Cynic

Cynic

Age	26
Race	Male Aasimar
Alignment	Chaotic Neutral

Appearance

Height	5'10 [Medium]
Weight	75kg
Body	Hale
Skin	Pale gold
Hair	Dark brown with golden tint
Eyes	Right-Eye (bright-gold, hidden) Left-Eye (brown)

Played by
Yang

Background

Grew up without a proper father figure in the Wavering Isles.
Mother passed away due to deprivation & influenza.

Was adopted by the Russo Familia, with adoptive father and head of the family Giovanni.
Grew up with a childhood friend, Francesca Russo, Giovanni's only child. 

Lived a childhood life of thievery & trickery, abiding to his own code of conduct.
Quit this way of living after discovering magic and believing that magic has the better potential to be used for self-enrichment, knowledge & power.

"Left" the Wavering Isles on a pirate ship after the fall of the family. 
Decided to forego his past and start a new adventure. 
However, the past always catches up to you...

Family, Friends & Allies

Family:

Mother (Human, deceased)

Father (Aasimar, unknown)

Friends:

Childhood friend (Unrevealed)

Best friend Fyren

Allies:

Adoptive Familia (Unrevealed)

The Four Feathers

The Getaways

The Fold

The Adventurers guild

Notable Trivia & Lore

Speaks and can read Celestial, Common, Draconic and Primordial.

Behaviour may show changes according to no discernible rules.

Due to poor upbringing, avaricious & ambitious in nature.   Cynic: "Gold flourishes!" Can there be any higher calling, and goal more noble, than the pursuit of wealth & prosperity?"

Was known as a child of mischief, a charmer, and a benevolent protector to his dearest comrades.  Cynic: "It is not difficult to desire. The true challenge is to be desired."

Unnatural curiosity towards the Aasimar race. Similarly, an unnatural lack of contentment towards the Human race.

This character was born out of wedlock.

Prologue - Cynic

Fragments of the Past 01

Endure 1/3

Wavering Isles, Chiros. A small Island. A happy little child ran down the road and was met with many of his friends. The child was a charming young boy and full of energy. He seemed to be the center of popularity as he was a beautiful, smart child with the gift of magic. However things would change during his 4th year of his life. The little child cried a lot and resented the sudden small featherless wings on his back. It was a painful experience, the sudden growth and the deformation of his bone-structure. The boy did not understand what has happened and wondered why no one would play with him anymore. 'Skewer away, you devil child', is what the villagers would say, whilst keeping their childs close to themselves. In the end he would run to Mom and would find solace in her arms. Mom talked a lot about her happy days, her days with the man that would be called 'Father' and the hope and happiness she had obtained with her little amazing boy. The child loved his mom, but the reality of what had happened when 'those wings' showed up were the beginning of years of suffering. He had been bullied and abused by his classmates, peers and many of the villagers in his hometown. The small town was full of human villagers, and the mayor would not allow anything else in town.   The child's mother was the only daughter of one of the most poor households, holding only a very small bit of land. Living conditions were wretched and primitive. With both her parents lost to an unforeseen bandit raid and her being shunned because of the 'devil child', the happy days seemed over. However, she was a strong woman who stayed strong even through the toughest of times. The days and years of the child's youth were challenging and painful, but he persevered through his mothers smile and her wonderful stories about 'Father'. However the health condition of his mother would worsen and as a single parent, things were not looking to well. Her final breath would occur on the 8th year of the boys life. Her final words were: 'You are my shining star, that crosses throughout the universe with it's brilliance, be vigilant and one day you will meet him'. The boy mourned the loss of his mother, but knew that her mother would want him to stay strong. 'To live...' He continued living for his mom, but the circumstances would keep worsening. Bullied and abused by the villagers and their childs, deformed broken wings, his shining right-eye punctured, the villagers would shout:'Why wouldn't you die already, you are as useless as your mother'. He would then ask this of himself: 'What am I, Why am I here, Why am I in so much pain everyday? Perhaps I should die... No, mom would not want that. But, what would I want...?'

'Don't die'. The boy was astonished that someone replied back to him. He stared around and a little girl around his age stood there. 'Are you ok?' The boy would not fully understand what had happened that day, but he was somehow lying on a wooden bed. It seemed to be a beautiful ornamented bunkbed. 'This, this is my house, you can take the bed under. I'll sleep on the higher one.' 'Here' she said, and gave him an black eyepatch, covering the radiance of his yet recovering right-eye. 'You should cover those wings, if you want to stay alive.' A large woman suddenly stood next to the girl. It was the housemaid. He would recover, but one of his wings would not. It may have been cursed, but by whom? Perhaps one of the villagers or a witch. The boy would stay at this house and meet the father of the girl. The father was a rowdy man, but loved his daughter like a teddybear. 'What is your name boy?' The boy, said: "My mom would always call me Xin-nyx." 'Hmm sounds like Cynic, hah I like that name'. You are Cynic from now on. My name is Giovanni and this is Francesca.' He pointed towards his daughter who was asleep. Remember, she was the one that brought you here today.

The man showed interest in the boy and his unique appearance. He taught him many things, to stand up for himself, how to live in this world. Cynic would take his teachings to heart and learn the 'grey compass' of living.

Fragments of the past 02

Exuberance 2/3

'You alive kid?' A large man was towering over him. His face shone like the sun. It was Giovanni, and the man instructed him to learn to defend himself. A dagger was given and the kid practised day after day. The man did care about the magic gift that was given to the boy, but felt that he was not ready.  Instead the best way to experience combat would be 1 on 1 melee fighting.

'Hey, my dad likes you a lot.' A girl would sit next to the boy. 'Are you practising? What for?' 'To protect what I lost...' (and you, the boy said to himself) The boy would follow the day to day life of this household. The path of grey had ups and downs, it was a gruesome but honest way of living.

Cynic was an anomaly within the Russo family. Many of the Russos pondered why the head even let something like Cynic in. Even Giovanni himself had his doubts, but everytime he would see the smile of his daughter, he knew this was the right decision. Francesca had finally found someone she could play with, as there weren't many young children around her age in the clan.

The Russos lived on the eastern most island, Perano. The island wasn't the biggest, but was rich with Mythallium, an unique type of ore that would only exist on Islands with loam soil and fertile climate. Because of this, the Russos held a monopoly on Mythallium.

There were many farmers on the island and The Russos provided protection and quality of life conditions in exchange for sustenance. It was an honest exchange, but also a clear display of contradiction to equality. As soon as a person issues direction or commands to another person, these two people are no longer considered to be equal. And the Russos sit at the top of the hierarchy. 

Cynic lived with the Russos for 8 years. Despite his differences with some of the Russos, Cynic had found a family he so desperately wanted. He had bonded with Giovanni, the head of the family, who disciplined him and taught him magic. He also grew closer to Giovanni's daughter, Francesca. Together, they had explored the island where they lived, Francesca showed him the hidden wonders of the forests and the beaches that lay beyond the reach of the Russos control. They had shared secrets and stories, their laughter ringing out across the island. It was a joyful time, but Cynic kept thinking about his mom and his father. Life could have been so different, mom would have lead a happy life here. His mind wavered, there was hatred, confusion and hopelessness. Why has his father abandoned them and left them to rot?

Fragments of the past 03

Escape 3/3

One day, everything changed. The Rattlers pirates came, their ships landing on the shores of the island like a swarm of locusts. This notorious pirate crew, invaded the island. Cynic had never seen such brutality before. The Rattlers killed anyone who stood in their way, and the family was no exception. Giovanni and the Russos held the island and fought back, the battle lasted for many days. However The Rattlers were large and fast in number and on the 7th day, The Russos faltered. Cynic watched in horror as Giovanni was cut down before his eyes. He tried to fight back, but he was outnumbered and outmatched.

Luckily, Francesca and a few of the maids managed to escape through a secret hideout.

The Rattlers saw something in Cynic, something that made them think he could be useful. They took him in as one of their own.

The Rattlers seem to have their own code of honor. "Be ruthless be free, live your life how unscrupulous it may be! But, do not mess with one of your own, or you'll reap what you've sown!"

Under the tutelage of Captain Redeye, the leader of the Rattlers, Cynic learned the ways of the sea. He became a skilled sailor and a fierce fighter, his magic proving to be a powerful tool in battle. He even gained the respect of his fellow pirates, who saw in him the same sense of honor that they valued so highly. But despite his new life with the Rattlers, Cynic could not forget the family that he had lost. He knew that Giovanni was dead, and that Francesca had fled to safety. But he held out hope that one day he would be able to find the remaining Russos again, and make things right. I need to get stronger to be able to protect the ones I love. "I don't want to lose anyone again". 

He merely pretended to be one of the Rattlers. He was constantly plotting his escape, determined to find a way back to the family he had lost.

Years passed, and Cynic bided his time, waiting for the right opportunity. Finally, one day, he was able to escape the Rattlers and make his way to the Eastern Kingdoms. There, he heard rumors of a powerful aasimar who lived in the northern mountains. Cynic knew that this was his chance to learn more about the Aasimar and maybe even the truth about his heritage.

Fyren of the past - A side chapter

Extraordinary 1/1

A memory of Fyren during his travels

There is an old saying,  'Fear is like a little germ in your head, allow it to grow and it takes over your all'.

A river it seems. As Fyren walked through the corridors of the valley, a slight chill ran down his spine. Something wasn't right.  Was it fear? It was as if he had never felt it before. As he glanced around quickly, he grabbed the hilt of his sword, as if awaiting an ambush to happen the very moment he would cross the river. But nothing happened.

'Is there something wrong? You don't look that well.' said Loren. 

Fyren turned around. 'No, I'm fine' he said. However his voice was trembling, his gut told him something just wasn't right around this place. The women behind him was crouched on the side, heavenly clinging on her several staves. She looked slightly fatigued.

'We still have a long road ahead.' 

As they crossed the river, Fyren  reminisced similar moments in his past. Whenever he traveled with someone he would cherish, something bad would happen. This time though, he felt relatively safe. The valley is quite dangerous at night, but at daylight, there shouldn't be anything that would block their way or cause problems. Merchants & travelers cross the valley on a regular basis, however they seem to be the only ones for now.  The pathing was crude but traversable.

He looked at his companion. A women of young age with brown sleek hair, resting upon the nape of her neck accentuating the smooth contours of her face. Her eyes looked dark and expressive. A delicate lady, but unusual and strong-willed. Fascinating.

He met her back in Ornhem, a rather obscure town.  Ornhem is situated to be in the middle of Golderlant, a sparsely inhabited region in Esuna. The ground was barren and infertile, furthermore it was rumoured that Ornhem contained thieves, criminals and other corrupted souls. A dangerous place for commoners unlike Fyren. The town was believed to be shrouded in darkness. It was not however, it was just old. It seems nothing had been built for several decades and the few houses left felt dark, decaying and full of rot. Something happened surely, but it was not of interest for Fyren as he had something else in mind.

There was but a single tavern in Ornhem, and for travelers a safe haven. The bright tavern was the only place conflicting the village. There he met Loren, a young women in her twenties, sitting alone in the corner, her several staves resting on the side. As Fyren glanced over her, a certain thought came through his mind. 'Find the light that shines in the darkness, for there is always a light even in the darkest places.' Is she the one to guide me in these bleak times?

For her, it felt like fate, for as soon as she saw the rugged man, wielding a rather giant sword on his back, to be the last straw. 'I want to leave this place, so I'm coming with you.' was all she said.

As they were nearing the end of the valley, a sudden shift in the wind took place. The unpleasant feeling returned. Something is coming. He quickly turned around to make sure Loren was safe and near. The weather turned cloudy, fog covered the entire valley. There was something terrible coming towards them. Four horseriders were advancing steadily and closing on them on a very fast pace.  

Loren suddenly collapsed on her knees. 'We weren't fast enough.' she said, as she gazed upon the incoming danger. 'What should we do now?'

'Fight.' said Fyren, as he readied his sword. The horseriders were old enemies. They seem to have been following them for a while now. Unfortunately, they weren't the only problem.

The shadowy fog disrupted any daylight from coming through the valley, as such demonic creatures of the night started to appear. Loren stood up and readied her staves. She was a sorcerer, but there was no confidence in her posture. She looked up, bewildered as a  sudden cynical laughter took place.

'Well aren't we lucky today.' Fyren took a quick glance at the horror surrounding them and a fiendish grin showed on his face, as he knew the situation deemed hopeless.

'Leave me Fyren. The horsemen are after me and the demons desire my flesh. At least one of us should stay alive and tell the world what happened in Ornhem.'

'You seem so eager to sacrifice yourself, hehe. Why would you take your life so easily? The demons desire your flesh? Is there something you haven't been telling me?' 

As he quickly turned away from the imminent danger, he saw Loren giving up hope. 'I'm not fully human, therefore I attract ethereal beeings.' she said. 'It doesn't matter. It is over, please I do not want any more lives on my hands.'

Fyren  turned around and started slicing several deformed  creatures. 'So you attract these ugly piles of trash? And you aren't human? What else haven't you been telling me? 

He took a slight pause. Loren noticed a faint smile on his face.

'But you know what, I am ok with that, as I have a few secrets of myself.' He grinned as he grasped his greatsword. 'Some things are better beeing kept as a secret.'

It was very sudden, but a faint, crimson haze appeared in front of Loren. An enormous amount of slicing the flesh as several creatures screeched in pain. The man that she journeyd with seemed to be the Crimson knight from the famed rumours. The Crimson knight, a fabled tale. Travelers would often tell a story of a knight able of killing everything in his sight in a matter of seconds. The knight would be engulfed in blood. So it was then named the Crimson Knight. 

It was a slaughter. The creatures were rotten monsters, it was as if the flesh itself were trying to eat themselves. If these monsters would have looked any other way, Loren might even have felt sorry for them. Fyren was clearing them in an efficient way. Every swoop of his sword, massacred an entire row and with several swings he was able to clear a path for the two of them. In the midst of it all, Fyren said something.

'Loren, wake up!'

Loren looked at Fyren, who was tearing monsters apart left to right. Suddenly she realized the opening that Fyren was able to clear. Now is the time to get out of here.

'Celeritas Lucis!'

Fyren felt a faint light surrounding his body. He was revitalized, especially his legs. It felt as if he could cover a great distance in mere seconds. He knew it was Lorens doing and in an instant he grabbed her by her waist and carried her on his shoulder. He then looked at the ground and bend his knees, only to look up again. With a roar he then jumped.

The height kept increasing and Fyren looked down. The demonic-creatures were somewhat dumbfounded and looked at them as if they were some random birds flying through the air. They covered a decent distance and were able to get out of reach from the demons.

As they walked into a nearing forest, Fyren turned around one last time.

It seems the dark horseriders that were chasing them were engaged in battle with the monsters of the night. He suddenly laughed. 'Well at least they were useful for something else.' He said.

He looked at his surroundings and saw an empty carriage.

'Hmmm, no horse though. A hackney would have been nice.' He grinned.

'Guess I'll be the horse myself.'

He put Loren in the carriage and grabbed the carriage by its front parts.

The battle between the horseriders and the demons were still ongoing and as Fyren and his carriage vanished into the forest, the sounds of slashing and screeches began to fade, until there was nothing but deadly silence.

Freebooters of the past 01

Encounter 1/5

A memory of Cynic during his travels with the Rattlers.

Cynic had been living among the Rattlers for years now, but he had never seen a pirate quite like Fyren. Legend has it that there once existed a fabled crimson knight, feared by all who faced him in battle. His armor was stained a deep red, as if drenched in the blood of his fallen foes and wielding an enormous two-handed blade that seemed to sing cries of its enemies with each swing. The stories of the giant swordwielder had been circulating among the pirates for weeks, and Cynic had dismissed them as just another myth. But when he saw Fyren for the first time, he knew that the tales were true. Fyren was massive, towering over the other pirates and wielding a sword that looked like it could cleave a mountain in two. He just joined a few days ago, and Redeye, the infamous head of the Rattlers, had taken it upon himself to face the fabled hero in combat. The fight between Fyren and Redeye was fierce and took days. Cynic watched from a distance, amazed at the raw power and skill on display. Redeye was known as the strongest pirate sailing the seven seas, but Fyren was able to match him blow for blow. The ground shook with the force of their clashes, and Cynic could feel the power emanating from the two warriors.

In the end, Fyren emerged victorious. Redeye lay motionless on the ground, defeated by the giant swordwielder. The other pirates looked in shock, unsure of what to do next. Who next to assume control of this rowdy, motley bunch? The Rattlers looked at Fyren, as if he was to be their next natural leader.  Fyren however, seemingly unfazed, only shook his head. He then pointed towards a Rattler at random and nodded. There was an awkward silence for but just a minute. Suddenly the pirate crew erupted in raucous laughter, the sound echoing across the ship and causing even the sea to tremble with mirth.

Amidst all of the excitement, Cynic seems to have approached Fyren cautiously, unsure of what the giant swordwielder would do. But Fyren simply looked down at him and nodded, as if acknowledging his presence. Cynic felt a strange sense of respect for the hero, even though he was now a freebooter just like the rest of them.

For the next few days, Cynic observed Fyren closely. He saw the way the hero interacted with the other pirates, how he seemed to inspire them with his courage and determination. Cynic couldn't help but feel drawn to the giant swordwielder, even though he knew that Fyren was just passing through and would soon be gone.

But one night, as Cynic was sitting by the fire, Fyren approached him. The giant swordwielder sat down next to him, and for a long time, they sat in silence.

"You're different," Fyren finally said. "You don't belong with these pirates."

"So do you." Cynic replied. Fyren looked at him for a moment and then answered, looking away into the sea. "It is but temporarily, but I guess you could say I am exploring new experiences."

Cynic looked at the warrior, then went back in some sort of deep thought. A few seconds pass, then he replied. "I've been with the Rattlers for a long time, but I know where I need to be, when the time is right."

Fyren nodded, as if he understood. "I've been searching for that feeling my entire life," he said. "And I still don't know if I've found it. But I keep searching, because I believe that there's more to life than just fighting and killing."

Cynic looked at Fyren, his eyes filled with a newfound respect for the giant swordwielder. For the first time in a long time, he felt a glimmer of hope that there was something more out there for him.

Freebooters of the past 02

Enactment 2/5

A memory of Cynic during his travels with the Rattlers.

Cynic and Fyren had been pirates and companions for many years, and they had seen their fair share of adventure and danger on the high seas. As they sailed towards their latest destination, Cynic turned to Fyren and asked him a question.

"Hey, Fyren, have you ever heard of the Aasimar race?" Cynic asked, his curiosity piqued.

Fyren nodded slowly. "Yeah, I've heard of them. They're ethereal beings, right? Angels, some say."

"I have something to tell you," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "I am half-aasimar, half-human. I've never told anyone before."

Fyren didn’t look surprised. "I see," he said. "Well, I always thought those black wings were rather unique.” He pointed towards Cynics back and laughed.

Cynic leaned in, intrigued. "Have you ever seen a pureblood aasimar?"

Fyren shook his head. "No, never. But I've heard stories. They say that they're often arrogant and devious by nature."

Cynic raised an eyebrow. "Really? I always thought they were supposed to be good and pure."

Fyren shrugged. "Maybe some of them are. But I've had some bad experiences with ethereal beings before."

Cynic leaned back, listening intently as Fyren continued his tale.

"It was a long time ago. I was with some of my dearest friends, and we stumbled upon an ethereal being, a deity. The deity demanded the full sacrifice of us all to regain back its life, as the deity had been sleeping for a thousand years."

Fyren paused, his face grim. "We tried to bargain for our lives, but it was no use. In the end, my friends were able to distract the deity for just a moment and I was able to hide and run away. I was young, scared and stupid. I will never abandon my close ones again, even if it means death."

Cynic looked at him with compassion, understanding the weight of Fyren's words. "I see. It's always tough losing the ones you care about."

Fyren nodded, his gaze distant. "Yeah. And that's why I don't trust ethereal beings, even if they claim to be good."

Cynic was agreed silently, knowing that Fyren had learned his lesson the hard way. As they continued their journey, Cynic couldn't help but think about the Aasimar race and the potential dangers they might face if they ever encountered one. But with Fyren by his side, he knew they could face anything that came their way.

Freebooters of the past 03

Enumeration 3/5

A memory of Cynic during his travels with the Rattlers.

As Fyren finished recounting his story, Cynic felt a twinge of sadness for his companion's loss. He knew that Fyren had suffered greatly, and he respected him for his resilience and loyalty to his friends.

But as Fyren's words about ethereal beings sank in, Cynic couldn't help but feel a sense of unease. After all, he was half-aasimar himself. He wondered if Fyren accepted him if he was a pureblood. Would he see him as arrogant and devious by nature, just like the ethereal beings he despised?

Cynic couldn't help but ponder about the nature of the aasimar race as well. Were they truly different from humans? Did their divine heritage make them better or worse than mortals? And what about his own nature? Did he have a responsibility to live up to his aasimar heritage, or could he simply be content with being human?

And then there was the matter of his father. Cynic had never met him, and he knew very little about him. Why had he left him during birth? What were his goals and motivations as an aasimar? Cynic knew that he might never get the answers to these questions, but that didn't stop him from wondering.

A sudden hand on his shoulder, it was firm but gentle. "Hey, we're good." Fyren looked at him, and gave one of those nasty smiles, only a pirate could give. 

Cynic felt a wave of relief wash over him. He was glad that Fyren was accepting of him, despite his mixed heritage. But still, he couldn't help but wonder about his own nature and the nature of the aasimar race. He knew that he needs to find the truth about his lineage if he wanted answers. He needs to find his father.

Freebooters of the past 04

Eruption 4/5

A memory of Cynic during his travels with the Rattlers.

Cynic sat alone on the deck of a stolen ship, staring out into the endless sea. The wind whipped through his hair, but he barely felt it. His mind was consumed with thoughts of the past, and the choices he had made that had brought him to this point.

The last journey of Cynic and Fyren had been long and perilous, but their friendship had always been strong. As they traveled with the Rattlers, however, tensions began to rise between the two friends.

Cynic, who had always been timid and unsure of himself, began to yearn for more power, more confidence, and more wealth. He wanted to be able to protect those in need, and to have enough strength to face his own past. 

He was tired of being overlooked and underestimated, and he couldn't help but feel a twinge of envy whenever he saw Fyren's incredible strength and confidence. 

Cynic began to distance himself from his friend, spending more time alone and brooding over his own thoughts. He was consumed by his desire for power and wealth, and he saw Fyren as a constant reminder of his own weaknesses.

The once unbreakable bond between the two friends began to fray as Cynic became more ruthless and selfish. He cared little for the lives of others, and his once gentle nature was replaced by a cold, calculating one. Fyren, who had always been there to support him, began to feel like a burden.

Their journey took them to a nearby village, where they found themselves in the middle of a conflict with a powerful sorcerer who had been terrorizing the local inhabitants. Fyren was convinced that they should join forces with the local knights and help defeat the sorcerer, while Cynic believed that they should side with the sorcerer and help him achieve his goals.

As the two friends argued, the tension between them reached a boiling point. In the end, Fyren chose to follow the path of righteousness and joined forces with the knights to defeat the sorcerer once and for all. Cynic, on the other hand, chose a different path. Driven by his greed and ambition, he joined forces with the sorcerer, using his sorcery to help him gain control of a powerful magical artifact that would grant him immense power.

The battle that followed was fierce and intense, with both sides fighting tooth and nail to achieve their goals. In the end, Fyren emerged victorious, but the victory came at a great cost. His friendship with Cynic had been shattered, and the two parted ways on bitter terms.

As time went on, the path that Cynic had chosen began to take its toll. He became more ruthless, more cold-blooded, and more willing to do whatever it took to achieve his goals. The whispers of his dark powers grew louder in his ears, tempting him to use them to their fullest extent.

Despite this, there was still a small part of Cynic that yearned for something more. He felt it was ultimately the wrong choice to turn his back on Fyren.

But that was now in the past, so he continued on his journey, seeking out new sources of power and knowledge.

Freebooters of the past 05

Emergence 5/5

The final memory of Cynic ending his life with the Rattlers and his companion Fyren.

Cynic arrived ashore on a beach that was tucked away in a secluded cove, hidden from the prying eyes of the outside world. As he set foot into the coarse and rocky sand, Cynic turned back to look at the stolen ship he had left behind. It sat there, motionless and foreboding, as if the waves crashing against it created an eerie, almost haunting melody, beckoning him to return.

Cynic felt a shiver run down his spine as he gazed at the ship. It was as if it held a life of its own, as if it was a living, breathing creature that had been torn away from its kin. The mist that hung in the air only added to the eerie atmosphere, creating a sense of foreboding that made Cynic uneasy.

He tore his gaze away from the ship and set off towards the horizon, feeling a sense of both excitement and trepidation. His ship life had served its purpose and The Rattlers were but a memory of the past, it was time for a new chapter in his life.

He seemed to have journeyed to the Eastern Kingdoms, however he wasn’t sure where exactly he had arrived. Cynic walked along the beach, feeling the sand crunch beneath his boots. He stumbled upon a group of dwarves, simply surveying the perimeter. It was an interesting bunch, their camaraderie was palpable, and I felt a twinge of jealousy at their sense of belonging. One of the dwarves spotted Cynic, as well as his ship, now abandoned. ‘’What is your business here?’’ The dwarf asked in a stern voice.

Cynic explained that he had arrived on the beach after a long journey and was looking to seek refuge. The dwarf eyed him suspiciously, especially at his blackened wings and weary eyepatch, but after a moment, he seemed to relax.

"You seem restless, a long voyage perhaps?" the dwarf said. "Forget it” The dwarf shrugged. “It is of no business to me”.

“Head to Whispertale.” He pointed in a south-west direction. “It is but a day’s journey.” The dwarf hesitated for a moment, but then said: "Seek shelter with the adventurers guild," the dwarf said, his voice rough and gruff. "They're of neutral ground, where adventurers of all sorts can find a home away from home. But," he added, stroking his bushy beard thoughtfully, "Someone has to evaluate your abilities first. We don't just let anyone in. If you've got some skills to offer, you might just earn yourself a place in their esteemed company. And who knows," he added with a sly grin, "perhaps some coin could be made as well."

“Thank you…” Cynic replied.

“Haggard is the name, I used to be an part of an old group and had my fair share of adventurers. Those days are past now.”

Cynic nodded in silence. “If I were to ponder, I believe Gareth and Bolgar seem to reside in Whispertale momentarily. Just mention my name and they will have you assign a test of sorts to assess your capabilities.”

And before Cynic could reply, Haggard wandered off to rejoin his group of dwarves.

Cynic watched Haggard and his group of dwarves disappear into the distance, feeling grateful for the information he had been given. With a determined stride, Cynic set out towards Whispertale, his mind buzzing with possibilities. Aside from his pirate days with Fyren, Cynic had always been a lone wolf, preferring to rely on his own skills and instincts rather than trusting others. But perhaps it was time for a change.

As he walked further, he couldn't help but wonder about the test that Gareth and Bolgar would assign him. He knew that he had plenty of skills to offer, and was confident that he would pass. A chance of something anew emerges.