Anarion's Adventure

[Bandon92 3]

Hello, my name is David, I have been playing Wurm for a long time and have recently been thinking about writing about my experience and have decided to do just that. However, this is the first time I have ever written a short story (although I have always wanted to) let alone a story people will read (I hope), so as this will be a learning experience for me you may find my style of writing will change from time to time, although I will attempt to make it consistent. Furthermore, I have never been known for my ability to spell, although I would class myself as an average speller, some mistakes may crop up, so please bear with me.

 

Before we get into the story I would like to go over some of my game history, just so it makes it easier to follow. I started in Wurm about 4 years ago, however my first attempt was very brief as my old PC wasn't up to running the game so after a week or two I gave up, in that time however I fell in love with the concept of the game and knew I would come back. So about 2 years ago I got a new laptop and within the first week I was wurming.

 

I do not remember my first character, but when I joined the second time on the new laptop I became Bandon and settled on Desertion. I played as Bandon for a few months but never really accomplished anything, nothing that I remember anyway. Then I took a break from wurm again, I have taken a few breaks over the years, some voluntary and some due to technical difficulty or something of that nature that prevented me from playing. I will be referencing these breaks in my story, but to keep with the theme I will be referring to them vaguely, such as saying “I wandered into the woods and was not seen for some time†or something of that nature.

 

Now this story will be about my third and current character Anarion, who is on Serenity. Some may know the name, not very many. I will be talking about Anarion's adventures in the third person and I will be keeping my story based on actual events that happened in game, although I will be adding some extra content for more depth in the story, especially at the start, but all of my adventures will be based off real in game experiences.

 

(note- the first chapter is complete fiction for the purpose of setting up the story, the second chapter is loosely based on the tutorial.)

 

Now, without any more delay or dilly-dallying and with no further ado what soever..... let the story begin...

 

 

 

Chapter 1 – A life of Adventure

 

In a small village in the heart of Desertion a soft wind blew, rustling the leaves of the trees in the orchard and stirring the dust on the gravel road. The town was like any other small rural village in the are, the people kept to themselves and travelers on the road were a rarity, although as the years progressed travelers came more frequently and it was for this reason that the mayor had decided to build an Inn in the heart of the village. It was by this Inn, that was rising from its foundations as the workers toiled with bricks and mortar, that a young man stood. He watched the workers laboring and marveled at the Inn, the first stone building in the village. But what really filled his mind was the thought of the travelers who would one day dwell within.

 

The young man, Anarion was his name, had always dreamed of travelling, it was noted by other villagers that all he seemed to talk about was distant places he had heard of or about travelers he had seen and what they had said. The behavior was considered odd and so was he, it was not like normal villagers to obsess about distant places, of course when a traveler passed on the road everyone stopped to have a look, but not for long and they were soon forgotten about as the daily tasks took preference. But Anarion would not forget, he wished for nothing more than to join those travelers, to leave his small village and see the world. Anarion's desire to leave was always put down to his lack of friends within the village, even before he was considered “odd†he had very few friends and no one could say they knew him well. As a child other mothers would tell there children to go play with him, but Anarion didn't want to play, even as a child he was reclusive, preferring to learn a new skill than charging around a field with the other children. When his parents asked about this he used his size as an excuse, claiming that the other children were bigger and even if he did go with them he wouldn't keep up, his parents didn't push the issue as they saw no problem in a boy putting practical skills over playing. Now as young man he still kept to himself, although not exactly friendless, though you would never see him in the local tavern. His lack of friends was not the reason Anarion wanted to leave, nor was it his dreams of adventures or his parents passing a few years previous, although they were a part. It was Anarion's greed that was the source of his desire. Anarion's village was not wealthy, although not exactly poor either, but with no valuable resources it was never going to be a village known by any save those who lived there, even those that passed through were oblivious to its name. This is the reason that Anarion wished to leave, in books, of which the town had few, he read about cities and great markets, of ports with massive ships and about the richer world outside his village. He was sure that if he left and made for the town of Strong Box, where every adventure he read began, he would find a place to make his fortune. He believed he had the skill, the knowledge and the determination to make something of his future, so one morning as the sun rose and the day broke he stepped out the door of his family home, with his fathers old short sword on his hip, his savings in his pocket and a few items he would need in a backpack he left his village. As he looked back to his old house he considered what would become of it now that he was gone, it was a brief thought, as he turned his head back to the road in front of him he didn't look back again. His village was his old life, this was the begging of his new one.

Edited February 14, 2014 by Bandon92

[Bandon92 3]

Chapter 2 – What the road can teach us

 

As the village faded behind Anarion's back the sun was still in the low of early morning, not yet reaching its full height, as his shadow cast over the road in front of him Anarion kept a brisk pace. He was all to aware that the safe confines of his village and his house were no more, he was in the wilderness now and for the first time, on his own. Anarion quickly discovered the differences in terrain, where the path of stone bricks ended and the grass begun he found he could no longer keep his brisk pace and when he happened across a particularly soggy area of steppe he was slowed even more. But it was when he tried to cross an area of tar that he was slowed to a crawl, he soon learned to be mindful of the direction he traveled in. As the sun rose to mid-day and the land in front of him got ever steeper that he found he could not simply walk this hill, if he was to reach the top before the sun hit its peak he would have to climb, it was a slow process but eventually he reached the top, stopping briefly to catch his breath he then proceeded down the other side, reaching the bottom in half the time it took to climb up. Further along the road as the sun began to set Anarion walked into a wooded area, a little further in he found a clearing and decided to make camp before the night set in. Remembering the stories in the books he read he set about making his fire, taking his hatchet from his backpack he felled the closest tree, it did not fall easily but after time he managed to succeed and he then chopped it into logs with his saw, retrieving his knife he cut the logs and made kindle, with this he used his steel and flint to make fire, finally he was done and began to warm in front of his fire as the night drew closer, it was with a feeling of satisfaction that Anarion sat in front of his fire, retrieved a log and began creating a mallet, it took a few times but he eventually had a mallet that would serve well for the time being, practice he though, I must practice my skills or I will never make it far. It was with this thought that he drifted off to sleep in front of his camp fire.

 

The next day Anarion rose early, he was eager to reach Strongbox before the day was out, another night in the wilderness where the trees rustled and every noise could be a predator didn't appeal to him. He found that his camp fire was nothing but ash, so grabbing his backpack he departed the clearing heading once again in the direction of Strongbox. When he emerged from the woodland he noticed another person across a clearing of grass, this was the first traveler Anarion had come across, the man was middle aged and wore the same rough clothes of a villager that he himself wore. The man was travelling in the same direction along a road of stone brick that started near the end of the woodland, Anarion decided to take the road, however conscious of thieves and brigands, he kept his distance from the stranger in front and a hand near his sword.

 

It was almost mid-day when a village appeared at the end of the road, tired from travelling and weary from keeping his eyes alert for danger while keeping the strange man at a distance, Anarion decided to stay and rest. A short while later Anarion entered the village, it was bigger than the one he had come from with buildings of wood and stone, it appeared used to travelers too as no one seemed to notice his arrival, the strange man that had been in front of him entered a building that appeared to be an Inn, Anarion followed and was soon enjoying a cup of water and a meal in the Inn's common room, paying the innkeeper Anarion decided to explore the village a little more before resuming his journey. The village was almost a town, the streets were busy with people doing their daily tasks, women hung out there washing while keeping an eye on the children playing in the street while the occasional cart went by, some pulled by horse but most by a man. Anarion noticed some houses on the outskirts of the village, they looked new however one caught his attention, the building was lopsided, it seems the ground wasn't properly flattened, he made a mental note that should he ever build a structure to properly prepare the ground. Taking a final drink form the village well, Anarion departed the village. As the houses disappeared and the wilderness came into view once more Anarion noticed a large mound of dirt by the road, for some reason this peaked his interest, so taking his shovel from the side of his backpack he went to get a closer look. Upon inspecting the mound he figured out how the dirt could be flattened, useful knowledge should he ever need to move dirt or flatten land. His curiosity satisfied Anarion made for the path to Strongbox again, he had learned from the Innkeeper that this road would take him to the town before the night fell, but after his delay in the village he decided to take no chances and set a quick pace, keeping an eye on the way ahead for any beasts that may be lurking by the road.

 

As the sun began to fade Anarion could see the town of Strongbox, as he grew closer the faint echo of town life greeted his ears, the clang of a blacksmiths hammer, the slow rumble of a cart along the road, all sounds of a town full of people. As he approached the gates Anarion noticed that night had truly fallen and the towns lamps had been lit, he was relieved to be walking through the gates and leaving the dark wilderness behind, weary from his travel he set about finding an Inn to spend his night. As he approached a large stone building with a decorative sign proclaiming its name and the light from its windows promising warmth he decided he had found his Inn, eager to sleep he entered and decided on a quick bowl of goulash before bed, he would need his strength as tomorrow his adventure would truly begin.  

Edited February 14, 2014 by Bandon92

[Bandon92 3]

Chapter 3 – The place where adventures begin

 

Anarion awoke early the next morning, not intentionally but he found the noise of a town waking hard to sleep through. In the village a cart was heard about twice a day but with the stone walls of the town making the noise of large carts pulled by one or two horses reverberate Anarion could have sworn they were driving through his room in the Inn, until he opened his eyes. He felt refreshed after his sleep, the mattress was nice and soft and the blankets well made, if not for the excitement of being in a town and his eagerness to explore Strongbox, the place were adventures began, he would have gone back to sleep, even with the noise outside. Washing and dressing quickly Anarion left the Inn, embracing the noises and smells of a town as he stepped out the door of the Inn. He had a fair idea of where he wanted to go, the previous night while eating his dinner in the common room of the Inn he entered into a conversation with two locals, they were trying to guess what his plans were, it seemed the locals, so used to seeing travelers pass through had developed a game of guessing there intentions, even going so far as to place the odd bet before asking the stranger his business. Anarion could see that as being rude, but so surprised to have his adventure the centre of the discussion he told the two strangers his desire to see new places and his intention to make his fortune. The two locals were friendly at first, talking of sites he should visit in the town and nearby places of note, but as the wine flowed into them the tone changed until at one point the men were practically arguing about what manner of beast would devour Anarion on the road. It was at this point that Anarion reminded himself why he avoided strange people, so when the two men's voices raised to the point of annoying the Inn's maid, who decided to give them both a tongue lashing, Anarion took the opportunity to steal away to his bed. The locals had however given him some useful information, so as Anarion stepped away from the Inn he headed in the direction of the towns harbor. It wasn't long before Anarion found himself looking out at the water, marveling in the different types of ships, trying to wonder at where each one had been and what cargo it must have carried.

 

As the day progressed Anarion visited all the towns wonders and even a few local places of interest that lay slightly out of town. But as the evening came and the day grew darker his mind started to wander to other thoughts, what was he going to do? He had made it to Strongbox but what next? He couldn't afford to spend all his nights in the Inn and it was at that moment he realized, despite all his dreams, his desire to have an adventure and his intention to find his fortune, he has absolutely no idea what he was going to do next. Anarion's mind was full of question, worry and doubt when he returned to the Inn, paying the Inn keeper for another nights stay and a meal he headed to the common room, as he sat and waited for his meal he pondered his predicament, eventually he concluded that finding his fortune would be his adventure, now all he had to do was find his fortune. As he ate Anarion recalled the books he had read growing up, trying to remember how all those adventurers had gained there fortunes, unfortunately this wasn't a book, he doubted that he would be lucky enough to find an unguarded wealth in a mine or be rewarded by some mayor for slaying a pack of Hell Hounds, so he concluded that instead of hoping to happen across some stroke of fortune, he would make his wealth, at least now he knew what to do, if not exactly how to do it. As Anarion finished his meal he was already thinking of his plans for the following day, forming ideas and trying to figure out what he would do and where he would start, by the time he had left the common room, reached his bed and began to drift to sleep, he already knew where he would begin, it wasn't going to be easy, but he believed he could do it.

[AnarchistRise 320]

Was a great read, few too many comma's but I do the same thing For a "first" short story it was really good!

[Bandon92 3]

Was a great read, few too many comma's but I do the same thing For a "first" short story it was really good!

 

Thanks a lot! I'll try to cut back on the comma's 

[Ronanxx 28]

Great!

[Bandon92 3]

Chapter 4 – The road to the mountain

 

As Anarion awoke on his second day in Strongbox, again greeted by the noises of the town waking he wasn't as quick to rise as he was the previous day. Having already explored the town he rested in the bed awhile longer, taking the chance to enjoy the softness of the mattress. He rose from the bed a little while later, washed and began to dress, knowing that he would not be returning to the Inn again this night he did not dress fast as he did the previous day in his excitement to explore, he was happy to take his time and enjoy the comfort of the Inn's room. He didn't know where he would be sleeping tonight, but he did know it wouldn't be comfortable, checking the room one last time to be sure he had all his belongings Anarion closed the door and departed the Inn. He headed to the gates of the town, in the same direction that he had gone the day before while seeing some of the area near the town, he remembered seeing a wooded area a short while away from the town, it was to that area he would be going today. Passing through the gates and onto the road he checked the sword at his hip, although little use to him should he need it seeing as he had never practised, it was still reassuring knowing it was there. The corpses of beasts near the town was a stark reminder of the dangers of the wilderness, but despite the fear Anarion continued on, though he did keep a sharp eye ahead for movement and occasionally glanced behind himself.

 

The sun hadn't yet reached mid-day when Anarion reached the area he remembered from the day before, the woods lay before him a few paces from the roadside, he carefully peered through the thicket of trees for movement and deciding it was safe he began to venture inside, keeping a note of what direction that road was in should he need to run back. The further into the wood Anarion went the darker it seemed to grow as the trees got closer and blocked out the sun with there mass of branches and leafs, in the darkness Anarion noticed a shape, the black shape of a wolf, it hadn't yet noticed Anarion, not giving it a chance he ran back the way he came before turning around and continuing again into the wood keeping a large distance between himself and the wolf. Anarion didn't know what part of the day it was when he reached a clearing in the forest, twice more he had to double back to avoid a beast, once more for a wolf and again for a giant spider the thought of which still made him shiver. The area he had arrived to was relatively flat and surrounded by trees, but more importantly it was untouched, in fact it looked like no one had been here for years if ever. It was here Anarion decided, that he would start, checking the surrounding area for beasts and resources he returned to the clearing again. There was a wolf to the west and a mountain off in the south, there will be iron in that mountain he thought and iron was what he needed, without it he would have no nails to build.

 

Anarion knew the road to the mine was on the same road he used to reach the forest, heading back the way he came and taking time again to avoid the bests that lurked in the wood, he soon found himself back on the road he had travelled earlier. He put his back in the direction of Strongbox and headed in the direction of the mountain. The day began to get darker before Anarion had reached the mine, he soon realised he would be spending the night in it, the journey back after he had gotten the iron would be to dangerous. As the entrance to the mines came into view in the distance Anarion quickened his step, it was further than he realised and he was loosing the light of day, as the sun finally set Anarion saw buildings in front of him, at the foot of the mountain. Suddenly he heard a roar and his breath stopped as he saw to his right a bear charging for him, his heart pounded as he took off in the direction of the buildings and the lights within that promised safety, the bear gave chase, determined to kill its pray. As Anarion made it to the buildings he saw a guard tower to his left, forgetting the buildings he ran to it, screaming for the guards to help him, he could hear the shouts as the guards raced to his aid and within seconds the bear was confronted with two kingdom guards, swords and shields in hand, there armour glistening. The guards began to attack the bear delivering deadly blows, it was then Anarion remembered the sword on his hip, grasping it in his hand he charged forward attacking the bear with the guards, the three attackers soon had the bear slain, Anarion thanked the guards for there service and turned again to the entrance to the mine. Exhausted from the chase and exhilarated from the fight Anarion rested a while taking the chance to drink from the clear water that had pooled beneath the mountain, then taking his torch and lighting it, he entered the mines.