<span style="font-size: 150%; line-height: 116%;"><span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="font-style: italic">First Book <br/>Chapter 1<br/>Verse 1<br/></span></span></span><br/><br/>Title: Outset Port<br/>Location: Northern Kingdoms, Port City Victoria<br/>Date: Finallar 2nd<div style="margin:20px; margin-top:5px"><div class="quotetitle"><input class="button2 btnlite" onclick="if (this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display != '') { this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display = '';      this.innerText = ''; this.value = 'Hide'; } else { this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display = 'none'; this.innerText = ''; this.value = 'Show'; }" style="text-align:center;width:100px;margin:0px;padding:0px;" type="button" value="Show"/></div><div class="quotecontent"><div style="display: none;"><blockquote><div><cite>keyootee wrote:</cite>Verleen had long ago gave up on ever finding her father. Though she had a detailed description of him, she hadn't got a clue of where he was going. From when she had asked people if they saw a man who looked like him, she had gotten responses from them asking perhaps that he didn't want to be found. She hadn't thought of that. From what her mother said, her father loved her just as much as she loved him. But what if that wasn't the case? Why did he leave if that was the case. When she was younger, and far less jaded she believed that he must be in some sort of trouble. But as she learned more about the world, the harsh reality that he just didn't want to deal with a woman and a child came up. She tried to think more positive, but the people she had spoken to seemed to think that was the case. Over the years of searching for him, she found that she liked traveling and fighting when the opportunity came up. <br/>The men she met thought that a woman fighter was a little strange, and a bit daunting so she had given up with the love business. With how torn her mother was when her father left, she took that as a warning too. That could happen to her. She didn't trust men very much, but being a friendly sort of person she would be friends with one if she met one that seemed suited to her. Women seemed a little easier to be friends with though. She always thought that her heart was going to be broken, though she did not easily share it. She kept at a distance with them. As soon as she realized that a man was not interested in her romantically, she trusted them more though.<br/>She had been traveling for years now, and was hoping for someone to have an adventure with. She had a few leads into something to do, but nothing too serious. She hated being alone. Most people she had found to travel with had to leave for some reason or another, so she was beginning to think there was something about her that people didn't like. What was it? She could change if it meant that the person (or people) traveling with her would stay around.<br/>In her travels, she noticed a sign about some kind of quest. She headed to the inn moved towards the area that it had mentioned. She looked around for the person who made the request, ordering herself some ale and turkey for her to dine on while waiting. Hopefully this would be the journey she was waiting for, and the other people who took the quest would be pleasant.<br/>She looked at the server. <br/>"Excuse me, do you know who made the sign about the quest? I would be interested in trying out for it. I am an experienced fighter. Strange I know for a woman, but...I guess I am not like most women. Most of them want a relationship. That is farthest from my mind. With how things went with my mother and father...well."<br/>To most people, they wouldn't give so much information to a stranger. But once you got Verleen going, it was hard to get her to shut up! She kept rattling off words to the tender as she studied the other people in the place. It might be important after all. She was pretty good at reading faces by now since she had been to many inns in the past.</div></blockquote></div></div></div><br/><br/><span style="font-weight: bold"><br/>" Please wait here ma'am."</span>the waiter politely asked.<span style="font-weight: bold">" I'll go and inquire from the manager, since he is the one who permits folks to post these quests."</span>he went away for a bit approaching the bar and talking to the person there who seemed to be the owner. He came back with a pitcher of Ale to refill the young lady's glass.<span style="font-weight: bold">" He says the poster of the quest is out. The quest does read that if anyone is interested in it she will return here on the 6th of Finallar...a few days from now right over there."</span>he said pointing to the table that was reserved in for her on that day.<br/><span style="font-weight: bold"><br/>" The owner says you are more than welcome to stay here until then. Our rates are reasonable this time of year since it's cold. More bodies in a building breeds more warmth for everyone. Enjoy your meal."</span>he said not knowing that there were no single rooms available anymore.<br/><br/><div style="margin:20px; margin-top:5px"><div class="quotetitle"><input class="button2 btnlite" onclick="if (this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display != '') { this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display = '';      this.innerText = ''; this.value = 'Hide'; } else { this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display = 'none'; this.innerText = ''; this.value = 'Show'; }" style="text-align:center;width:100px;margin:0px;padding:0px;" type="button" value="Show"/></div><div class="quotecontent"><div style="display: none;"><blockquote><div><cite>The Creator 7 wrote:</cite>The night was turning colder by the second being in the end the winter. The wind seemed to be blowing harder by the minute. The hooded figure with a hunched over back was riding a shaggy horse bred for the mountains and the cold. If one could see inside the hood, one would only see a pair of green eyes with long lashes. She had left her home last fall to explore the world. She never thought about how close to winter it was when the young couple bought her home and creatures. She was well paid and had a lot of excitement of starting out on her own.<br/><br/>That was back in Terra. This is now Finallar. Most of her money was gone. Her stomach was growling. Her toes were nearly frozen despite the several pairs of socks she was wearing in the oversized boots. She was wearing several dresses, each one slightly larger than the one under it. She had even put on men's long johns that she claimed that it was for her elderly father. The cloak could barely be closed over the bulkiness. Her hands were in kid gloves and then in a pair of leather gloves. She could barely open them them but she was sure if it was because of the cold or the gripping. And it didn't matter either. Soon she would fall off her mount to her death if she didn't soon find a place to stay.<br/><br/>As she came up to the gates of a city. She had forgotten what city now but she knew when she left the last city she spent a few days in. She was still looking for a job somewhere. A larger city may have the job she wanted or even she did want an available job, she most likely take it anyways.  Urging the horse to move faster, she spurred the horse hard. A jump and it gallop towards the gates that were beginning to shut. She gave out a sharp piercing whistle to alert the guards of her arrival in hopes to be able to get inside for the night.<br/><br/>"Hey there! Hurry it up. It's snowing and will be worst by morning. Get yourself to one of the Inns." the guard yelled as she rode into the city.<br/><br/>"Thank you much!" came a feminine voice as the horse sped by. She slowed the horse down as she came close to the center of the city. She pulled the hood back and hunted for the closest Inn. She gave the reins to a young man who claimed to be a stable boy. After a stern warning, she pulled the saddle bags off the back of the horse. She dragged the saddlebags into the Inn and to the bar. She unfastened her cloak to let the warmth inside her cloak. It couldn't get to her near frozen body but it sure felt good to her neck and face.<br/><br/>"I do hope that there is a room and something to eat for dinner. I'd like to stay for a couple days to thaw out. I gave my horse to the stable boy. He had best feed and get my horse warmed up properly if he wants to be paid for more than oats. How much is this going to cost me, sir?" She spoke  and did her best not to shiver.</div></blockquote></div></div></div><br/><br/>The big old man at the bar just finished speaking to one of his servers when a woman appeared before him asking for lodging.<span style="font-weight: bold">" Don't ya worry Lass. The stable boy is a lover of horses. He even sleeps in the stable" </span>he said in a whisper with an odd tone.<span style="font-weight: bold">" Your welcome to stay at Travelers Crossroads. Our lodging is modest, our food is for kings...and queens and our hospitality is second to none in this town." he heartily spoke with much gesturing and laughs. " </span><br/><br/>He went through his log books a few times looking for a room for the young lady. He found nothing available for her.<span style="font-weight: bold">" A wee little problem lass. I'm afraid all the single rooms have been taken. I would not ask ye this if the weather wasn't so bad, but there is however a gentleman who paid for a full group suite. Now these suites can lodge 5 people comfortably like, if you wish ye can ask him to share the cost. Or ye can see if he's willing to have someone in a single room move in with him temporary like and you can have the single. Sorry love that's the best I can do. Tell you what whatever ye chose the first night is on us. I am sure some rooms will free up for the next day." </span>he suggested to the young woman.