Rude Awakening

With a soft groan, I wake up and see the familiar stone walls of my room, a pile of gear in the corner next to my bed. Sunlight drifts in through the view slat in the wall which is still unblocked.

I try to stand up in a panic, only to fall over in pain as I feel a sharp stabbing pain in my head.

Last thing I remember… he tripped me!

Struggling to get dressed, I grab everything and make sure it's all settled nicely. Pausing for a moment I grab the basket from Sarah, she always adds in some local herbs she dries for me, always told me it was so I would think of her and to make sure I couldn't hurt myself too badly… I settle the herbs in my pouches and grab a roll of the bandages.

*Ting*

Something falls out of the middle of the roll of cloth and rolls across the ground.

Setting the bandage down again, I kneel and reach around under my cot to try and find whatever it was. Feeling something thin and round under my fingers I grab it. "Shit!"

I feel a sharp pain in my hand and jerk it back trying to fling whatever it is away, but nothing seems to be there. Looking down at my palm I don't see any marks, and I'm not bleeding. Maybe I picked up a bug?

Shuddering at the thought I might have tried to pick up a centipede or a spider..

With a sigh I grab the bandage roll and tuck into the upper pouch on my bandolier, finish buckling my quiver and knife to my belt before throwing everything else in a bundle into my pack and slinging it across my back.

I step out of my room to see the same Forsaken in the hallway. "Oh good, you're already packed, here take this and put this hood on" He orders, shoving a soft leather pack into my hands along with a leather cap. "Hurry fool!" Struggling not to drop anything, "What are you talking about? I don't have time to waste with you, I need to go to my village!" I demanded as I managed to clip the leather pouch to my belt, noticing it weighs a bit more than I expected.

"Don't worry, it's gone, and if you aren't gone from here soon I'm sure you will be able to get there in a moment! Think boy! Immortal hunters show up, and then suddenly a token village burns down? They came back last night with a pile of heads claiming they found immortals." He exclaimed.

"Wha..what?!" I choke out, "my parents? Sarah? What abou" "Gone boy.. I'm sorry for your loss.." "Now please put the cap on and come with me. I don't have much time and Eon can't stall the hunter's witch much longer. We need to get you away and out of the Kingdom hopefully. That bag is all we could get together on short notice that won't be missed or need accounting for, it'll be enough good herbs for you to sell and a few coins to get you started."

Numb with depression and horror at what he claimed happened to my home I stoop down and pick up the cap that had slipped out of my unfeeling fingers. Placing it on my head and pulling it forward a bit to try and cover my face as much as I can. Grabbing my arm, the Forsaken marches me down the hall and into a service corridor for the porters and cleaning folk. "Quiet now, and take the quiver off and carry it along with the bow and pack in your arms, that way you look like staff." Following his instructions, we made our way down to the ground floor and to the bag courtyard where there was a carriage unloading barrels and crates of supplies to the back kitchen entrance.

Startled by our abrupt approach to the covered wagon, the Forsaken walks up to the teamster shuffling the cargo off the back. "For the Archon and all our siblings." He whispers. A weather beaten face with a bushy mustache and beard looks up from a barrel the man is about to lift. "May She bring us peace." He replies. Glancing around, the man leans down over the barrel as if he is struggling to lift it but mutters, "This is a bad time to be a child of the Archon in the Holy Kingdom, how can I help Sage?"

"Take the boy and get him to Recy," the Forsaken says in hushed tones, pushing me towards the wagon. "The Archon waits to renter the cycle, and there's no more reason for me to stay either but I'll make my way on my own." The teamster looks me up and down and nods, "Recy? He one of ours?" "Don't know, don't care, and with a Hunter trinity in the fort I don't dare try to test him, but the Archon in this life favored him and he saved Eon once when other would like as not run."

Smiling softly the teamster grabbed the bundle of my things and slid them into the carriage, "Welcome then son, you'll remember this if nothing else" He places his hand on my shoulder. "Debts, both good and bad, must always be honored and repaid in kind."

I whimper as I feel the bones in my shoulders compacted under his grip. "So don't you be doing Anything that might earn you a bad debt eh?"

Nodding fiercely, "Can you help me get to my village? It's just a bit away.. Please I need to check on my family!" I whisper hoarsely.

Surprised, he looks at the Forsaken who he calls Sage, then back at me and his grip lightens considerably. "I'm sorry son." He pauses trying to find the right words. "Hunters.. don't leave any bloodlines behind." Some of my siblings are real good at hiding so when hunts start.. They don't end with survivors.." He gently turns me around and points at the area over the back gate. Swaying in the breeze there are figures. They aren't standing on the wall, though they're hanging above it.. one of them is wearing a dress.

Oh god..

Mom!

I feel the world spinning, as I crumple into darkness.

*Ding*

Archon Prototype-X01 Activating

Host Tagged as Rodrick

Registering Host in Archon System….

Attempting to categorize Host…

Immortal-Negative

World walker- Negative

Reincarnation-Negative

Godling-Negative

Mortal-Registered Correct

Noting Host Not registered as Archon or related sibling:Restricting higher information exchanges. Restricting Higher Skill exchanges. Restricting all communication and locator functions.

Host Registered.

Activating Archon-X01 System

Host Listing

Rodrick

HP: 8/10

MP 1/1

Job Class:

Peon

Skills:

LOCKED

Str: 3

Dex: 5

Int: 2

Wis: 2

Chr: 3

Luc:4