Of Journeys and Vengeance

In the small village of Harise, a wandering traveler walked in. He was pale as a ghost, but you wouldn see much of his skin anyways. He stood at 6 3 ”, had an average yet bulky build, and was wearing a long, thick and grey trench coat, ripped at its ends from constant use, with a sword at his waist. On his legs were thick workers pants, and his feet had workers boots. His trench coat had a hood, and he always had it up. On top of all that, he wore leather gloves and bandages that covered his entire face and neck.

The man stood out like a sore thumb amongst the common people, a sea of brown clothing and tanned skin. Harise was a desert town, so someone clad in a large coat was, to quote a man who passed by the traveler, ”Completely **ing insane! ” Indeed, for most people, wearing thick clothing in the heat of the desert would be a death wish. However, our traveler wasn anything like them.

A young man, Dom by name, took notice of this traveler. Dom stood at 5 8 ”, had short red hair, and was fairly scrawny. Dressed like a poor worker, in loose brown robes, he peeked from the corner of an alley. He decided that, obviously, a man clad in dark colors in the middle of a desert had quite the story to tell. Unlike others, however, Dom decided to follow this man, as opposed to just leaving him alone out of fear.

Dom approached the man, and tried to start a conversation.

”Uhm, Sir, what brings you to Harise? Dom asked. ”Also, whats with the getup… ”

The traveler stayed silent, not even acknowledging Doms presence. In response, Dom tried to make his presence very known. He poked the traveler and asked him endless questions. After about 30 seconds of this, the traveler finally spoke.

”Annoying, ” the traveler said.

He spoke in a low voice that halted Dom in his tracks. It was intimidating, but not as hostile as he thought it would be. Dom decided that this mans story was worth hearing, no matter what.

”So, big guy, what
e you in Harise for? Not often that a traveler comes to our little desert village, ” Dom said.

”Duty, ” the traveler replied.

”Why do you only speak one word? ” Dom asked.

”Effort, ” the traveler said.

The traveler talked in this manner, answering Doms questions in as few words as possible. After a few minutes of walking, the traveler went into a pub.

”Oh you here for a drink? Man, the drinks here are- ”

The traveler cut Dom off.

”Information, ” he said.

”Oh, yeah, that too I guess, ” Dom replied dejectedly. He really liked those drinks.

The traveler walked into the pub, with an intimidating air. Dom followed meekly behind him, as the crowd of drunk mercenaries and soldiers quieted down in response to the odd stranger before them. the traveler approached the barkeeper, and sat down on a stool.

The pub itself was like any other, except its walls were sandstone. The many monsters in the desert, especially those that breathed fire, necessitated that. The interior had many wooden tables with four to six chairs each. Overall, it was generic but clean and tidy. The barkeeper smiled at the traveler.

”So, stranger, what can I- ”

The barkeep was cut off by the traveler. It seemed it was a habit of his.

”Information. City, about 50 miles northeast. What is it like? ” the traveler asked.

”Oh, well, thatd be Allk, ” the barkeep said. ”See, we
e actually on the border of the desert, and Allk serves as the gateway into a more wooded and green part of the country. ”

”I see. Thank you, ” the traveler said.

He put a silver piece on the table and got up to leave. As he was leaving, three drunk mercenaries blocked his way.

”Hey buddy, a stranger like you walking in here is awfully suspicious. Who in the ** do you think you are? ” the first said.

”Out of the way, ” the traveler said.

”Oh, playing the tough guy are we? You won be so tough when we shatter your knees, huh? ” the second said.

”Move it, ” the traveler said, getting more impatient.

”Gods above, that manner of talking makes you look like you
e trying too hard! Cmon, take that blindfold off, its clearly not doing anything! ” the third said.

”Last warning, ” the traveler warned.

”Until what, you use that little sword of yours to- ”

Before the first one could finish his sentence, the traveler pulled out his sword. It was a standard longsword, but it seemed like it had a mysterious heft to it. He then knocked the man out with the pommel of his sword. The others were too drunk to notice, and assumed the traveler had just killed a man.

”I warned you. Now, move. ”

”H-he killed Greg! You won get away with this! ”

The two other mercenaries pulled out their weapons, ready to fight. However, before they could do anything, the traveler knocked them all out with the pommel of his sword in one fluid movement. Then, as if nothing had happened, he left the pub, while everyone was shocked and silent.

Dom looked at the traveler in horror. He snuffed out life with such ease and little hesitation. How much death had he seen?

”Hey, big guy, wait up! ” Dom said.

”Stop following me, ” the traveler said.

”Hell no! ” Dom said. ”You expect me to leave someone like you alone, someone who looks like he doesn care about heat, who talks like an Orc and kills with no hesitation? ”

The traveler turned back to Dom, a serious look on his bandaged face.

”My path isn for you to walk. Plus, they
e not dead, ” he stated plainly.

”Listen, man, you
e alone right? ” Dom said. ”The desert sucks, what with sandstorms and monsters and little to no food. You need a guide. ”

”I have no need for such a thing. I have crossed this sandy plain myself, I shall finish it myself. ”

The traveler turned away from Dom, and began walking away. Dom, intent on

”Alrighty, fine, but Im following you. I have nothing left here anyways so Im gonna figure out whats so odd about you, ” Dom said.

”The answer is not ideal for you, ” the traveler said.

”Pfft, what, you gonna say that you eat humans? ” Dom asked, sarcastically.

The traveler shrugged.

”I have no need for such a thing, ” the traveler said simply.

”…You don eat? ” Dom asked.

”Indeed, ” the traveler said.

Dom hesitated for a moment. Doubt began to form in him.

”Why did you say it so upfront? ” he asked. ”You seemed pretty guarded… ”

”You would find out quickly. Saves time, ” the traveler said.

”I see… Hm… ”

While Dom thought about what humanoid things didn need to eat or drink, the traveler went northeast to go to Allk. Dom followed behind quickly, thinking of yet another question.

”Say, whats your name? ” he asked. ”Mines Dom. If we
e gonna be traveling together, names are important right? ”

”I no longer have a name, ” the traveler said. ”However, those who have seen me have given me an unnecessary nickname. ”

”And what exactly is that? ” Dom asked.

”…Strages, ” the traveler said.

Dom thought for a moment. Nope, hed never heard of that name before.

”Weird name, what does it mean? ” he asked.

”I know not its meaning, and I care not as well, ” Strages replied.

”Well alrighty. Off we go! Wait, shouldn we get a mount? ” Dom asked, a bit panicked. The idea of walking across a desert wasn a good one for him.

”Out of your wallet, ” Strages said.

”Ya know, walking is healthy huh! ” Dom replied, penniless.

…8 hours of mostly silent travel had passed since their journey had begun. It was