Tales from Auru

[Jedoi]

One
Aurulians​

What is an Aurulian? I'm glad you asked, dear friend. We are builders and fighters, thieves and writers, farmers and miners. We are friends. If you hadn't guessed, we live in the city of Auru. The oldest city in the North, and in all of Loka, a beautiful place which houses more people then any city in this world.

Take a step within our walls. You would find stunning buildings, flowers and trees, wolves prowling through the streets. Horses roaming through the fields, fish splashing in the lake, citizens stumbling from the Tavern, or on watch for the safety of the town. What you would notice before all these things, however, is the magnificent Spire erupting from the ground, like a sturdy mountain or a tree reaching the sky, dedicated to our protection. We are the Town beneath the Tower.

There are five kings of Auru, led by Ajaxan, a man known as High King, Prophet of the Ancients, Wanderer of the North. He leads us well in times of crisis and relaxation. There is General Xovious, Jarl of the War Guild and Defender of the Weak. Shadow Fox, the Engineer and Saviour of Auru, and two Guardians, those being Grubul, Father of Auru and Guardian of the North, and Jedoi Avalos, Wolf Mother and Keeper of History.

Five lords serve Auru under the kings, and well respected members who aren't at this rank yet are known as Knights. Anyone can become a Knight with enough dedication to Auru. Under Knight are the civilians, who has access to most of the town. The lowest rank in town is known simply as Potential, for they have to potential to become a civilian or a knight or a lord or a king.

Besides ranks, we are also separated into guilds. Strangely, the most secretive is the most populated, that being the Guild of Thieves. Led by the former King of Sickholm, Iyoforeayo, they slip into enemy cities under the cover of night and steal what they can for the good of Auru.

The War Guild, led by Jarl Xovious, is the home of the warriors of Auru. They train to defend the city and fight for the glory of their home. The protect the innocent and defend the weak, and are sworn to never let Auru fall victim to enemy raiders or thieves.

The Architect's Guild is what makes the city so beautiful. The create our buildings, homes, decorations, and ensure our wall is safe. The Head Architect, Kyle, teaches younger builders the best way to design and construct buildings.

The Historian's Guild are the lorekeepers and writers of Auru. They teach each other and others about Loka's deep history, and record current events for future generations to read. Their leader, the Wolf Mother Jedoi, uses the knowledge of the past they compile to guide choices Auru makes today.

The Cultivator's Guild is another very important group of people. They grow our food, tend to our animals, and collect many of our resources. Every other guild relies upon them; the thieves and warriors for nourishment, the architects for lumber, the historians for paper. The farmers are often overlooked, but Auru would be nothing without them.

The Miner's Guild spends much time deep under the ground, finding resources to fund the town's wars and economy. They unearth ores and fashion armour and weapons for other Aurulians. Another underestimated group, yet another that is extremely important.

Our Engineering Guild makes the city's inner workings run smoothly. Led by Professer Shadow Fox, they create complex machines that let the city move automatically.

The Alchemy Guild are the potionmakers of Auru. The Alchemist Nollo leads this guild, as they create mystical potions used to enhance strength, speed, healing, resistance, or even to cast a spell of invisibility upon the drinker. The thieves and warriors rely upon them, for they brew potions used in battles and raids.

Auru stands as a home for many and a beacon of hope for more. The cold grey walls holds beautiful and unique people, a family who loves one another dearly, warm smiles and hearty laughter. We are Aurulians.

 

[Jedoi]

Two
The Invasion of Eldritch​

Many of us have travelled west to the continent of Ascalon. Some went for the beauty or the adventure. Others went to gather resources or map out the terrain. Others yet went to attack enemy cities or visit allies. A few had even lived on Ascalon before finding a home in Auru.

Today, a handful of Aurulians took the Oakhart west for a reason not aforementioned. They had a mission on this day, and were hoping they would be lucky enough to not run into any soldiers from Eldritch.

Despite that hope, however, their goal took them deep into Eldritch territory. Should Lord Skuhoo and his warriors find them, their death was guaranteed. Among the adventuring Aurulians were Jedoi, extraordinarily known for her lack of combat ability, Benged, Falksi, and Bambi, three thieves who excelled at concealing themselves in shadow and stealing in the dead of night, but in a full out battle, would not success as members of the War Guild might. There was also a Guildless Knight known as Borne.

Upon their arrival, Ben explained to the others the fastest route to their destination. However, they were overheard by an ally of Eldritch. Fortunately, it was Gabrosen of Oceanus, a former Aurulian and friend of the Valderkal.

Gabrosen was a truly intriguing man. For one, he wasn't quite a man at all. He was a skeleton, but a very friendly, intelligent one. Being friendly as he was, he tended to have very few enemies, even those he met on the battlefield were polite to him before and after they met his blade or theirs met him. Despite his official alliance with Eldritch, Gabrosen cared for the people of Auru, and upon hearing their quest, (and deciding it wouldn't endanger Lord Skuhoo or his hold) decided to assist them.

So they set off west. Ben led them to their destination, although Jedoi, being a Guardian, would flaunt her powers and use a small device that looked remarkably like a compass to teleport in front of them, behind them, onto the tops of trees or underground. The party made the wise decision of ignoring the Guardian's antics for the most part.

Before too long, they arrived before the ruins of the fallen city of Haru. Benged explained how he entered the village to steal when it was still alive. They were prepared to enter, but became distracted by a cave in which all of them eventually fell into. Gab and Ben survived thanks to their armour, Jedoi due to her powers, and Falksi managed to land in a small flow of water. Borne and Bambi were unfortunate enough to land on the stone, and the Artifact, concerned for their safety, whisked them back to Aladra.

Here, Jedoi would use her powers to pull them back to the cave. (How she did this, I cannot tell, the powers of a Guardian are known only to those who bear them.) Upon their escape from this trap in the earth, the party would search around Haru for what they sought. Thy decided to split up, as Benged, Jedoi, and Falksi would search north while Borne, Bambi, and Gab veered south. Borne contacted the other group quickly when he noticed a small creature hopping through the plains.

"We found it!" Jedoi cried as she appeared in front of the man, startling him. The others met up with them and they chased the creature. Eventually, it was surrounded, and Bambi, being remarkably good with animals, picked it up.

"Hello there." She cooed, petting the tiny bunny. It's hair was soft and as black as the night sky, which was approaching rapidly. Falksi pointed this out, so they worked together to dig a hold in which they could all shelter.

Come morning, they would travel east to the coast and chop a few trees, fashioning boats from them, and would sail north with the rabbit back to the port.

Upon their arrival in Aladra, they found Lord Skuhoo, who raised at eyebrow at the bunny in Bambi's arms. Gabrosen explained to his ally of the Aurulians' desire for a pet rabbit. He reluctantly admitted it came from within Eldritch territory, and the warrior only stared at him in return.

Jedoi then protected a golden coin labelled "Adoption Fee" and handed it to the Lord of Eldritch, who nodded and left. The Aurulians bid farewell to Gab as they returned home. Bambi gave the bunny to Jedoi, who, with Ben and Falksi's help, led it through Kalros back to Auru.

A pen was constructed in the Wolf Mother's basement, where Midnight, the name given to the small rabbit, would call home. After a long two days, the adventuring party gathered in the Auru tavern for a much needed drink. As the moon rose over their walls, and the torches began burning low, Jedoi muttered something to her companions.

"We should get a pet pig."

And thus, a plan for the Invasion of Fang Creek was born in the minds of tired, drunk, Aurulians.