Chapter 4: The Great Disturbance
After only a few days of travel, Roland knew that they must stop at the village ahead. Glancing at his companion Alric, a man of the land whose skills in navigation could not be matched, Roland could tell he had grown weary from travel and was in need of a well-deserved rest... and perhaps a shot of rum to calm the body and mind. The vibrant colors from the setting sun beckoned Roland to gaze upon its beauty on the Western horizon, reminding him of unfinished business and the life he had left behind. Turning to the East, dusk settled on the village as the sight of lights luminating from the windows and the smell of maple calmed the knight's spirits. As he looked beyond the village and could see the decaying palace of Halador o'er the plains before him, he was filled with a thrist for the land. And as he and his new found friend approached the village, he knew that his thirst would soon be quenched.
Upon entering the tavern, the stench of alcohol filled Roland's nostrils. The locals turned their heads to the journeymen almost instantly. Supping on their drinks and whispering to eachother, they seemed shocked at the sight of Roland and Alric. Had their eyes never fallen upon two wayward travellers? The men sitting around the bar eyed Roland with suspicion.
"Bartender, would thou fetch my companion and I a drink?"
The man behind the bar did not answer...he simply stood there with a perplexed expression on his rugged and unshaven face. After a few moments of silence, he swallowed and opened his mouth to speak. "Excuse me traveller... For It has been a long time since my eyes have befallen upon that crest." Roland looked down upon his sacred armor, remembering the engraving of the Crest of Thurkyll. An elder sitting on a barstool to his right locked eyes with the crest and gazed at Roland's shining armor... speechless. Roland sat next to him and questioned the old man. The man spoke of the Old Times, when the Knights of Thurkyll had aided the monks of the East in their holy wars and brought peace upon the land of the East. When Roland began to talk of these times, the man grew fearful and insisted that talking of such things could cost them their lives. He explained that a great disturbance had fallen upon the land of Halador and that the king of Halador's kingdom was in shambles. The king had appointed a Dark Lord as his advisor. The dark lord had decreed a ban on all religious icons, and any scrolls regarding the Old Kingdom were burned. Any villager caught talking of such things was burned at the stake in the center of the town. The dark lord wished to douse the flames of Revolution that filled the hearts and souls of the villagers of Halador. Roland had heard enough. "What darkness has fallen upon this land?" He thought in disgust as he stormed out of the tavern into the black of night.
Upon entering the tavern, the stench of alcohol filled Roland's nostrils. The locals turned their heads to the journeymen almost instantly. Supping on their drinks and whispering to eachother, they seemed shocked at the sight of Roland and Alric. Had their eyes never fallen upon two wayward travellers? The men sitting around the bar eyed Roland with suspicion.
"Bartender, would thou fetch my companion and I a drink?"
The man behind the bar did not answer...he simply stood there with a perplexed expression on his rugged and unshaven face. After a few moments of silence, he swallowed and opened his mouth to speak. "Excuse me traveller... For It has been a long time since my eyes have befallen upon that crest." Roland looked down upon his sacred armor, remembering the engraving of the Crest of Thurkyll. An elder sitting on a barstool to his right locked eyes with the crest and gazed at Roland's shining armor... speechless. Roland sat next to him and questioned the old man. The man spoke of the Old Times, when the Knights of Thurkyll had aided the monks of the East in their holy wars and brought peace upon the land of the East. When Roland began to talk of these times, the man grew fearful and insisted that talking of such things could cost them their lives. He explained that a great disturbance had fallen upon the land of Halador and that the king of Halador's kingdom was in shambles. The king had appointed a Dark Lord as his advisor. The dark lord had decreed a ban on all religious icons, and any scrolls regarding the Old Kingdom were burned. Any villager caught talking of such things was burned at the stake in the center of the town. The dark lord wished to douse the flames of Revolution that filled the hearts and souls of the villagers of Halador. Roland had heard enough. "What darkness has fallen upon this land?" He thought in disgust as he stormed out of the tavern into the black of night.