text: [Themes: fantasy, RPG, serious]
  
  Seeing that the men are dressed in Leather armor, carry Long blades in one hand, and outnumber her two to one she knew that this was not going to be easy, these men were built for speed. They however moved not like professional soldiers, more like tough and untrained mercenaries. What they lose in actual combat training they have gained by fighting dirty brawls and back alley muggings.
  
  > use her Twin Swords - Medium Speed Medium Damage
  Sebastian flips the traveler's cloak away from her waist and pulls her twin short swords. These she spins across her body with skill and speed. Short Swords are quick and still have heft, able to both block blades, do good damage, and also be used with two bladed fighting. She pulls her arms up and points the blades directly at the faces of the two men as they stand side by side.
  
  One does a test jab which she blocks , the other cuts low and she steps away. They advance a step. Another blocked jab leads Sebastian inwards. As she is losing the gap her second opponent swipes to her midsection. She blocks the attack and slices his sword hand.
  
  She then parris the first swordsman and chops upwards with her blocking blade. The man's hand comes off at the wrist. He gazes at his wrist as Sebastian kicks the injured swordsman back into his partner. She then leaps forward and stabs him.
  
  He slides down, still looking at his wrist in shock as it spurts arterial blood across the tables and collapses to his knees. Sebastian beheads him with an overhand chop.
  
  > One Swordsman Remains
  The remaining swordsman looks down in horror at his buddy on the floor and then readies himself, "Yer worth a pretty coin lass. Less ta share eh? I suppose I should be thanking ye! After I kills ye that is!"
  
  > press the Attack!
  Two against one in a small bar with smaller weapons was a difficult proposition but Sebastian had suffered through worse and she'd tested their skills. They were lacking. The remaining swordsman was not an entirely skilled fighter, she'd fought worse in the streets of many a city, and this man was no soldier. He was likely a freelancer or an opportunist.
  
  Sebastian was not going to waste time with lesser talent. She feinted and the man pulled his blade to block. She then ducked under his guard and delivered a nasty blow to his crotch with her knee. He went down quickly. A quick slash to his throat finished the business and she stood alone.
  
  She looked to the barkeep, "I apologize for the mess," and tossed him another silver coin then walked out of the bar.
  
  > Mid End Road
  The afternoon journey is peaceful, the sun dabbles in the sky like a doddering old man and Arbalest is enjoying his freedom. He prances down the road and Sebastian lets the spirited Charger make his own pace. The travelers, pilgrims, refugees, and soldiers that pass all move to her side as she flows by like the breeze. Soon, she reaches a bridge. The Sign says 'Shale Bridge'.
  
  She;d heard rumors of Bandit activities in the area so she decided to be cautious, just in case. No problems here. She passed over the bridge paying a mere copper toll. Idly she thought of the many dozens of coppers the toll bridge collected each day.
  
  It was reaching nightfall by the time she reached a crossroads where, in addition to the hanging body of a bandit was a four-directional sign that read:
  
  SOUTH - HANDLE'S MILL - 3 MILES
  
  NORTH - AITOL - 5 MILES
  
  EAST - CELIKA - 15 MILES
  
  WEST - WEST - HELMSWORTH - 7 MILES
  
  Sebastian knows that she has to go to Helmsworth for the Ring.
  
  > continue to Helmsworth
  Sebastian, despite her normal curiosity and wanderlust has a mission and she continues past the crossroads towards Helmsworth and the monstrous smith. It is now night and she pulls up her crossbow and rests it on her lap as she drives Arbalest onward.
  
  Surprisingly, she remains unaccosted as her journey continues through the woods though she hears wolves, night birds, and even sees faery lights in the distance once or twice. Sticking to the road was her best plan, arrive by midnight and find lodging. This was exactly what she meant to do.
  
  The half moon shone through the dense trees as she rode up a hill and looked down at the twinkling of lights in the distance. She purred Arbalest onwards, "We're almost there. Easy now boy. We'll be eating afore the Stone (hour) is closed."
  
  After forty pebbles of travel she arrived at a small town with a picket fence and two men on guard at the only gate, the leader, a grizzled man of approximately forty five summers growls, "Who be ye!?! We don't like trab'lers comin' in the night. Declare yourself and your intentions."
  
  > tell the Truth
  Sebastian rode up to the gate, arms up and with the Seal of Essitrea in her hand, "Hail men of the watch, I am Dame Sebastian of Essitrea, I come for food, drink, lodging, and succor. I ride in peace and only wish to do business with your smith on the 'morrow."
  
  The grizzled man approaches, his spear held aloft suspiciously, "Well, lemee look at that seal, Yulle cover me," the younger soldier, a man of twenty or so summers raises his crossbow.
  
  "Dame Sebastian of Essitrea eh? Looks official. A'right ye' can come in. Ye'll have ta stay at the inn. I suppose ye can pay right?"
  
  "Yes, I have coin." Sebastian replies.
  
  "Fair then, stable yer charger at the inn, 'The Damsel of Swords'. Will have ta' do it yerself."
  
  "No issue with that. He'd prefer it anyways."
  
  "Fine then. Yulle, open the gate. Lady's comin' though!"
  
  > The Damsel of Swords
  Sebastian enters the town, it is completely sleepy and even the inn looked like it was shut down. She had permission to enter the inn so she stabled her mount and then strode up to the door. Taking a breath, she knocked loudly. No one answered. She knocked again and waited.
  
  She heard a faint noise in the background.
  
  She knocked again. "Hold yer' friggin' horses I'm coming!" She heard a grumpy voice announce from beyond the door.
  
  The door popped open suddenly and a man in bedclothes complete with a night cap answered angrily, "We're closed!"
  
  Sebastian holds up her seal and says, "The guardsmen say differently, I passed through the gate and was told to sleep here."
  
  "Friggin' guardsmen, can't do even one job correctly..." he mutters.
  
  "I have coin and am willing to pay for this inconvenience." Sebastian offers.
  
  The man's eyes brighten, "Er... really? How much?"
  
  "A Silver for your troubles and normal cost for room, board and breakfast."
  
  The door opens, "Well then, be our guest! Jus' don't be 'xpectin' no dinner, kitchen's closed. Your room is upstairs, first room to the right."
  
  > Sleep
  The night is full of strange dreams but Sebastian awakes and enjoys a small feast of eggs, pork, and sweetbread with milk. She then heads towards the Smith's house.
  
  > visit the Smith
  Morning comes and Sebastian awakes quickly finding herself at the smith's doorstep. She waits until eight o' clock before knocking politely at the door. No answer. She knocks again and finally she hears, "I'm on my way, be patient!"
  
  Sebastian's heart leaps in her throat. She knew any Ogre Mage was dnagerous but would he attack her or try to eat her? Would he even want to deal with her? Was the silver enough? She wasn't sure.
  
  The door opens and an old man looks at her, "Yeah, whaddya want?"
  
  Sebastian collelcts herself and says, "I need a ring to be forged. It is a special ring called a Hemlock Band. I hear that the master of this house is one who can forge such things. May I speak with him please?"
  
  The old man looks her up and down and says, "Yer speakin' to him!"
  
  Sebastian smiles, "Heh, well I had heard on good authority that he was a magical giant who cast spells."
  
  The old man chuckles, "Lemme guess, he also had horns, giant razor like teeth, blue skin, and tattoos?"
  
  Sebastian nodded though she herself wasn;'t sure. She just thought that he'd be hard to miss whatever his coloration or peculiarities were.
  
  "Lass, someone's been pulling yer' leg. However, I can forge this ring you want if'n you've got the coin."
  
  "I have thirty Silver."
  
  "Close, but not enough. Good day!" He begins to slam the door.
  
  "But sir, I need this ring, I've traveled all the way from Celika on behalf of my Lord to claim it. Failure is not an option."
  
  The old man looks Sebastian up and down before sighing, "Well, fine, come on in. We'll hash it out. But you'll have to do me a favor first before I agree to anything."
  
  "I am prepared," Sebastian says, "To do whatever you ask."
  
  "Goood... Goooood. Just step into my workshop girl and let me have a look at ye...'"