Weiss Kreuz Fan Fiction ❯ Never Split The Party ❯ Chapter 1 ( Chapter 1 )

 

 

 

I know I had a dungeon master's screen here somewhere.

Who has my glow in the dark twenty sided?

Hey, where's my character sheet, I can't find my character sheet.

Oh, there it is.

That's my beer, you'll have to roll a saving throw.

It's in with the Cheetos.

I catch someone looking at my Dungeon Master's screen more than dice are gonna roll.

I know I gave it to somebody over here and I didn't get it back.

You! Roll for initiative.

I can't roll.

Ugh! Now it's got yellow on it.

 

Saltzeren was a prosperous mining town settled into the side of Halsber mountain. Unlike most mining towns, however, it boasted plots of level lands with lush green fields and vineyards. The area was rich in a number of ways and the people there knew that they were supremely fortunate. Over the centuries it had come to be hailed as one of the gateway cities and a trader's paradise where all manner of wares could be purchased. It was also a thieves' paradise all things considered. As such the residents of the city saw their fair share of odd or downright frightening characters over time. But few had ever seen such strange combinations as what had arrived in town one early fall morning.

 

Two obvious fighters had been at the head of the first party. One dark haired man with ocean colored eyes walked along side another man with striking blood red hair and eyes like spring orchids. Both wore light leather armor, obviously not expecting to be attacked, and the one with red hair bore the insignia of a paladin across the shield strapped to his back. The two following in their wake were both blond, one with short hair and the other's shoulder length. These two men carried bows and quivers of arrows with them.

 

None of this would have been too terribly unusual had it not been for the fact that no one had seen a paladin in town for close to fifty years. The last one had gone deep into the forbidden mines and had come out completely insane. He had sat for a fortnight gibbering about the evil that stalked the mine, holding onto his knees and staring vacantly about the place. Now an old man, he rattled around the town working odd jobs and generally being pitied by the populace. Oddly enough, it was only to him that the redhead spoke directly.

 

“Hail to you, my brother,” the young man said, striding over to the elder paladin and choosing to ignore the way people quickly removed themselves from his path.

 

The old man drew himself up with a measure of pride many had never seen him exhibit. “Good day to you, young knight of the order. How may I be of assistance to you?”

 

“If you would tell me where the town's lord lives I would be most grateful, my brother.”

 

“The lord lives in the biggest house at the edge of the town. Follow this road and you will find him.”

 

“Thank you,” the young man said, pressing several gold coins into the old man's hands before squeezing his shoulder. “I am Aya. When my task here is finished you will be avenged, my brother. I swear it on my blood.”

 

“I have faith that will be done, young knight. Take this as a token of my regard.” He placed a small amulet into Aya's hand. “It will protect you from evil should you venture into the mines. May the gods bless you and your party on your quest,” he said before shuffling off without another word.

 

The member of the party with long blond hair plucked the amulet from him, looking it over. “Protection from evil, my hairy butt. It's probably made of tin.”

 

Aya snatched it back, glaring at the other man. “I hardly think you should try to appraise anything in your current state, Yohji.”

 

“Just because I got hit by a spell that lowers intelligence temporarily it doesn't mean I'm a perpetual idiot.”

 

“No, merely a perpetual harlot.”

 

“Hey! I resent that. Harlots usually get paid better than I do.”

 

“You'd do well to curb your sluttish ways,” Aya said, sticking his nose in the air and striding off toward where the old paladin had said they'd find the lord's house.

 

Yohji sighed and winked at some of the younger ladies who were standing close by gossiping. “Ah, what can I say? Everyone loves a bard.”

 

The other two simply rolled their eyes and shoved him forward after their leader.

 

 

It wasn't long afterward that the second set of strange people came into town. This group was decidedly odder than the first because they drifted in on knotted silk carpet. As soon as they'd touched down the strange device had rolled itself up and deposited itself into a bag being held by a tall man dressed in fine silk and linen. He flicked an imaginary piece of dust from his sleeve and proceeded to look around for a moment over the tops of gold rimmed spectacles before he started down the main road through town.

 

“Oracle,” a young man with dark hair called to him, stuffing a large book into a bag. “Do you know where you're going?”

 

“Logically, the largest and most ornate house is the lord's and I can see it over the tops of the other houses. Therefore, that is where I am going,” he said, starting off again.

 

The young man who'd spoken scrambled to go after him while the other two simply shrugged and loped along at a much more sedate pace. Both were amused by the open mouthed stares they garnered. After all, how often did one see a cleric of the war gods and a Drow walking down the street together?