Fiore was starting to look like a really mountainous region, what with most of Belladonna's missions being located in the highlands of this country. Weren't there missions that placed the mage in more urban settlements? That last line of thought was just her being fickle; it was somewhat preferable for her to take up missions of this sort, where interaction with natives of Fiore was reduced to a minimum of sorts. Being a dark mage, she always elicited those "dagger-looks" when anyone recognized her guild mark, and in some cases, not long after she had been identified, Rune Knights came sniffing about. In all honesty, she was more comfortable with missions that sent her to back-water places, where she could make some cash and improve on her powers without getting the attention of powerful enemies. She reasoned that, in time, she would eventually burst forth on the world scene, and opposition would attempt to crush her. In such a case, it was better for herself to be scarcely known, so that she would be an unexpected and unpredictable power.
She had been to the Phoenix Mountains for a thing or two in the past; most of her journeys here involved missions, and this one was not an exception. This was one of those missions that many dark mages would not even consider doing, as it was looking out for the well-being of another. Truth was, the expected pay was acceptable, and so Belladonna had taken it up. Perhaps a much less important reason was that she wanted to remain empathetic to some degree, so that she would not end up being the very thing she despised. After all, oppressors and tyrants shared a common vice: apathy. If she performed some good acts every now and then, she could still stay connected to the feelings of others. And maybe when she had found a purpose to this existence of hers and had completed her work as a dark mage, someone would remember some of her acts of charity and speak up for her.
She pushed the thoughts of the future aside and focused on the present. The path up into the mountain promised to be long, because the mission had described the location of the missing person as high up in the mountains. And such an area was the abode of winter wonders and frigid fairy tales. The only problem was that the reality of fairy tales was quite unlike what the children read in their little story books. The prospects of finding friendly wild animals in an environment that often left them half starved was completely laughable. Who knew, though, maybe she would find some talking bears that would invite her over for a bowl of stew... or was it porridge?
First things first, she would pay a courtesy call to the person who had put up the mission, at least to let him know that someone was on the case. At least, that would give him a little hope that he might see his friend again. Her mind began to wander again, and she wondered whether if she went missing, there was anyone she had come close enough to that would instigate a search for her. Well, that was one of the disadvantages that came with the territory of being a dark mage: one was pretty much on their own. Sure, many of them could do whatever they liked, but at the same time, when they found their backs to the wall, they often ended up alone. Friends were important, even to the bad guys, though she supposed the concept of "friend" in that light was quite relative.
For the most part, she had gone halfway up the mountain. The most dangerous creatures that she had met were snow squirrels, which somehow had adapted to the low temperatures without bothering to go for their winter nap. Some forests she had passed through had some sort of deer, but they were too bashful to reveal themselves. Much good it did them, as she was still aware of their presence. Fortunately for them, she was not out for venison, though she figured that without her magic, they would give her a serious run for her money.
The next clearing she got to was a small town, possibly the furthest up the mountain. Beyond, she could see woods and wild lands, embraced by the white touch of snow. Her contact would be somewhere in this village, so all she had to do was ask around. She approached the first person she saw. "Hello. I'm looking for someone. Trader, or supplier of goods ought to fit his description."
Her respondent was a middle aged man, with an old wooden smoking pipe. "Seems like Barnley is your man," he replied. "Check him over there, at that stall. He's pretty much the only supplier of goods we got in these parts."
"Thank you very much."
She made her way over to where Barnley was, a short man (but still taller than herself) with a nervous disposition and a thick beard. Somehow, he reminded her of a dwarf or gnome, something in one of them children tales. She approached him and waved at him to get his attention. "Mr. Barnley, I presume?"
He paused and looked at her, obviously surprised at her 'impractical' choice of clothing, or perhaps more at her utter disregard for the cold winds that forced the warmth out of people's bodies. "Uh... yeah. That would be me. Who do I have the honor of meeting?" he asked, as he extended a hand.
Belladonna took it and gave it a firm shake. "Belladonna. Are you the one who put up a mission to find a missing person?"
Barnley's eyes lit up with recognition and hope. "Yes, as a matter of fact, I am. So glad someone got to it."
Belladonna nodded. "Okay. Is there anything I need to know before I set out?" she asked.
"Well, the name of the man we're looking for is Dan. A really good bow man, if there ever was one. The trails up into the mountains are not many, and most of them lead to his abode, so it shouldn't be too hard to find it." A hint of worry crept into his voice. "I hope it's just me panicking, but he comes at appointed times to get supplies from me, being a hermit and all that. However, he didn't show up to pick his latest supplies. I just need to know he is fine. And if he's not, please, save him."
Belladonna nodded and turned to go, but sensed that Barnley seemed hesitant about something. "Is there something on your mind?"
He shook his head, then nodded. "These mountains are dangerous much further up, and you came alone, without back up. Are you going to be alright?"
She smiled, her expression mostly amused, but with a tinge of indulgence. "I should be. It's the cold I should be worried about, and as you can see, I am not. I suppose there are dangers up there, but if I wasn't prepared, I wouldn't be here now, would I?"
Barnley nodded. Alright. Do be careful, okay?
Belladonna simply waved in reply, and left the village.
She had been to the Phoenix Mountains for a thing or two in the past; most of her journeys here involved missions, and this one was not an exception. This was one of those missions that many dark mages would not even consider doing, as it was looking out for the well-being of another. Truth was, the expected pay was acceptable, and so Belladonna had taken it up. Perhaps a much less important reason was that she wanted to remain empathetic to some degree, so that she would not end up being the very thing she despised. After all, oppressors and tyrants shared a common vice: apathy. If she performed some good acts every now and then, she could still stay connected to the feelings of others. And maybe when she had found a purpose to this existence of hers and had completed her work as a dark mage, someone would remember some of her acts of charity and speak up for her.
She pushed the thoughts of the future aside and focused on the present. The path up into the mountain promised to be long, because the mission had described the location of the missing person as high up in the mountains. And such an area was the abode of winter wonders and frigid fairy tales. The only problem was that the reality of fairy tales was quite unlike what the children read in their little story books. The prospects of finding friendly wild animals in an environment that often left them half starved was completely laughable. Who knew, though, maybe she would find some talking bears that would invite her over for a bowl of stew... or was it porridge?
First things first, she would pay a courtesy call to the person who had put up the mission, at least to let him know that someone was on the case. At least, that would give him a little hope that he might see his friend again. Her mind began to wander again, and she wondered whether if she went missing, there was anyone she had come close enough to that would instigate a search for her. Well, that was one of the disadvantages that came with the territory of being a dark mage: one was pretty much on their own. Sure, many of them could do whatever they liked, but at the same time, when they found their backs to the wall, they often ended up alone. Friends were important, even to the bad guys, though she supposed the concept of "friend" in that light was quite relative.
For the most part, she had gone halfway up the mountain. The most dangerous creatures that she had met were snow squirrels, which somehow had adapted to the low temperatures without bothering to go for their winter nap. Some forests she had passed through had some sort of deer, but they were too bashful to reveal themselves. Much good it did them, as she was still aware of their presence. Fortunately for them, she was not out for venison, though she figured that without her magic, they would give her a serious run for her money.
The next clearing she got to was a small town, possibly the furthest up the mountain. Beyond, she could see woods and wild lands, embraced by the white touch of snow. Her contact would be somewhere in this village, so all she had to do was ask around. She approached the first person she saw. "Hello. I'm looking for someone. Trader, or supplier of goods ought to fit his description."
Her respondent was a middle aged man, with an old wooden smoking pipe. "Seems like Barnley is your man," he replied. "Check him over there, at that stall. He's pretty much the only supplier of goods we got in these parts."
"Thank you very much."
She made her way over to where Barnley was, a short man (but still taller than herself) with a nervous disposition and a thick beard. Somehow, he reminded her of a dwarf or gnome, something in one of them children tales. She approached him and waved at him to get his attention. "Mr. Barnley, I presume?"
He paused and looked at her, obviously surprised at her 'impractical' choice of clothing, or perhaps more at her utter disregard for the cold winds that forced the warmth out of people's bodies. "Uh... yeah. That would be me. Who do I have the honor of meeting?" he asked, as he extended a hand.
Belladonna took it and gave it a firm shake. "Belladonna. Are you the one who put up a mission to find a missing person?"
Barnley's eyes lit up with recognition and hope. "Yes, as a matter of fact, I am. So glad someone got to it."
Belladonna nodded. "Okay. Is there anything I need to know before I set out?" she asked.
"Well, the name of the man we're looking for is Dan. A really good bow man, if there ever was one. The trails up into the mountains are not many, and most of them lead to his abode, so it shouldn't be too hard to find it." A hint of worry crept into his voice. "I hope it's just me panicking, but he comes at appointed times to get supplies from me, being a hermit and all that. However, he didn't show up to pick his latest supplies. I just need to know he is fine. And if he's not, please, save him."
Belladonna nodded and turned to go, but sensed that Barnley seemed hesitant about something. "Is there something on your mind?"
He shook his head, then nodded. "These mountains are dangerous much further up, and you came alone, without back up. Are you going to be alright?"
She smiled, her expression mostly amused, but with a tinge of indulgence. "I should be. It's the cold I should be worried about, and as you can see, I am not. I suppose there are dangers up there, but if I wasn't prepared, I wouldn't be here now, would I?"
Barnley nodded. Alright. Do be careful, okay?
Belladonna simply waved in reply, and left the village.
WC: 1207/3500