Board Thread:Roleplaying/@comment-3293219-20140129214229/@comment-24449631-20140131220955

Rowan's Downfall, part II
After a few days of travel, Rowan finally arrived back in The Rift. The weather was gloomy and a fog was visible hanging over Riften up ahead. A regular fog that is, not that horrid ash fog from Vvardenfell. Rowan enjoyed the sound of the wind blowing through the autumnal colour palette that was the southern Rift of Skyrim. The Trees were even more beautiful since he last left. It did not take long until Rowan had reached the mild fog, you could still see well ahead of you, the only thing it added was a kind of sad atmosphere, but it did not matter to Rowan… he was home.

A short walk later he found himself at the south gate of Riften. He saluted the purple bannered guardsman of the rift, that stood guard there. He wore a regular Skyrim guard helmet. Not like Felund’s crew who wore an abundance of different items. They didn’t look at all like a unified army, but that’s Nord culture for you right there. Solely practical.

Rowan appreciated practicality, but he could also find time and love for art. To great confusion to most citizens of Riften. The city rarely values aesthetics above practicality. But Rowan was proud to have at least some of his wooden sculptures standing in the Mistveil keep. He can also play the lute, the only downside is that he knows only one song, and since there is no bard in Riften, no one else could teach him a thing or two.

Rowan had left the bloody life of adventure behind him and started to think with glee of a bright future.

''Maybe, I should go to the bards collage in Solitude. Or maybe I really should help my father with the fisheries. ''

Rowan was so lost in his own imagination he did not notice the sad faces of the other citizens…

Maybe…

Rowan stopped his train of thought. He had arrived at his home, home…

He took a deep breath and opened the door. While still standing in the doorway he noticed not a single fire was lit inside.

"Hello?" Rowan asked the void

He opened the door fully, while he slowly entered he could hear the wood moan under his weight.

"Hello?... Anybody?" He asked again.

Rowan started to get worried. He also noticed some of the furniture was missing. Even da’s sword above the fire place. The situation could be called suspicious for sure. Suddenly, Rowan could hear someone catching up behind him. It was Daari the Captain of the Riften City guard. Rowan met him once when at a party of “Captain of the Rift”, Felund. Who by the way had stayed behind in Morrowind. He said they had some mopping up to do.

-

Daari panted heavily and Rowan went to assist him.

"Are you alright? Daari?"

<p class="MsoNormal">"Yeah, yeah… I am." He sniffed, Probably a cold

<p class="MsoNormal">He then looked Rowan deep in the eyes.

<p class="MsoNormal">"I am sorry…"

<p class="MsoNormal">Rowan flinched a bit.

<p class="MsoNormal">"Sorry for what?"

<p class="MsoNormal">You don’t know yet? Daari asked with a face either in pain because of his recent sprint or the news he is now forced to tell Rowan

<p class="MsoNormal">Rowan hoped it was the former. But he mustered enough courage to ask what had happened. Daari looked Rowan in the eyes with sorrow and grief.

<p class="MsoNormal">"They’re dead, Rowan"

<p class="MsoNormal">Rowan said nothing… He merely looked down at his feet.

<p class="MsoNormal">"Dead? What do you mean… dead?" He desperately asked, hoping he misheard

<p class="MsoNormal">"A robbery turned wrong." Daari told him.

<p class="MsoNormal">Rowan looked Daari back in the eyes. Now his own were a bit red.

<p class="MsoNormal">"When?"

<p class="MsoNormal">"We found them this morning."

<p class="MsoNormal">"Are they… are they still in there?"

<p class="MsoNormal">"Yes."

<p class="MsoNormal">Rowan turned away from Daari and went back inside his house. It felt even more cold than before. He slowly moved to the bedroom of his parents. And opened the door, which made a silent squeak.

<p class="MsoNormal">He then looked up and saw them. His Father… His Mother… And His Sister… Dead.

<p class="MsoNormal">Not his brother though...

<p class="MsoNormal">But It didn’t matter. Rowan dropped his travelling back and shoved himself forward to the bed. Normally the sheets would be heavenly blue, but now they were red, dark red. He fell to his knees next to the bed and let his head sink into the bloody sheets. A muffled crying could be heard. It was also the only thing that could be heard in the entire house.