03-08-2013, 03:10 AM
Spoiler:
A mystery story, done in somewhat anachronic order. Names and story are revealed as players explore the story through appropriate characters.
There was a smell of pine leaves, but it was rather sickening to the stomach.
Spoiler:
Twenty-three years ago...
A mahogany-haired horse slowed its hooves as the rider, dressed grays and blacks, trotted past tall trees of Southshore. Farmers and sailors have all already began locking up for the night, with no one outside except a couple of stragglers remaining past their bed time. The rider remains partially hidden as she leads her mare to a particular house along the hill, the lights barely on as a couple inside is heading to sleep. The rider turns around a corner, a gloved hand tapping onto a window. The husband is aroused, his head peering from the pillow as he leans up. He opens the window, his face contorted to an angry scowl. "What do you want?!" he bellows.
The rider, her lower face masked and hair covered in a hood, raises a finger to her hidden lips. "Lower your voice, sir. I have a proposition to offer to you."
"At eleven at night?! Who are you, and what do you want?!"
"Please, please, keep it down. No need to be alarmed. You are Mister Ingalls, yes?"
"I am he. Why are you approaching us? Who sent you? Who are you?"
"Right. You can call me 'Jane'. I do not come armed at all, and I am completely alone. I am told, through my exploration of this town, that you are a barren couple with no child. May I come in, please?"
Neither Mister nor Missus Ingalls could believe it. As Jane sat before the old couple, two very small children clung onto her, asleep. Both were young boys, very small and very worn; both were barely the age to walk. They were both in magic-induced sleep, doneso perhaps to prevent fear or anxiety as the Jane would travel in the night. The woman was large, muscular even, as though trained to be moreso a bodyguard than a nurse. "I am sorry to come to you both at this hour, but I was sent to do this by my master."
"Who is your master?" Mr. Ingalls spoke as his wife remained silent.
"I cannot say."
"Are those two little one yours?"
"Not at all. In fact, these are the little ones I'm sent to propose to you?"
"I beg your pardon?"
Jane takes a deep breath as she continue to speak. "Normally when parents are to do this, they just leave the babies on the steps of the orphanage or church. But not this time." The woman strokes the babes' foreheads, their delicate black curls wrapping around her fingers. "Their mother didn't want her children just simply dropped off--but her family insists she gets rid of them so she could marry my master. My master's family doesn't know about the boys. I am to act on behalf on the bride so that she may be able to track her sons as she is to marry my master."
"And this proposition?"
"That I give you these boys a proper family to watch after. In addition to raising them as your sons, I will provide you six gold to cover all expenses like food, clothing, and education."
"Six gold?!"
"Six gold should be able to cover a few years of expenses. I am not to see you or the boys again until the bride and my master have settled into their marriage for some years, perhaps with their own children born shortly."
"Six gold! For just the boys?"
"I can offer two extra for your own spending money as long as you keep hush about my presence here and where the boys come from. If anyone asks, say the children were, indeed, dropped off at your doorstep."
"Why didn't you do just that, then?"
"I want to see the faces of the man and woman who will be bringing the children in."
Mr. and Mrs. Ingalls nod with smiles on both their faces. "Say no more," Mr. Ingalls proclaims. "We'll take the boys in and raise them as our own. We won't disappoint you or their mother. What are their names?"
"You may name them however you wish. Their birth names are fairly unique, and if word gets out that the boys are still about, the bride's family will probably get my head. Both are very, very young, however, barely two years old. War occurred around them, frightening the boys beyond comprehension. They're even delayed in learning to say 'Mama'."
"Are they timid types?"
"Extremely. They will cry for the first few days, they will react to you negatively. But this is for the sake of their mother's and my master's. I only wish the best for these boys, as the circumstances around their abandonment is nowhere their fault. I try my best, however, to prevent the bond from them and their mother from being entirely severed."
"We understand. We'll do the best we can."
"Can you?"
"We'll even write to you. Is 'Jane' really your name?"
"Jane" looks towards the couple. She shakes her head. "No. My real name is Charlene. Charlene Juranne. I am a servant to the House of Colemann, whom the boys' mother will be marrying into. You may mail me to update me on the boys' welfare, and I will check on you as well."
"We will do everything we can. Where is the money?"
Charlene moves aside as she reaches into a satchel. She takes out small purse wherein the six coins were held. As she digs into the satchel, she pulls out an additional two and adds them to the purse. "Here. And in this basket down here are the boys' clothes to start."
"What is their mother's name?"
"Her nickname is 'Ezi'. She is a soldier... well, was. Her husband and the boys' father died in Stromgarde, and she and her family are without money. The best way for her to provide for herself and everyone is to marry the man who has set his eyes on her.... on the condition she gives up her children so she would bear his. It is her family's decision, not hers. She does not want to lose her children."
"So you are our mediator?"
"That is correct."
"How often will we be contacting you?"
"I will begin mailing you as soon as I return to Stormwind, where my master lives."
"Very well, then. Thank you, Ms. Charlene. We'll take good care of the boys."
Charlene Juranne never returned to Stormwind. The road there was treacherous. As the House of Colmann was not aware of Charlene's work, the funeral was simple but thoughtless. No mourning, no tears. A servant lost is to be replaced.
Mr. and Mrs. Ingalls were not as trustworthy as Charlene or 'Ezi' have thought. Though barren, the goal to have children was never really their own. Two days after being given the payment, the couple has fled, the house emptied, and the boys left behind.
There were no names, no birth certificates. The church knew the boys did not belong to the Ingalls. When they inspected the clothing left behind, the basket had a medallion with the sigil of the lion.
Stormwind.
The priests of Southshore felt the boys were either kidnapped or left behind by some kin to an irresponsible couple. Rather than return alone as did the boys' previous nurse did, they went as a caravan. The Kingdom was barely rebuilt, but the priests felt the boys needed to come home. They had no names, no signs, no certificates. Not even a whispered "Mama", for the boys were extremely timid.
No other choice was made but to leave them at the orphanage in hopes their real parents would come up.
But they never did. The boys cried and cried, nameless, parentless, and now, without each other in comfort. The Matron discovered one needed special care and had to be raised within the Cathedral. He never returned, and so, the boys were separated. No names, no parents, no brothers. Lonely corners of constant crying, one lost in the darkness of his eyes and the other of isolation from his peers.
Only the Lion can watch over them.