Enter the Hero of the Mountain

[thequestgiver]

Characters: The Hero of the Mountains and the Heroes of Schwanheim
Open? Yes!
Where: Just outside Schwanheim
When: RD8
What: The Hero of the Mountain approaches the capital



The road leading to Schwanheim is quiet and pastoral, and oddly devoid of travelers... except for one.

A young woman, no older than 20, walking idly down the well kept road, looking almost smug as she surveys the land. She's dressed in a finery that isn't often seen outside the capital, smart looking red shoes on her feet, a thin gold bracelet at her wrist and an ornate jeweled pendent resting on the cream of her ribbon adorned dress; if it were not for the more practical nature of the clothing, one would think her more a princess than a hero.

She carries only a small bag over her shoulder and the air of something otherworldly about her. There would be no doubt in anyone's mind on seeing her that this indeed is someone special.

And no doubt in others mind that this is also someone dangerous.

Comments

[greatsquirrelhunter]

Faolan saw a stranger on the road and bounded over to confront her. "Who are? Where going?" he demanded.

[thequestgiver]

The young woman looked over with a faint smile. "I am the Great Hero of the Mountains," she introduced with a small bow, "And I am off to the capital to see the King."

[greatsquirrelhunter]

Faolan thought that her smile looked fake and she looked arrogant. "Have heroes in the capital. Don't need you."

[thequestgiver]

She gave him a kindly smile that was just as fake. "They have not the power to fix that they have been summoned to deal with. Only I do."

[shorterinperson]

It was impossible to live in Schwanheim and not hear the rumors. When the hero came, Alanna was well aware of where to wait for her, and wait she did. She stood by the side of the road, arms crossed.

[thequestgiver]

The young woman paid her no mind as she walked, her expression mild and pleasant as if being worn by a greater on a reception line, yet also somehow arrogant.

There was also an odd air around her as if something was just not right...

[shorterinperson]

Alanna's frown deepened as the woman passed her. This must have been the hero she had heard so much about. She was simply too different to be anyone else.

"Excuse me?"

[thequestgiver]

The young woman paused, turning. "Yes? What is it?"

[retrieverchef]

Eliot watched the woman walk down the street. Something about her screamed danger to him. He eyed her closely, trying to identify what it was about her that bothered him. He couldn't see any one thing. Except... She seemed a bit too good to be real. And, in his experience, that usually meant there was something wrong.

[thequestgiver]

There was also something more, something harder to identify. Something just... not right.

She didn't seem to notice him or pay him any mind as she walked, her head held high.

[retrieverchef]

Eliot let the young hero pass undisturbed, watching her carefully. He frowned slightly, wondering what she intended to do in the city. Finally, after he could no longer see her, he walked away to find Faolan. If the boy had interacted with her, it could be telling.

[bedroomduties]

Well, she did look more dangerous than expected, this Hero of the Mountain person. Stephane had waited a bit to go and meet any of the 'special' people of this place, but this was as good of a chance as any.

"Welcome, madam."

[thequestgiver]

She gave him a warm smile in return. "Thank you, my good sir. May I trouble you for an escort to the castle? This is my first time in this fair city and my business is quiet important."

[bedroomduties]

If anything she seemed to be polite. That put her closer to Stephane's 'okay' list and further from the other one, at least.

"Gladly." The bow came out even before Stephane noticed it. Some habits still were difficult to let go of. "Is it too forward from me to assume that you wish to meet the King?"

[thequestgiver]

"It is none too forward at all, my good sir, for it is a correct assumption. I have traveled many a day to request this guidance for the benefit of all the Kingdom."

[somewhatpointy]

Ryo had been out attempting to ride his horse. He'd been spending the past few days practicing, and it used different muscle groups than his old motorcycle. He'd been a little sore. And cranky. He was taking a break from horseback riding now, and that meant taking a walk. It was helping stretch his muscles, a bit.

It also gave him the opportunity to spot a rather unusual traveler on the road. There was something...odd...about her. He couldn't put his finger on it, but it made him wary. He didn't say anything as of yet, choosing instead to watch suspiciously.

[thequestgiver]

There was a touch of an arrogant swagger to her step, her head up high as she walked and a touch of... something else. Something otherworldly that was hard to place.

[somewhatpointy]

Ryo had encountered otherworldly beings back home. Or at least one. The Overlord of Darkness had moved about looking like a human, and he'd reacted in an almost instinctive fashion as Gills took over before he could properly consciously react to that feeling. Fortunately for everyone involved, that wasn't happening here...but Ryo still felt a bit weirded out by the girl.

He was a bit wary as he decided to approach. "Going somewhere?" He knew it was a stupid, potentially annoying question, but conversations had to start somewhere...

[thequestgiver]

"I am on my way to the castle to seek an audience with the King," the young woman informed, tone light and pleasant.

[shadedsunlight]

The woman will hear the clop of horse hooves behind her as Ginia rides her horse back toward Schwanheim from the Old Capital. She draws her horse down to a walk to avoid hitting the woman or running her off the path. As she passes, Ginia offers a polite nod of her head as a greeting to another traveler, but draws her horse to a stop. There's something about the woman that doesn't settle right with her but she can't place why.

[thequestgiver]

The young woman gives a small nod in return, but pays her no mind, not even when Ginia stops.

There's something to how the young woman moves... a feel in the air that brings to mind the Old Capital that Ginia had just left behind.

[shadedsunlight]

Ginia lets the woman walk on, observing her clothing. They're certainly nice, quite nice for traveling, but still very practical. While she's been out of Schwanheim for the last two days, she knew the rumor of the Hero from the Mountains. Taking a moment to pull out her journal and stick of graphite, she scribbles out a message, then urges her horse forward to catch up. Once she's close enough to the woman, she waves lightly to get her attention, then shows the message.

Pardon me for disturbing you, but may I ask where you came from?

[brosif]

Recent realizations have led Sif to attempt to fulfill her role here more earnestly. Thus, she is waiting outside of the castle to receive the hero of the mountains. She hopes that the sight of her, dressed wholly in princely garb, waiting to greet one who has quickly become all the villagers are talking about, will silence some tongues for now.

“Welcome to Schwanhiem.”

[thequestgiver]

The young woman smiled with a practiced pleasantry. "Thank you, good sir. Please, if you would, convey to the King within that the Hero of the Mountains has arrived to seek an audience."

[brosif]

That request presented something of a problem, as Sif went out of her way to avoid the king’s company and was no messenger. She bristled, internally, at the assumption. Her smile stood in place, but there was a strain to it.

She called for an actual messenger boy.

“Kindly direct your message to the king through his page.”