121snake121

Is this cheating? I made it myself Anywho, New Zealand.

26, I think.

Foolish. (mortal)

Banned for hypocrisy.

A freind of mine, who's also obsessed with rubix cubes, taught me how to solve them. It still takes me over 15 minutes though, as opposed to the 1 minute it takes him.

Hello, anyone who may click on this. As you have probably figured out, I'm 121snake121, Snake for short. I wrote this 5 or 6 months ago, on the RSB forums (hence the vague RuneScape baseline). I never finished it, but I got a fair way through. It is long, and I have no idea how long it will be, but all I really want is to improve. All feedback is appreciated, no matter how impolite it may be. Without further ado, here is my story. ENJOY! __________________________________ Prologue The sun glinted off the mighty river Lum, reflecting the harsh rays into the eyes of the passing travellers. The early morning dew droplets had evaporated by nine, a bad omen for the townsfolk; another scorching day lay ahead. The early afternoon traffic shuffled along at its own pace: too hot to walk fast, but so hot that stopping only delayed the relief of shade. The huge trees that spanned the entire river were a haven for insects, thousands of flies buzzed around various lumps and heaps of waste material. The townsfolk faced a dilemma, whether to stay out in the searing sunlight, or face the wrath of a million hungry mosquitoes. Some with long pants and sleeved shirts braved the bugs; a few hundred residents could be seen eating or sleeping in the shade, most in clear discomfort. Indoors were even hotter, and more infested with flies, so most of the townsfolk were out and about, swimming in the river or just pitifully trying to enjoy the sun. Suddenly, a scream broke out from the crowd: Adventurers! The townsfolk suddenly jerked awake from their daydreams. Adventurers! The vile murderers who pillaged the land, with their ridiculously expensive armour and their strange speech defects, the insane people who emptied the river of its fish, and demolished entire forests for no obvious reason. The cruel, heartless humans who killed thousands of citizens daily, just for a few gold pieces. The only useful past-time they had was eradicating the vile goblin population. The locals quickened their pace, eager to escape the deadly warriors, seeking shelter or the safety of the castle. A column was formed by hopeful residents hoping to escape the adventurers wrath, but the adventurers seemed uninterested. They headed straight for the castle, in absolute silence. There were only four, although they had an incredibly powerful presence. They were all tall, and each had their own assortment of weapons and armour. The biggest one, well over six feet tall, carried a huge sword, made from pure dragon. He wore armour made from rune, a symbol of extreme wealth and power. His amulet had a pulsating aura, as it appeared to be made from dragon stone. The adventurer beside the warrior wore the hides of a recently slain dragon, for it was obvious it hadnt been worn into. A bow made from the wood of a magic tree was slung across her back, with a quiver full of steel tipped arrows visible. She too wore a dragon stone amulet, and wore a stern, serious expression. Another adventurer stood to the left of her, who seemed sexless, as its face had been burnt beyond recognition. It had once been a woman, before it gave itself up to the art of Ancient Magic. It wore black robes with red trim, with a huge staff with an Ancient Magic symbol attached to the top, which instantly marked it as one of the most powerful mages in the land. A powerful sense of power was emitted from it, and it grinned, or at least appeared to, as its hideous mouth was hard to read. Last of all was a tall, thin man, dressed in plain clothes. His face seemed reasonably young, but his eyes shone with wisdom and his forehead had lines etched on it, symbolising pain and sorrow, as well as age. Most remarkably of all, he wore a green crown on his head. The crown of an Elite adventurer, the mark of ultimate success. The headwear was one of only six, and signified that this adventurer was the sixth best that had ever lived. More importantly, the owner of this particular crown hadnt been seen in years, and was the most powerful adventurer spotted in at least five, since the red crown owner was spotted battling the mighty King Black Dragon by a group of looters sifting through the wilderness. The crowd stared in disbelief. The crown must be a fake. Surely an adventurer this powerful would show itself in public. But the man seemed to match the description the legends told of. The group turned towards the castle, and the townsfolk gulped. Such a group could wreak havoc on their town without even trying. The guards made no move to stop the visitors, as they knew they were no match for the adventurers skills. The crowd remained completely silent, seemingly acceptant to their own fate. The adventurers approached their destination, the castle. The door guards only briefly glanced at the crown, before immediately opening the doors and bowing, fearful for their lives. But the visitors had no interest in the guards; he was here to meet the Duke to make a deal. They passed through the gates into the richly decorated hall of the castle, where they were greeted by absolute silence. The residents stopped and stared at the mysterious outlanders, and then froze completely when they saw the mans hat. After half a minute, one of the butlers spoke out. Erm, is there anything I could do for you? he spluttered, before a menacing glare from the warrior made him speak again, Sirs? Take us to the Duke. the woman said. Might I ask why? the butler asked. The woman scowled, with a glare that could melt steel. Uh, right this way The butler led them up a vast maze of staircases and through massive, decorated halls. Finally, they reached the top of the gigantic castle. The butler knocked on the door three times in quick succession. A mans voice could be heard from behind the door: Who is it? Some visitors, my lord. the butler replied. Couldnt they visit later? Im a little busy the man said, with a groan. I dont think that would be an option sir. the butler said quietly. After a groan, the man opened the door. He was quite a short man, with a trimmed beard and dark, blue, intelligent eyes. He had dark brown hair that hadnt been combed in days, which was hardly an appropriate appearance for a man of his rank. He had a long nose and high cheekbones, with thin lips. He wore a stressed expression, until he saw the mans hat, and then he suddenly froze. Good evening, sir. said the warrior. Mind if we come in? The man nodded weakly, a wave of nausea overcoming him. He staggered inside and sat down at his desk, rubbing his temples, more stressed then before. I suppose youre going to have to kill me. the duke said quietly. I do not wish to, the crowned man said calmly, speaking for the first time. He had a strong, deep, confident voice. but I will if I must What do you want? the Duke croaked. I understand you happen to be in possession of a powerful sword, the man spoke, calm as ever. and Im sure you dont require it... No! The Duke cried. The warrior drew his sword and placed its tip on the Dukes neck. The blood-red blade glinted in the candlelight. It almost looked as though it was smiling at the prospect of bloodshed. We wouldnt want my friend here to slip now, would we? the man said, still strangely calm. The Duke gulped. Should he sacrifice himself to prevent the adventurer from retrieving the ancient sword, or should he just surrender and hope for the best? A sharp [puncture] from the longsword helped convince him. He stood silently and slowly shuffled to the wall behind his desk and pulled off a classic painting- which depicted a hero defeating a dragon- revealing a safe. He put in the combination, and the safe creaked open. An unfortunate butler chose this exact moment to burst through the door. Sir! There have been reports of adv... he trailed off as he saw the group. Within a second, the ranger had thrown a knife, which struck the butler in the neck, but it was not quick enough to stop his scream. Moments later, all the guards on the floor had been alerted and were rushing to the room. The leader of the group sighed. Id hate to ruin your Nardan rug, Im sure red wouldnt go with it. Call off your guards immediately. But it was too late. The first of the guards had already reached the door and flew in, their swords waving wildly. Before they could see their folly, the leader spoke, in a strange foreign tongue. The guards instantly burst into flames. The flame grew white, and the very flesh of the guards was corroded, then their screams suddenly stopped and their bodies crumpled to the ground, dead. Such a waste of life, my dear friend. the man said. Call them off before I just kill you and take the sword. The Duke gulped. Stop guards! I am fine. Return to your posts. Thats an order! Thats more like it. the owner of the hat said. Now, the sword. The five turned back towards the safe, with the door half open. The Duke swallowed hard. He pulled the door back fully, revealing a sword that emitted a great power. The sword was red, but not the red of Dragon weaponry. It was darker, and more evil-looking. For the first time, the owned of the green hat smiled nervously. This was what he had been looking for years. The sword that would bring the wielder extreme power and strength, the sword that had been used to kill an entire army of Saradominists by itself. The sword that was feared by all, the sword that had been hidden for hundreds of years in an unknown location. The sword of Zamarok. The man grinned. He had found it! He had succeeded where hundreds of others had failed. He reached forward to pick it up, his grin broadening as he reached. You have no idea of the power of this sword, do you? he asked the Duke suddenly. The Duke shook his head uncertainly. The man shook his head in mock disappointment. He picked up the sword and a spasm of power shot up his arm, then through his whole body. He slowly raised his arm, then lifted it up to his eye line. He grinned, and suddenly stabbed the Duke. It went straight through his rip cage like paper, and impaled his heart, pushing it through his back. The Duke had no time to react, let alone scream. He let out a low groan and slumped forwards, his eyes rolling back as he did so. The man wrenched the sword back through his bloody body. The sword pulsated, pleased with the blood. He pulled the sword up to his eyes, examining the still beating heart, watching as it slowed. He turned and exited the room, destroying an entire wall as he did so. Mission accomplished. he mumbled to himself as he left the room. Chapter 1 The sun shone brightly in Varrock too, with similar temperatures. Except in the crowded city it was much worse. The rancid smell of decaying sewage floated through the disgusting city air, which mixed with the smell of sweat and rotten food to create a horribly sickening combination. Most people stayed inside, afraid of the heat and smell, content to slowly bake away in their houses. Such was not the case for Logan. He walked through the streets quickly, holding his breath, careful not to breathe too deeply, for fear of sewage contamination. He was tall for his age, with dark hair and slightly tanned skin. His eyes were a deep blue, almost hypnotising to look at. His mouth was reasonably small, with the edge of his lips pointing down in a discontented fashion. He walked down the main road for a few minutes, before turning into a large pub. It was mostly deserted, for it was hours before the rush hour. A short, red faced man warmly greeted him. Logan! How are you? said the bartender cheerily. Good thanks John. he replied half-heartedly. Good to hear. Ill get you a cloth now. he said, exiting the room. He reappeared a few seconds later with a damp cloth, which he threw at Logan. He caught it casually and started wiping a near table, which was covered in dried puke. He moaned quietly to himself. Drunken people had no respect for those who had to clean up after them; this person had made no attempt whatsoever so miss the table, let alone clean it up. The rest of the afternoon ticked away uneventfully. By the time Logan had finished cleaning all the tables, a few tables had already been filled and John was busy serving drinks. The usual customers were present, their faces either laughing, or set in a cold, depressed expression. A steady trickle of customers filed through the bar door, filling up the seats steadily. Michael, the assistant bartender appeared at around six to deal with the evening rush. The bar was soon a bustling assembly of people, ages ranging from pre-teens drinking root beer to old men with canes. The bar was in its peak hour, with almost a hundred customers, so it wasnt exactly silent. Until the bar door burst open. Everyone stopped and stared at the new arrival, although they did not know why; the bar door had opened hundreds of times that day. But as soon as the peoples eyes looked at the mans head, they realised why they had been compelled to look. Although his face was reasonably normal, his eyes were a dark and intelligent, eyes that had seen more then he shouldve. His hat explained it. A green crown. Good evening gentlemen, he said, in a calm, smooth voice. The bar was still absolutely silent, everyone staring at the man in disbelief. I suppose youre wondering why I would visit a bunch of worthless slobs such as yourselves. he said flatly. Okay, I figure none of you are stupid enough to speak while I do, so shut your mouths and listen. You people are lazy. You sit around all day doing practically nothing. I bet none of you even know how to fight. Logan briefly considered challenging the statement, as he had trained by himself for years, but he decided against it. The adventurer might see him as a threat. This is why I am here. Spread the word. You are a worthless bunch of fools. Prepare yourselves. he finished. The crowd stayed silent. They couldnt quite comprehend the mans words, even the most sober of them. Logan didnt either, but he was intent on finding it out. What do you mean? he said, the bars attention turning to him. Youll see. the man said, before exiting the bar. Chapter 2. I cant believe it! the newly appointed Duke roared. This man can waltz through our defences, kill my uncle and steal my familys most prized artefact! Weve had reports from Varrok that he has spoken to the locals, no doubt arousing trouble the major of Draynor said. A meeting had been arranged following the raid. There were twelve of the most prominent figures from around Lumbridge sitting at a table, barely listening as the Duke ranted continuously. It was another scorching day, which didnt help the concentration levels of the men and women at the table. These pesky adventurers must be taken care of! the Duke shouted, showing no signs of calming down. I suggest we destroy them! Its not that simply, a desert man said slowly. these adventurers are extremely skilled fighters. Wed have to arouse a huge army to defeat them. Then that is what well do! the duke concluded. Nobody dared speak. They knew he had reached a decision. <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><> Logan awoke sweating, his sheets tangled around him. The words the adventurer had spoken haunted him, which was strange, as they werent particularly troubling to him when the man said them. He sighed and pulled off his sheets. It very early morning, but it wasnt cold. He walked to his window and stared out into the massive city. Houses stretched out as far as the eye could see, all at least three stories high. The sun peeked from behind the horizon, almost as though having second thoughts about rising. Logan couldnt blame it, as that was how he usually felt. But this day was different. He felt restless, as though he had to do something. All his life he had been a nobody. His talents were never recognised, he was hopeless around girls and he had never really had any close friends. Logan had accepted this long ago though; whod want to be around the orphan boy. He wasnt teased when he was young, but he was generally ignored. Logan had come to accept that a long time ago. Whenever he felt sad, he would just climb onto the roof of the house he lived in and would stare off into the horizon, wondering what was out there. He realized it seemed childish, but he didnt care. Who would care? Nobody who knew him would ever speak to him for more than a minute. Except for John, but he could barely be counted because he never STOPPED talking. He sat perfectly still and watched the sunrise. A slight breeze picked up, unusually cold for the middle of summer. Logan shivered involuntarily and climbed back into his two-room flat. He looked around his room, realizing for the first time how pathetic it was. He had thought he was doing well for a sixteen year-old, but when he stared at the space he lived in, he saw nothing of value. The bed was cheap, second hand and too small. He never cooked, because he was always working at dinner time, so the gas stove was useless to him. The walls, once white, were now fading to brown, the paint slowly peeling off. The carpet was the worst part. Logan never felt the need to clean it, so it reeked and was now a dark brown. It had once matched the walls. The bathroom wasnt exactly flash either. A cheap toilet, a tiny basin and an old metal bathtub were the only objects in the room. It basically reflected on his life; a miserable failure. He finally came to a conclusion. Whatever the cost, he was going to get out of this dump. Chapter 3 Logan tried to get back to sleep, but to no avail. He rolled out of bed after a few hours, onto the stained carpet. He lay there for a few minutes, listening to his own thoughts. He slowly got up and walked out the door. He climbed down the stairs slowly, anticipation gripping his stomach. He was finally going to do something! He walked out into the street, which was unusually busy for a Saturday morning. Logan paid no attention to this however, as he was intent of finding an exciting opportunity. He had no idea what he was going to do. He wandered through the street aimlessly, hoping that something exciting would happen to him. He was starting to doubt himself. What was he thinking? Just as he was about to give up, he heard a man calling. Defend you city! Become a hero! Travel throughout Gielinor! Join the army! he called. Most of the passing townsfolk simply ignored him, but Logan saw this as a perfect oppertunity. He approached the man and spoke. How do I sign up? Simply sign these forms. the man said automatically, before adding, say, youre a bit young, arent you? Im 16! he protested. 16 eh? the man scratched his bearded chin. Normally thatd be too young, but since were on strict orders to try and recruit more, Ill let you in. Logans heart pounded with excitement. This was it! He was finally going to get out of Varrok and do something! He tried not to let his joy show. What does it pay? he asked, trying to sound professional. 50 coins per day, 60 if you work hard. You can also earn promotions which will earn you more money with less work. the man said happily. Clearly he was getting paid per person he signed up. He obviously assumed that he had already got Logan. Logan had to admit, it was good pay. His old job only earned him five coins per hour, so he never got more than 30 per day. 50 coins would be welcome money. Okay, where do I sign? he said. Here, he said, holding out a pen and paper. Logan signed after a moments hesitation. Congratulations! the man exclaimed. You are now a member of the Varrock army! Logan grinned. His dreams were finally coming true. And to think he was about to give up! His head was spinning at the excitement of it all. When do I start? he asked. You will attend a training session on Monday. he replied. Where is it? For security reasons we cannot tell you. Meet us here at 6 am sharp and we will take you there. Bring lunch, and have a big breakfast. Were gonna work the hell out of you. Logan jerked awake from his semiconscious day-dream. It sounded like he had a tough day ahead of him! He turned to express his concern to the guard, but he ignored him. Look, you cant join the army without training. Now run along now, Ill see you at 6. Logan gulped and turned away. Chapter 4 Logan woke with a start, thinking hed overslept. He looked at his clock and sighed in releif. The hands were together. 5:25. He rolled out of bed and lay on the floor, excited. Although he was sad to leave the bar, the excitement of adventure outweighed that sorrow. After he was dressed, he had some cold porridge, more then he would normally have; for he knew there was a tough day ahead. After making some sandwiches out of stale bread and some left-over lamb, he gathered his belongings and put them in a pack. As he went into the bathroom to gather his things, he stared at his own reflection in the polished steel mirror. His bright green eyes shone with excitement. His brown hair, which reached halfway down his neck, was matted and unbrushed. His nose was slightly long, and his cheekbones high. Although he didnt know it, he was a rather fetching 16 year old. He bounced down the stairs at 5:50, walking briskly to ensure he wasnt late. He was one of the only people out at this time of day, so the streets of Varrok seemed unnaturally quiet. Logan groaned; it wasnt cold. That was sure to mean another scorching day ahead, and he had to train in it. Within a few minutes he was in the city square, where a small crowd of young men had gathered. There were more then 30, which surprised Logan. He hadnt been expecting so many people. It turned out he was one of the last there, because a middle aged man seized control and demanded silence. He wasnt tall, but was well built, which indicated that he worked out a lot. He had a bushy moustache, which was hard to take seriously because it shook as he spoke. Okay ladies, lets go! he shouted. He led them through the maze that was Varrok, darting through tiny streets and cramped alleyways. Logan was amazed that the man could memorize such a complicated path, which he guessed was exactly what they wanted. They couldnt let the enemy find where they trained. The man even cut through a few houses, but the occupants were obviously expecting them, for they left the doors open. Logan had never been this deep into the slums. The houses were practically falling apart. Boards covered the faces of the buildings, along with cracked windows. Rotten garbage and sewage lay in the alleyways. The stench was unbearable. Logan couldnt believe people could live like this. Then all of a sudden they were there. The houses cleared up slightly to reveal a training camp. Five meter high fences surrounded it, tipped with barbed wire. Guards armed with swords and bows stood by the gate and in watch towers located along the fence. It was obvious they didnt want any unwanted visitors. The man nodded to one of the guards, who nodded them through. Logan watched in awe. He was now officially recruited by the army! He could barely contain his excitement as he was led through the gate. Five hours later, that excitement had been replaced by a mix of pain and fear. He had only done four exercises so far: press-ups, sit ups, star jumps and jogging on the spot. Logan wouldnt usually associate those with army training, but he saw why they were needed. Hed lost count of how many press-ups hed done after 40. Hed never practiced them, so by then he was in too much pain to focus. The sit ups werent much better; his stomach felt like it had been mauled by a pit-bull. His lungs felt like they were about to burst too, after all the star jumps and jogging. It was tempting to just give up, but nobody else had, so it wouldve portrayed him as a weakling. Most bizarrely of all, the psychopath who was instructing them was not even human at all. He was seven feet tall, with bright red skin. He had huge teeth -or more like fangs- and two horns on his head. He wore camouflage clothes, which were covered in mud. Whenever he spoke, which was usually to insult them, he spat everywhere. He definitely liked the word maggot, for thats what he called everyone. He seemed to believe that there was no reason to get tired. After lunch came another wave of training, but this was sword-fighting and archery. Logan found he was much better at archery then he had guessed, but he was still a better swordsman. Just when Logan thought the day would never end, it did. The psycho demon thing dismissed them in mock disgust, and sent them to their cabins. The soon-to-be-soldiers all sighed, almost in unison, and started to talk amongst each other. One of them, who was walking next to him, spoke. Hey, you look a bit young. he said. 16. he replied. Ah. He said, before changing his tone. Whats up with that instructor? Did you see him face? Logan nodded. I mean, I thought Id seen ugly, but him, he makes a baboon look attractive! Whats a baboon? Logan asked. Uh... never mind. he answered. So, whats your name? Logan, what about you? I have many names he said. Call me Aura. Chapter 5 The next day was much the same. They were awoken at 6, before being forced to do a hundred press-ups before they were allowed to have breakfast. It was hardly worth it, for all they got was a bowl of cold porridge. After this, they did hours more of the basic exercises, with the psycho demon screaming at them whenever they rested. Lunch offered little relief; they were only given 10 minutes break before they went off to train their combat skills. Logan again found he was more skilled at archery then hed thought, and he was actually almost as good as the professional archers. He even got a couple of bulls-eyes in the three hours of training he did. The third day started the same, but instead of sword fighting and archery, they learned hand to hand combat. By the end of that day Logan felt even more shattered then usual. Hed been thumped more times than he could count, and his knuckles were almost bleeding because of all the dummy hitting hed been doing. He was smaller and younger then most of the other trainees, so he got thoroughly hammered in the fighting. Aura, on the other hand, seemed to be completely untroubled. He wasnt tall, or strong looking, but he was incredible skilled. He defeated his first opponent in a sword fight in less then ten seconds, and defeated Logan in their dual in about 20. He moved faster then Logan wouldve thought possible; he could only just parry the first few blows. As soon as Logan tried to fight back, Aura dodged and thrust the sword at Logans neck, stopping millimetres from it. Dead! he said cheerfully. Why are you at this training session? Logan asked, later that day. I mean, you couldve killed me without a second thought, even with one of those training swords! Well they didnt know that when I was recruited, did they? he replied. Why didnt you just show them then? And go to war without knowing my comrades? But this is horrible! Logan stated, before adding Did you say war? In response to your original question, it might seem horrible to someone whos new to it, but once you get used to it its not so bad. he said. Logan waited for a second, expecting an answer to the second question. He was about to speak when Aura interrupted. Why do you think they recruited so many people? Something big is about to happen. Dont expect to be doing guard duty. Logan suddenly remembered the man with the party-hat. He had said something about preparing themselves. This must be the preparing, he thought. Sending soldiers to try and stop whatever evil plan that adventurer had planned. When Logan told him about the man, Aura stared at him in disbelief. Seriously? he exclaimed, finally. Logan nodded. Aura stroked his chin, deep in thought. Eventually, he spoke. This is not good. he said grimly. We dont stand a chance What? Has he got an army of his own? No... Okay, let me explain. he paused to swallow. Established adventurers are not like normal people. They are extremely highly skilled in at least one form of combat, usually all three though. Like you? Logan interrupted. Sort of... Anyway, they are usually cruel and selfish, and will often kill without a second thought if it helps them. Most of them seek power and wealth, but not just gold or jewellery. Every adventurers goal is to achieve the mark of ultimate power: the Party-Hat. There are six of these, each with their own... characteristic. The Purple Party Hat is associated with heroics and friendliness. The owner tends to have better luck than average. The yellow hat is associated with nature, and the owned is said to be able to communicate with animals. The green hats owner has a lust for power and glory, which I suspect is what that man is looking for now. He has an unnatural leading ability and is a master of persuasion. The red hat, another bad one, is connected to greed and selfishness. This person can detect nearby wealth, as well as determine weather something is wealthy. Wait a second, so this man is trying to take over Varrock? Logan interrupted. Let me finish! Im just getting to the powerful ones! Okay, the white hat is linked to beauty and love, so the owner is irresistible to the opposite sex. Finally, theres the blue hat. This is by far the most powerful of the hats. The owner is very rarely seen, but he is said to have telepathetic powers. These hats also give the owner supernatural strength and magical ability, which is why adventurers seek them. Wait a minute, Logan said. How do you know this? How? he grinned. Because I own one. Chapter 6 Logan scoffed. Why would I believe that? Why wouldnt you? he replied. Logan contemplated for a moment. He started to speak, then stopped himself. He frowned and stared at the man in front of him. Aura was tall and strong, with short black hair, which wouldve worked perfectly for the description, but his youthful looks let him down. Then why are you here? Logan asked. Its not every day you see them recruiting people on the street. he said. I figured something big must be about to happen. Just curiosity really. Logan was shocked. It made perfect sense. He knew too much for a normal person, and he was unnaturally skilled. Arent you a bit young? Logan said, still not quite buying it. Thats a bit of a dumb thing to suggest he replied quickly. Youd think when someone get old theyd pass it on to someone young, wouldnt you? Logan started to speak, but was cut off. Dont say anything about experience, because Id had plenty before I got this. So, which hat do you have? Logan asked, still slightly suspicious. Take a guess. What do you associate me with? Logan stared blankly. Fighting? No, there wasnt one for that. He was smart, but he didnt seem like the kind of guy whod be able to use telepathy. Blue? he guessed. No, Purple! Isnt it obvious? he said, raising his voice. Logan looked dumbfounded. Im friendly, arent I? And why do you think Im here? Im associated with heroics! I cant help but help. If theres a war against something evil, I should be there. Oh, and theres luck. Im lucky that I found you, and heard youre story, arent I? Because the Varrock army would be practically helpless if the Green hat owner had an army, or even just the support of another hat owner. The only way we can beat him is to round up some hat owners support! Did you say we? Logan asked. Yeah, were friends, right? Logan nodded slowly. So then lets go save the world! Logan gulped. He seemed to have little choice, because if he volunteered not to go hed be giving up him dream of adventure. But did it have to come so soon? He sighed. It was now or never. Okay. he said. Chapter 7 As night descended, so did the rain. The droplets fell in their millions, together falling in an immense downpour. They together seemed to aim for a single destination; Varrock. The rain thoroughly saturated the entire city, forming massive puddles on the cobbled streets. The buildings were silent, their occupants seeking refuge from the rain by sleeping. Aura and Logan walked, alone, through the streets that were silent save for the constant pitter-patter of the falling rain. They spoke little, quietly accepting their drenching. It was not cold, but the rain was definitely enough to chill them. They walked at a brisk pace, intending to get out of the wet as quickly as possible. Aura claimed he was heading for an inn in the southern part of Varrock, where they would be close to the city gates. Theyd have to wait for the weather to clear first, because they would have to camp out as they travelled, for there were no places to stay in the barely-used forest tracks. The walk almost put Logan off the entire adventuring idea. Not only was it pouring with rain, but the city was absolutely massive, and it took six hours to cross from one side to another. Just to make matters worse, the sewers were overflowing with storm water, filling up the streets with waste. The official sewage mixed with the roadside sewage, which was twice as bad, to create a tremendous stench that rivalled that of the recent heat waves. This, however, was worse in the way that they had to wade through puddles of this waste mix. After what seemed like days they finally reached the inn that Aura had mentioned. It wasnt a big place, nor was it flash, which suited Logan fine. They left the flooding city and strode in. It felt like theyd stepped into a portal to another dimension. They were greeted by a rush of warm air, which came from a huge fire burning in the far corner of the room. The room was decorated with various paintings and ornaments, most notably an adament sword, in a glass case, for the entire world to see. Hello there, how can I help you? the receptionist said. He was short and round, and had a jolly appearance to him. One room, two beds. Aura said. Come right this way, sirs. The man led them through the room, ducking twice as they passed low beams. The room was not high, which made it seem all the snugger. They were then guided up a short wooden staircase, and past a few rooms. He stopped before one of them and opened the door. Heres youre room, the man said. enjoy your stay. Logan was puzzled. The man didnt complain about their saturated condition, nor did he ask for money. It was obvious this wasnt a very flash place. Tommorrow, we start our quest. Aura mumbled. Logan grinned. Tomorrow he became an adventurer. Chapter 8 Dawn came seemingly too quickly, and before Logan could get enough rest the burning yellow disk was shining brightly into their small room. Aura was still asleep, so Logan did he best to be quiet, which wasnt easy after just a few hours sleep. He clumsily staggered to the bathroom. He splashed cold water on his face to wake himself up, and stared at the face in the polished-steel mirror. It was different, in a strange way. He still had the same features; short brown hair and pale blue eyes, with high cheekbones and thin lips. His skin was only slightly tanned, for he did not spend much time outside. Although he did not realize it, he was a rather handsome young man. When he came out of the bathroom, Aura was up and gazing out the window. He didnt turn to look at him, but greeted him all the same. Good morning Logan replied. What are you looking at? Looks like were heading for a scorching day. he said, turning to face Logan. Mind you, it beats the rain. Logan too gazed out at the horizon. The city gates loomed ahead, less then a league away. Row upon row of houses stretched away, mostly slums that were falling apart. The buildings slanted this way and that, and were made of various slabs of wood stuck together. It was no surprise that so many houses burnt down in fires. He could not see far beyond the gate, but he knew it was mainly farmland. He had heard of the lush meadows stretching as far as the eye could see; a vast sea of green. That was another thing he wanted to witness, the sea. He hoped his voyage would take him there. He dressed into his travelling clothes as Aura used the bathroom. As he did s, he realized he didnt even know what he was going to do, or where he was adventuring to. He was simply following Aura. He hoped it would be as exciting as the stories told. When Aura was ready, they packed their bags and left the inn. Aura paid as he left, producing a gold coin to the shock of the receptionist. Youre welcome. Aura said sarcastically. He left without waiting for a reply. As soon as they stepped from the door they were hit by a sudden stench. The sewage mix from the previous night was evaporating, and as it did the mix got thicker and thicker. Logan hadnt seen such a sudden change of weather in years. He was glad to leave the horrible town. By the time the gate was close, the temperature was soaring. Logan was already sweating, and it was only ten in the morning. He doubted leaving the city would help the heat in any way, but at least the stench of the now dry sewage would be gone. Logan dared not breathe deeply, for fear of contamination. Logan was practically sick with anticipation by the time they reached the gates. They walked casually through, without a trouble. Logan was shocked. He realized he had been expecting something bad to happen. He breathed a single deep breath, and smiled. From now on, he thought, I am an adventurer! ________________ I will write more if I get feedback =)

Relax, I've had two operations and anesthesia is just like a pleasant dream, except the dream isn't really pleasant and you feel all drowsy when you wake up. There's nothing to worry about, they'll fix it. (If they don't, you can sure them :mrgreen:)

Banana peeling.

I suspect the case is not a matter of getting better at hunting things but getting better at creating hoaxes. Call me close-minded, but I just don't beleive in any 'one-of-a-kind' creatures.