The man was studdering in desperation now.

Something about his demeanor seemed to strike the newcomer as odd for he loomed over the quivering man his white-pupiled black eyes narrowed.

"You best explain now, if you lie I'll know."Something in his voice left no doubt that he would.

"M- my master is clearing his estate of all who worked there while his father was a- alive... So I fled."

"Oh, and is that all? What is it you carry you are so lothe to lose?"

"N- nothing! I- he-" the cowering man flushed in panic and clutched the bag to his chest with a peculiar look behind his eyes.

"Ah," the newcomer breathed in understanding, his hand suddenly shooting out and seizing the man by his collar and yanked him forward to speak over him in a loud, commanding voice.

"So you flee for your life and think it is a good time to be greedy and steal from the man who already wants you gone?!"

The stranger shoved the man away who lost his balance and fell back, the bag burst open and a pair of fabric bundles spilled out, one unraveled enough to reveal the sheen of gold.

The stranger kicked at the loosened fabric to uncover a polished golden goblet with an enameled family crest glittering on its surface.

"Well well, good news." The newcomer stated in a matter-of-fact tone."Good news. Your master is in fact the business I have in town, I can actually confirm your story. So listen up, I am going to help you correct your fatal mistake," He stepped forward and snatched the cowarding man's discarded cloak."But you won't like it."

Some fifteen minutes later a number of hardened looking thugs came riding up the road on everything from steam-powered motor bikes and all terrain carts to horses and giant saddled lizards.

A fierce scarred man riding a heavily customized motor bike at the head of the pack spotted something lying in the road ahead and with a raised fist brought the entire company to a halt.

The massive cloud of dust raised by the group overcame and swept over them like a sinister shroud as they dismounted and strode forward toward the prone form in the road.

The massive scarred man came forward and kicked at the shape with his steam-powered prosthetic leg to reveal it to be the cloak of the salt-and-pepper haired man, only now it was shredded as from a wild beast attack and soaked in a fatal amount of blood. More blood trailed toward the tall grass as if something heavy had been dragged that way. With a growl the man walked alongside the blood trail until with a shout he lunged forward and snatched something from the edge of the grass.

From behind a low scrubby bush some thirty yards away, two figures watched as the fearsome man held aloft a blood stained bag with a golden gleam shining from under its torn flap.

"There you have it." The black-eyed stranger said with finality."Thanks to that poor deer's sacrifice your life has been spared."

Beside him the hunted man swallowed hard and looked sidelong at the carcase a few yards away of the animal whose death had saved his life.

"I must go now while the dust still can cover my way, you must stay until they are all out of sight."The man nodded, his graying hair damp.Rising to a crouch the stranger clapped a hand on the man's shoulder, jarring him to attention."Understand you now the seriousness here. That animal is dead because of your greed and I cannot tarry here to honor it by properly cleaning it for its meat. Once everything is safe you best do this yourself, it will sustain you on your journey to the next town since you lost your supplies in your bag. And in future, curb your greed."

With a final shove on the man's shoulder the stranger stole away with startling stealth through the dust cloud toward the rear of the large company cheering their leader holding aloft his prize.

From his hiding place the man cast a quivering glance at the dear carcase and dabbed the sweat from his brow with a shaking hand.

The company began mounting up to ride back to town. One bony individual with a shock of blond hair wandered about looking lost, one of his higher-ups noticed his actions and called over to ask what the holdup was."I can't find mah horse, man! Et was right thar!" He pointed at the very back of the company.The higher-up rolled his eyes and waved his hand saying, "Look, the tracks are headed back to town, it'll probably be in its stall when we get back, bum a ride from one of the others."

Not far from the edge of town the stranger dismounted the hard-ridden bay horse he had borrowed and slapped its flank, releasing it to head on its own way home. Without missing a stride he passed into town, a lone crow flapping on ahead silently.

In a magnificent manor overlooking the town from its lofty perch atop the highest hill in the area a man smugly sipped brandy from a crystal glass from behind his desk in an elegant study backed by ceiling high windows.He had pointed animal ears covered in the same peach fuzz that covered his body except for the painstakingly trimmed golden mane that covered his head and neck.The man was just pulling his letters toward himself with a finger when his ear flicked at the sound of hurried footfalls. He had barely looked up when the doors burst open and his attendant ran into the room, stumbling a bit in his haste, and without pausing at his master's indignant outburst hurried to his side and whispered in his ear.

The master's lip curled in a snarl distorting his feline nose and revealing his fangs."How is that possible!" He spat. "Stay here until the others arrive, I have to go to the bank and check something!"The master ordered, forcing his way past the attendant and storming out.Outside the window a crow took flight from its perch on a trimmed bush.

"It's still here! That damned fool said it had been stolen!"The master of the manor slammed the bank box on the table in the vault room of the bank."Well- i- isn't that a good thing?" The bank manager asked carefully.

"Not the point!" The master yowled, slamming the lid closed and shoving the box into the chest of the bank vault security guard.
"Put this back!" He ordered still glowering at the bank manager."My damned attendant said he got word from one of the thugs that my thief of an ex-employee had broken into the vault and robbed me!"
"Sir, I assure you that isn't possible, our security is seamless-"

Their voices faded down the hall as the security guard set the box back on the table and pulled a lockpick set from the brim of his hat.

"Look, you've gotta check again, my uniform was turned in for dry-cleaning and it isn't in my locker."A harried young man pleaded at the window of the bank's back office."Look Harold, my checking again won't make it miraculously appear-""Just- just please check Starly."The secretary sighed and got up, calling over her shoulder as she went."I'll humor you Harold but it probably got left at the dry-cleaners and somebody accidentally signed it as deliv- Oh... Huh, here it is, odd, I swear I looked here..."

Three days later and two towns away an aged regal lady in faded, once lovely robes sat on a wooden stool gazing sorrowfully out the window of a shabby room at a local inn. A soft knock sounded at her door. Despite her initial reaction of fear she rose up to her full height and said in a steady voice,"Who is it?"
"Verrek m'lady, I've returned from the task you entrusted me."
The lady slumped slightly in relief and strode forward and hurriedly unlocked the door. The black-eyed stranger from the road stood there, his clothes travel stained yet the superior tailoring more than made up for it, Verrek always tried to look classy even when conditions were not ideal.
"Caull, thank goodness you are alright. Come in,I thought surely my son would have..."
"Nothing I couldn't handle, in fact I stumbled upon a bit of good luck on the road into town that made my task much easier." He said stepping into the room, and pulling a sealed envelope from a bifold he carried under his cloak.

"Is that?" The woman asked breathlessly taking a step back as if overcome.
"Indeed, your son had it scryed by a mage to find out what is said without breaking the seal, here is what the mage saw." He pulled a page from the bifold and handed it to her.

As the lady read silent tears rolled down her regal features, similar in many ways to her son, the lord of the manor, but more angular giving an air of gentle sternness.

"My husband's will and testament, he did leave everything to me in the end."
"Yes, and your son only inherited in the event of your death, which is why he sent the assassins and left the will sealed."
"Nobody could prove he did it since the will was never officially opened so he couldn't be held for knowing the terms."

"This should be enough to hold your case in court." Verrek stated handing her the envelope and the bifold.

"No wonder he kept it hidden. Thank you Caull, for finding me."
"Thank your friends, they told me about your situation. They had your back even when you sent them away to protect them from the assassination attempts."

The lady held the letter to her chest and nodded.

"Excellent, in which case, m'lady you should go downstairs and talk to your lawyer, I brought him along, and work out the details."

Outside the inn Verrek heaved a tired yet satisfied sigh.

SilentOne alighted on his shoulder, his wing brushing the strings of Verrek's compound bow on his back creating a mellow strum that caused the shade to smile.

Without warning, reality cracked.

Verrek felt himself yanked from the plane of the living and thrust headlong at a deafening speed through the nothingness. Panic seized the shade, this had happened once before when the necromancer had summoned him to this world, but now it seemed he was being wrenched from it.

This couldn't be happening, it can't! In his panic his soul touched that of SilentOne and he instinctively wrapped himself around the the tiny spark of life, not asking why the crow was there at all.

With a queezy jerk Verrek was halted in his headlong plummet to find himself face-to-face with a furred young lady and a koala-like dragon.

All of them were floating in the nothingness

The woman looked amazed, her hair and clothes swam slowly about her as if time itself stood still. Their eyes met and a sudden understanding passed between them, as two travelers comforted in the simple fact they were on the same road.

Moving so slowly it seemed to take an eternity yet so fast he didn’t have time to process what was happening the woman raised her arm to offer a simple pendant on a chain to Verrek.

Without thinking and without looking away from her eyes Verrek reached out, moving as slowly as she had.

The moment Verrek's hand closed on the pendant he and SilentOne were yanked away from the girl and dragon and thrust back into their headlong plummet once again, only this time when it ended Verrek found himself suddenly standing on solid ground. Dully he sensed the presence of many others all about him and the pressure of impending danger.

Verrek swayed as he regained his balance, his vision slightly blurred from his ordeal but he could see enough to know that this wasn't the realm of souls.
'So I wasn't killed again, that at least is some good news.'
His thoughts were interrupted as his senses kicked in and warned him of the danger. Something nasty was flying toward him from behind. A mental alarm from SilentOne confirmed his sensation and he dove to his left, rolled and came up with his compound bow drawn and an arrow nocked.
A green fireball exploded on the area where he had once stood.
Verrek's host body was now pumping adrenalin through his veins, helping to clear his vision. He found himself amongst an unfamiliar company of individuals staving off attacks launched by dark wizards, zombified elves, and skeletons!
Verrek let fly his arrow toward one of the dark wizards who cast another green fireball to disintegrate the arrow mid-flight but wasn't prepared for the second arrow that followed in the path of the first a split second later.

The second arrow found its mark, striking the wizard in the throat and bouncing off. The arrow’s tip wasn’t sharp, but a tiny leather bag of sand fastened to the end of a blunt arrow shaft.

Verrek wasn’t about to appear in a battle in a strange land and start killing without knowing the combatants, so he saved his sharp arrows and used his so-named “bludgeoning arrows” instead.

Ahead the wizard coughed, gurgled and fell back unconscious from the shock.He wouldn’t be casting green fireballs at stranger’s backs again anytime soon.