A PROMISE BROKEN
Spring, 465 PC
We were placed into teams of five. The groups were a mish mash of mercenaries, adventurers, and really anyone else that could pick up a sword. There wasn't much time to prepare, the vampiric forces quickly bearing down on us using the cover of the night. Most of the city's forces were at the frontlines of the warfront, leaving the walls defenses quite barren; the perfect time for an invasion.
I was having a drink in the Dragon's Eyrie, counting out the spoils of a fulfilled slayer contract. Beside, a thin and athletic man by the name of Alban Arco; well known for taking down foes in only one or two shots of his bow. We had tag-teamed this contract and were in the process of splitting the reward when suddenly the front doors of the tavern swung wide with a crash. "Come quickly! Mercenaries, sell swords, the city needs protecting! You will be heavily rewarded from the city's treasury! Vampires are fast approaching!" No one had payed any mind until looking over to reveal it was the voice of law master Clarence; armored and looked dead serious. We gathered the gold up once again into a pouch and joined Clarence outside, where a large crowd was already gathered. It seemed our tavern was one of the last doors to be knocked on. "Citizens of Blystan, our mages have confirmed a vampiric incursion heading towards our walls. We cannot defend such an attack, as most of our forces are at the forefront of the war. I would ask of you to group up and defend the entrances of our walls. May Tetra give us strength." He then grabbed a holy symbol that was around his neck and then whispered a few words under his breath, a quick bout of prayer no doubt.
Very quickly we had organized ourselves with Clarence sending each group towards the different gates of Blystan. Alban was still at my side as we rushed towards one of the main arches, along with one of the female shield-brothers of Yore, and two members of the slayers guild. I knew these guild members; Leo Irongrip, a man who knew his way around a blade, and Jessica Granger, an archer with a similar reputation to that of Alban Arco. The five of us stopped fast at the entrance and surveyed our surroundings. Alban posted behind one of the closer buildings at range, Jessica mirroring for a crossfire. Leo, the shield-brother, and I pressed our bodies against the wall waiting for something to come. Not knowing how many enemies there would be, a surprise ambush was decidedly our best course of action. The shield-brothers of Yore fought with vampires often, and she outfitted our blades with everburning oil; both corrosive, and extremely flammable. It didn't take long. Just as Clarence had said, vampires stormed Blystan's walls. We lit our blades which engulfed in flame, and quickly dispatched of a couple of the vampires that had passed through the open archway. Looking around the edge of the wall now we could see a mass of vampires, fifteen to twenty at the least. Jessica and Alban were firing pot shots and I watched as Leo was overrun, five of the vampires clawing into his back and face. I looked over at the shield-brother who had also fallen victim, and then knew that this battle was folly. Kicking one of the vampires into another, I retreated to Jessica and Alban's position. "We have to escape! There's too many!" I then watched as the vampires had caught up to us, cutting off our exits. There was no way out. Jessica seemed to falter one of her arrows, but I watched Alban hold strong, screaming out "We can do this Ramon! Just like we handled those bristlebacks!" instilling a new found courage. I created a wall of defense for my archer compatriots. I watched as one of the vampires clawed at one of Jessica's arms, and I cut him down instantly, but another was in her blind spot about to swing a fatal blow and I deflected his blade with my own. Jessica left arm was out of commission and drew a dagger in the right, stabbing him in the neck, and then looked forward to stave off any more of the undead ghouls. Alban's arrows were ringing true, every shot confirming into a kill and I defended any attackers that came close. After all was said and done, we counted thirty fallen bodies, not including our lost allies. "Thanks... you really saved my ass there." Jessica said, staring back at me. I walked forward and began to bandage her arm as Alban picked through the dead bodies.
Fall, 471 PC
We had been together for a few years now, taking on many different slayer contracts. After word went around that we had taken on the bulk of the vampire's forces singlehandedly, law master Clarence had held a special ceremony for us 'heroes of the people'. Some of the other slayer masters of the Autilize Empire who had heard of the battle then got into contact with us, who wanted to hire us for some specialty missions. One such mission, to escort a royal prince to a dragons den and let him deal the killing blow.
I didn't like the sound of it, I always heard stories of these types of missions going wrong, but Alban kept repeating how much gold came with the job, and Jess' excited tone to face a dragon convinced me otherwise. "Oh come now Ramon, don't be a buzzkill. We could use the gold, and this should be a piece of cake." Alban sipped his tankard with a smile. "Yes Arco, no thanks to your unyielding addiction to gamble and squander all of our money away." I was jesting, but not really. "Boys, boys! Please Ramon, I'm sure everything will be fine, it always is, and besides I thought you were the one who's always wanted to face a dragon?" Jessica gave me a wink and sat in my lap. "I never knew you were one to shy away from a challenge." She gave me a drunken kiss. "Come on, you know why I'm wary Alban... don't you remember Darro's stories in Fogcreek Bay? It's not just any dragon this prince wants to slay... it's Ormr, the Obsidian Gorge." "Yes Ramon, not something we can't handle." Alban tipped his tankard to the sky finished his drink. Jessica did give a slight frown as she did not know Darro or this dragon who we were speaking of, but then gave a look of reassurance. "Ramon, you have the best archers in the entire continent with you. If Alban is confident, so am I."
We traversed the swamps towards Ormr's lair, quietly creeping through the mossy marshland. "Alright gentlemen and lady. Let's not botch this up. I must be the one to slay the beast, and claim the title of dragon slayer." The prince stared at us with authority, standing beside his trusted court mage. I gritted my teeth but Jessica whispered in my ear; "Don't worry, we don't have to deal with this moron for much longer."
We entered the cave which was shrouded in darkness, and I began to have second thoughts. Alban lit one of his many arrows using it as a torch, and led the party for a time. The path was treacherous and I watched Jessica slip on the polished stone floor, catching her before she nearly fell into the ravine below. "Whew, that was a close one," She said in a hushed nervous laugh. I sighed in relief. "I promised I'd protect you Jess, didn't I?" Alban looked back annoyed; "Oh you guys are so very cute together, how about the task at hand? Be more careful, I told you guys there was a ravine when I did my scouting." Alban led us further in and the cavern opened up, the ceiling spanning hundreds of meters higher than the path we had tread on. The prince's tone of authority seemed to dissipate as we approached the sleeping mass of Ormr, the Obsidian Gorge, perched up atop a large mound of gold and jewels. "What should we do now?" The sound of terror had crept into the princes voice. Alban smiled. "We improvise." He nocked two of his arrows and sent them hurdling towards the ceiling, to where a group of large stalactites were hanging. The arrows exploded causing Ormr to stir out of his sleep, the stones falling, piercing his wings. We all then dove behind some cover as Ormr let loose his dragon's breath, a stream of acid covering the floor. We all drew our bows and began shooting at the beast's scales, very few finding purchase on his armored hide. Once our presence was known, the court mage sent out balls of light so that we could see within the darkened confides of the den. I spun around to see the prince fast retreating from where we came, and melted before my eyes from Ormr's acidic blast. Panicked now, I scanned the area for Jessica who had taken cover not more than twenty meters away. Ormr now tried to take to the air, but his wings had become too damaged. Alban let lose another volley finding Ormr square in his left eye, bellowing in agony and his echoes shaking the entire cavern. I looked at Jess and gave a nod, and we both shot simultaneously towards Ormr's other eye, who quickly dodged out of the way. The bow not being one of my strong suits, I drew my blade and ran towards the monster, who had suddenly turned his back to face Alban. I ran and slid across the stone floor on my back, sword in the air, slicing the belly out from under the beast. Jessica had spotted a weakness in the dragon's hide, a battle scar of scales not properly healed and her arrow punctured deep. The court mage then focused all of the rooms light towards the dragons good eye and blinded it as I delivered the final blow, and launched my blade into the chest of Ormr, the Obsidian Gorge.
Alban was white faced, who had nearly met his end to Ormr, who was slain readying himself for another acid flurry. I ran over and wrapped my arms around Jess. "Oh praise Tetra you're safe, I thought this would be the end!" Jessica hugged back in turn, and the two kissed in front of the hulking corpse of the black dragon. "Yes, yes, don't worry about me!" Alban scoffed and began to examine the dragon's hoard of treasures.
Winter, 480 PC
I stand now at her headstone. The cold winds rushing past the streets of Blystan, Alban Arco standing beside, as members of the slayers guild took their turns telling stories and sharing fond memories. We circled Jess' grave, and when it was my turn to speak, I couldn't find it in me. Alban took the stage and spoke of our many exploits as an adventuring party together, the beasts we had conquered, the harrowing battles between devils and demons, and overall what kind of person Jessica Granger was. "...And most of all she was loyal to all of us. She would never leave anyone behind." All of the members nodded in agreement. Many laughs and cries were shared between the crowdsfolk, but I stood there in solemn silence. Slowly, the members of the slayers guild gave their final goodbyes, some leaving their guild token at the base, until all that was left was Alban and I, accompanied only by the numbness of winters bite. I limped towards the burial site and placed my token beside her name. "I'm sorry I couldn't protect you Jess... you were perfect." Tears began to roll down my face and Alban laid his hand on my shoulder. "I'm retiring Ramon. This... I didn't see it coming." A single tear rolled down Alban's face and his unwavering confidence was all but broken. With a shaky hand he laid his guild token down beside my own, and we sat together in the freezing cold.
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