dbeggar

DIALOGUES

The Beggar

Character profile:

This old man has been known to roam the Valley for as long as anyone can remember. While he usually made a living off the generosity of travellers and locals, he was never one to pester people, like so many other beggars. A few years ago, when his body was stronger, he used to offer his services as a handyman in exchange for a hot meal and warm place to sleep, even if only some hay in the stables. With the years weighting more and more on his shoulders, he cannot do much hard labour anymore but seeing how he is, to many, a landmark in the Valley, the locals always find some task or other to justify giving him a meal or tossing a few gold pieces his way. He loves a good tale. Spends most of his talk walking around through the forest, fishing at the lake, hanging out at the inn to hear the latest gossips from travellers or sailors or to entertain the guests with some old folktales which generally gets the audience bursting into laughter and usually earns him a few copper coins. He cannot read and often acts like he's slow witted, but his mind is razorblade sharp. He pays a great deal of attention to tiny details most people would never notice. He is an excellent judge of character and possesses a phenomenal memory. Extremely loyal and deeply honest, he will gladly take any gold pieces you would kindly give him, but would cut off his own right arm before he stole a coin from you or even keep one you would have inadvertently dropped.

Dialogue

Hey! What you be wanting from me? I did nothing wrong?! Oh Marcus? Yes, yes! I know of him. So the Lady has received my little note? Good, good. Some gypsies were passing through and were kind enough to forward the message to the Lady for me. I can't write you see, and I don't venture much out of the Valley. But enough about me. That Marcus chap, a good fellow he was. Always be feeding me and looking after me. A good soul I tell ya. And the fine young Miss too, until the poor thing fell sick. That plague got her like the others. A shame. Quite a shame… But the young master Marcus no longer be dwelling in these parts. He long be gone

Quite a strange fellow he was too with his obsession with winged creatures. Those fairies were inoffensive enough. But he got it in his head to go play with those nasty female daemons. Evil. Evil I tell ya! He never should have gone there. I told him not to. But he got overconfident after a few successful visits there. *shakes head* I told him not to bring the young lass over there. But he no listen. Something awful happened to them in that horrid dungeon north-east from here. I saw their ghosts leave the dungeon only a few minutes after they entered. But something was wrong with the young lady’s ghost. I can’t say what but it seemed… shallow I guess would be the word. Later that night, Marcus returned again to the dungeon. I pleaded with him not to go. But he insisted he must speak with Semidar. I waited outside for him to come out, but then I saw the Lord Balron himself followed by a swarm of daemons and succubi making their way back to the dungeon. I ran as far as my poor legs allowed me to, praying the whole time that the Virtues would protect poor Marcus. That is the last time I was to see the lad.

But I've seen other things! I see everything that happens in this here valley. There’s a sailor that often visits the Inn in the valley. For a fee, he can give you information about many things. He’s quite the drunk too with expensive tastes. He never says no to a good bottle of champagne. I've seen him lurk near the caves West of the Valley. A dangerous place it is. No place for a poor old man like me. Said he knows about the young Marcus’ whereabouts. Maybe he can help you. I also remember Marcus scribbles a lot. Always this little red book he writes in. That could be great help I’m sure.Last I saw, there was one lying on the table in the tree house. But those pesky little pixies like playing tricks. They move things around all the time. Like people have nothing better to do than play hide and seek. They may be small but they got some powerful magic in them.

The harpies too have been sniffing around the tree houses. I hide from them. Those wretched creatures are bad news. I know they were rummaging through Marcus' belongings but the fairies chased them away. Gave me a good laugh too. Nothing amuses me more than to see those females duking it out. Those pixies pack in a good punch. Even the skeletal knights go in hiding at their sight.

Sadly, t’is where my knowledge ends. I know not what happened to poor Marcus afterwards.