CHAPTER 1: AFTER THE LAST WAR

This story takes place in the D&D world of Eberron.  Eberron is a world where moral ambiguity is a part of the setting.  For highlighting, the King of Karrnath is evil, but he wants peace.  The Queen of Aundair is Neutral Good, but she wants to take over the continent.  Dragon color isn't an indicator of the dragon's morality.  And there are a lot of stupid idiots out there that can take you to the cleaners -- no matter what their alignment is.

The year is 998.

A young man, in his mid-twenties, is preparing his clothes and a few other things.  It's early in the morning, but he had a feeling today that he was going to find his childhood friend.  It's been a long time since he's seen her, and he was excited at the prospect.  He had the feeling for a long time, and he was making every effort to prepare.  He was tall, but not that tall.  He had brown hair gathered in a ponytail, but glittering blue eyes -- the kind that girls would love to look at and fall into forever.  His skin was white or light pink.  His face was innocent, his expression confident.  His face, happy -- as he had a geniune smile about him and a brightened countenance.  Certain folk could see into his countenance and find things they liked, others might not like his countenance because it was too powerful.  The man had an air of Sovereignty about him, though he was not a sovereign.

His adventuring clothes consisted of three pairs of breeches, two changes of small clothes, boots, a baldric, and several shirts including his favorite: a white cotton shirt that was comfortable to wear and was open at the neck.  He had a sword, and he lifted it out of the scabbard -- checking it's quality.  It gleamed white, as if made with fine steel.  It was only a simple rapier, but one had to defend himself.  He put it back into his scabbard, assured of its newness and fine quality -- a gift from the village swordsmith.

A woman's voice calls out, "Richard?  Richard?"

The young man answered: "Yes, Mother, what is it?"

Richard's mother, for the young man was Richard, returned, "Before you go, could you remind your uncle that if he hires a hand for the business, make sure he interviews him thoroughly."

"Yes, mother," said Richard.  Richard left his room.  his room was clean, had a nice bed up against the wall and an Amoire which contained his clothes.  his rug was green, his walls nicely painted white.  He had a window to the outside facing south, which let a lot of light in.  At the far side of the room was a table, on which it sat a tallow candle.  The candle had a burned wick, which meant that it was used recently. Also on the table was a picture of Richard when he was ten years old with a girl who was dragonborn.   The picture was drawn, and he had an unhappy face with the girl over him with her arms about him and a face that was happy.  The drawing was done on paper using pencil and then pen.

Richard came downstairs into the den or greatroom of his house.  Which was well lit and faced the east.  As the day waned on, though, the light of the house.  He found his mother and hugged her, and then went outside to find his uncle.  He found him, as his uncle -- Uncle Sandoval -- was outside talking to applicants.  Sandoval was a portly man, who wore a stylish long mustache and a goatee.  His hair was graying at the sides, and his eyes were beady.  His hairline was in recession and formed a definite widow's peak.  One thing that Sandoval knew how to do was to brew fine wine from the best wine grapes.  It was a trade taught to him and his brothers by his father.  And now Sandoval took over the business since his two brothers went to fight for their King and Country in the Last War. 

"Uncle? Uncle?" Richard said.

Sandoval, another human, turned to Richard.  He then grinned and said, "Today's the day, isn't boy?"

"Yes, I have a feeling today is the best day for action!" Richard said.  "I've been preparing for this time for the last fourteen years.  I think the time is right to go out and find her.  Oh, Mother said you should interview my replacement thoroughly."

Sandoval grinned.  "This is a winery, boy, I'm sure I can find someone to help," he said, chuckling.  "Girls willing to take off their clothes to smash grapes between their toes are a dime a dozen, but I need help to move the casks.  With you leaving to find your friend, I'll be short handed."

"This is the first time I'll be leaving home," Richard said.

"Of course, my boy," said Sandoval.  "When you find her and bring her back, make sure you treat her fine, eh?"

Richard smiled.  "She's my friend," he said.  "I don't have to worry about her or me.  I'll bring her home, I promise you that."

"Well, my boy, it's been twelve years since she was taken from us," said Sandoval.  "If there is anyone who can bring home Chastity, it's you.  Have you spoken to her parents yet?"

"Many times," Richard said.  Her real name was Nala, he remembered.  Dragonborn simply do not share their real names unless they were close to their friends.  Most of the other dragonborn of her family were xenophobic, so it took real courage for Nala to reveal her real name to him.  Richard had to convince distraught parents that he was the one most capable of bringing her home.  Not one of her brothers.  He shuddered to think on how her parents reacted when he told them he knew her real name. 

No one personally knew why Nala took the name of Chastity as a childhood name, except he.  She fiercely guarded herself, even after reaching adolescence.  She stated that she was saving herself.  However, everything could have changed for Nala.  It's been fourteen years, and now Richard had a solid lead as to where she might be.  But he was the one that was going to find her and bring her home.

"When are you leaving?"

Richard's mother called out, "BREAKFAST!"

"After I eat," Richard said.

Sandoval had some last minute advice to give Richard, but, yes . . . it was time to eat and finally get work done as to who will be taking over Richard's position.

After breakfast there was a gathering outside in the town square before the Lightning Rail station. There, in the middle of the gathering stood Lord Roxton.  Lord Roxton was a shifter, a wildhunt shifter -- meaning he was descended from Werewolves.  Lord Roxton, despite his Shifter heritage, was the most popular adventurer in Hatheril.  He had dark hair, a nicely trimmed beard, and wore expensive clothing.  Women swooned around him in spite of his generalized hypertrichosis. 

Outside the crowd was Richard, waiting for his going away party.  Richard felt that Lord Roxton was actually doing it for the fame.  What Lord Roxton then said confirmed what he thought.  "I, Lord Roxton, a veteran of the last war, will investigate the ruins of Castle Crag in the mountains and I will return back with word and evidence of any lost family and fabulous treasure!"

The women swooned.  "He's just so manly," one woman said.  "What bravery!"  "What courage!"  "The muscles!"

"How far would you say you would be going on this journey?" said a man from the Korranberg Chronicle.  He wrote down his notes with a quill pen.

"I will be going to Karrnath where some of our men, no doubt, lies as prisoners of War," said Lord Roxton.  "It's a dangerous journey, as I might run into troops composed of troops from Fort Zombie or Fort Bones."

Another reporter asked, "Lord Roxton, will you be handling this journey alone?"

Lord Roxton laughed at that.  "Oh, no, my good man.  I'll recruit some hardy helpers along the way."

"Is this excursion sanctioned by the Brelish government?" asked a woman reporter.  She was a gnomish woman wearing the colors of Stormreach on her jacket.

"No, but when do we need to have papers to do a little adventuring?" said Lord Roxton.

 Richard turned away from the crowd and headed to his party, which was much smaller. His mother was dressed in a simple kirtle, and his Uncle Sandoval was dressed in simple clothes.  The party was accompanied by two Dragonborn -- a man and a woman -- and about seven others.

"Well, you are off, Richard, to Sharn to find Chastity!" said his mother.  "I'm so proud of you, Richard.  You remind me of your father when he went off to fight in the last war."

"Hopefully not exactly," said Richard.  "I do plan on coming back."

Uncle Sandoval took Richard aside and started, "Becareful of Sharn, my boy.  It's the largest metropolis in all of Breland. Trust your feelings, and trust that all good will come to you.  Make sure you act in accordance as a good subject of our King."

"Yes, Uncle," said Richard.

"And make sure you do not tarnish the family name while in Sharn.  People have been known to leave the country, go to Sharn and become wholly different people," said Sandoval. "Stay honest, and stay away from the brothels of Firelight and Overlook.  And mind yourself to stay away from the casinos of Dragoneyes."

"I will, Uncle," said Richard.  "Don't worry, the family name will not be tarnished."

The dragonborn female, golden skinned but also wearing a simple kirtle, hugged Richard.  "Becareful, Richard, I know you'll bring back Nala."

"Don't worry, Celebria, I will bring back your daughter," he said. 

"Time to board!" said the conductor of the Lightning Rail.  The lightning rail was like a huge steam locomotive from the 19th Century.  The front of the rail, the engine, blared a whistle -- a signal that told the people waiting to take the train. 

"I have to go, Mother," said Richard, hugging his mother.  He then waved good bye, and boarded his lightning rail coach.  Lord Roxton also said goodbye to his fans and boarded the same coach.  In a little less than fifteen minutes, the conductor of the train said -- "All aboard!" and that was the signal.

Blowing a steam whistle, the air became electric as the train arose from the lightning stones beneath it.  Like a magnetic levitation train, the train surged forward slowly at first and then started to pick up speed.  As it left the station of Hatheril, it was on it's way to it's next stop.  Everyone waved good bye and the train speeded up.  IN five minutes, the train almost reached it's top speed of forty miles an hour and soon it was nothing but a dot on the horizon. 

* * * * * * 

Sharn.  City of Towers.  City of Opportunity.  Gate to Xen'Drik.  City of Heroes.  City of Adventurers.

It's been called many things, but the sprawling metropolis was literally built with high spires.  up top, floating in the sky was Skyway, a floating city reserved for the Rich and Famous of Sharn.  As one goes down, though, there is less sunlight shining through as each new tower depends on the towers around it to hold it up with flying buttresses and other designs.  Dragoneyes was on the lower reaches, and it would seem to be a place that didn't get much light.  In fact, its streets were lined with lamps colored red with everburning flames burning in them.  Dragoneyes is a Redlight district, with bordellos lining the street along with Casinos.  Some sunlight did get down to Dragoneyes, but it did little to alleviate the shadows except to diffuse amongst them.  Dragoneyes was a place that always seemed like it was overcast.

In one bordello, sat one dragonborn.  A female, her breasts have grown from flatness of chest to something well endowed, as her breasts made her the envy of her peers.  She was well formed, her hips have widened nicely, giving her some curves.  She was covered in soft, golden scales except for her forearms, her stomach, her thighs and part of her shins and feet, which were covered with enlarged hardened scales.  Her face was a lizard's face, and from her head grew ropey tendrils that seemed like hair.  Her eyes were blue as well.  And she had sharp teeth on her.  She was dressed only in a white wrapping of silk that resembled a tabard with a girdle of white.  There was a knock at the door.

The Dragonborn girl opened the door, "Yes, Master?"  In walked a man who was thin as anything.  He wore a suit that was black and red.

"For the past three years after your training, you have refused to sleep with anyone who needed your company," the man who was the girl's Master said.  "So, I'll have to sell you."

"Please, Master, do not sell this girl," she cried.  "You've been kind to me!"

"You work in my casino, you need to do more than keep someone's company at the tables.  You need to sleep with them.  Which you hae refused to do for the past three years.  You are worthless to me, voodoo.  So I'm going to sell you to someone who will need your company."

"But, I'm saving myself!" she cried.

"Virginity is not something a slave should save. Especially one trained in pleasure like yourself. It's been decided."

The dragonborn girl turned to the mirror and laid down her head and cried.  She was saving herself.  But she was an old maid now, and who would buy an old maid?  The dragonborn girl looked up into the mirror and saw herself.  She wept.  She might be sold, but to whom?  She was saving herself, this was true.  She believed in true love, but now everything seemed to be destroyed for her.  Her home for the last three years is about to be taken away, and she will be sold to a man who might be a beast.  She didn't know what to do but to pray.  The girl then went to her bed, which was a pallet with a lot of straw on it, and prayed to the gods for help.

* * * * *