Seekers of Truth RPG

[Arien]

“Nine months is an awfully long time to go missing, Sandrina Lightheart"...

Braedon stopped, his hand on the door. Sandrina... Lightheart?... He turned; the man had addressed the woman. Crystal. Or was it Sandrina? He moved to the bar, listening to the conversation between the two. Then another woman approached.

She too addressed her as Sandrina. Two people? Surely they couldn’t have got it wrong! This had to be the one that they had searched for, and given up on. He shook his head, how could they have thought her to be dead?

Braedon waited, and listened to Sandrina as she talked to the two. “I can't remember anything. All of memories are gone. Except for a few. I just found out my own name a couple of minutes ago” She spoke softly, as tears filled her eyes. So she could not remember, this would explain her behaviour; this would perhaps explain why none could find her.

He turned around and leant on the bar, Sandrina looked a little too overwhelmed with everything at the moment. He eyes searched the Inn, could it be possible that someone else here recognised the girl? It did not take him long to see the Ranger at the other end of the bar, his eyes were intent upon the woman. He looked somewhat familiar...

...Yes that was it, he was also on the search for this woman. Braedon made his way towards him.

“Its her...” the Ranger whispered as Braedon approached.

“I believe it is. It is the name she remembers and those two beside her seem to know her.”

“Well this was unexpected.” He replied tearing his eyes off her, turning to face Braedon, “Raen.”

“Raen, yes now I remember. I am Braedon.”

“Of course, what may I ask are you doing in these parts? I am sure that most returned to Gondor and Eriador when the search was ended.”

“If what you ask is if I knew she would be here. I did not. It is just by chance that I should see her. I was in Rohan on quite a different errand, but I believe that my plans may have to be changed for now.”

“I agree. But her parents, no one know where they are. They moved deeper into Rohan when we abandoned the search.” Raen looked back to Sandrina, and took a sip from his mug.

“We must at least approach her. Let her know what she needs to.” Raen nodded, he rose and the two headed over to the three.

[The Perky Ent]

"Pack?" Arthur shouted at Harold. "How far will we tread from the estate?" he said, as he collected things from Harold's house for him to pack later. "We leaving this place all together! At least, until that wretched girl is killed. You heard the plan. We leave our men here, we'll get some mercinaries, leave them here. Our lives or at stake! Better leave the fighting to them!" Harold began going through a pile of cloths on the floor, and putting them on a table. "I know! I know! It's just...these men have as much to fear as we do. They aren't exactly Sandrina's best friends! What if they run too! Sandrina will bring her father and reclaim her land. We'll loose everything! And as for the mercinaries, they're getting harder to find every day! Without orcs, their need has decreased. There's so many risks!"

Harold was silent. Arthur knew that rage was building up. "You're right! Of course, you're right! The plan won't work. We'll just draw our swords and meet them when they come. Sure, we'll be outnumbered three to one, but that doesn't matter! Right? It's better just to stay here!" Harold said in a sarcastic, yet fatherly tone.

"Really?" Arthur said inquisitivly. "No! Idiot child! Have I taught you nothing? What is in that thick skull of yours? Because it obviously isn't brains! I've had it up to hear with you! I'm not going to wait here to die. We have little choice, but I'd rather be a living coward than a brave corpse!" Arthur blushed, nodded his head slowly, and left the room. Getting his horse, Arthur road with his brother through the estate.

"Do you think the plan will work, brother?" Samuel said to Arthur as they galloped across a vast plain of short grass. "Honestly? I don't trust father's friends. They're about as brave as he is. While we're gone, they could loot the whole estate and run. No doubt they'll run to Gondor. They'll be safe there. King Elessar isn't big on death. I don't really like him very much, or any ruler for that matter. As far as I'm concerned, they should keep their fat noses out of other peoples business! The less government, the easier it is!" "Well, King Eomer is good for one thing" Sam said. "And what's that?" Arthur asked his brother calmly. "Pipeweed"

After a long ride, they reached the old well. It had marked the divider between Arthur and Samuel's land since their father re-established the Lightheart estate. "Well, I'll be seeing you, brother" Samuel said to Arthur, riding off into the horizon. "Well," Arthur said, taking a deep breath, "Time to pack!"

[Himaran]

The two rangers moved through the inn slowly, not wanting to rush up to Sandrina while she was clearly upset. Raen watched carefully as she wiped her eyes and began speaking to the man and woman that obviously were past friends. Any doubt he had previously harbored was gone; it was her, and after all those months in the wildnerness he was stunned. Where had she been? The ranger had scoured every inch of the surrounding forests but had found no trace of the supposedly "dead lady." And here she was, alive and apparently unharmed... physically, at least.

Sandrina turned, seeing them approach. "Excuse me, Miss," said Raen, trying to act calm. "My companion and believe we have seen you before. Perhaps you could shed some light on our suspicion."

"Perhaps, your name is not Chrystal," added Braedon; who had spoken to her before. The woman looked at them, then back at the others, as if realizing that they really did recognize her.

"No. Its Sandrina." She paused. "At at least I think it is."

"Who are you two," said the man beside her, although not in an unfriendly voice.

"I am Raen. This is Braedon. We were among those who searched for Sandrina, although the search ended half a year ago. It seems now, however, that it was not entirely unsuccesful."

The man's rigid features softened. "Hama, a friend of the Lighthearts. Thank you both for looking. But it seems that Sandrina has rendered it all unnecessary." The four turned to her, waiting anxiously for conformation that their soaring hopes were well-founded.

[Morsul the Dark]

Sam went off towards his house, "I do not plan to pack," he thought to himself. "If they plan to run let them. I will not go just to please father. Father can go to the ends of the world he will still go to Morgoth's halls in the end, as I and my brother. Perhaps if I give up this way of llife now I will be spared." but then the thought of the money came to him. "So much money I could buy a new horse a new house and as much pipeweed as could be grown in a year."

Sam dismounted near a tree and sat down he began to smoke. His mind cleared and he concentrated. Would he flee or stay? Either way there was a chance of death. One slow and lonely, running away gave that. Or staying and fight, death by sword. Or the last option that just occured to him, If he stayed and surrendered perhaps he would be spared. But then he would have to give up his brother, that he did not want. It was a difficult decision.

[Crystal Heart]

Sandrina watched the men and listened to their conversations. Even though the man, called Hama, claimed to be a family friend she did not recognize him.

"Do any of you know my parents or where I lived before, before the fall. Before everything. The only suspects in this case are my cousins who left me for dead. I'm sorry I can not offer more. An old healer claimed I have permanet memory loss. I fear it is so. Please tell me everything you know about me. It may be the key to unlocking my memories." Sandrina begged the men and the lady that stood around her.

Her eyes looked up at Hama. His face seemed so familiar. That strength. She knew that she had seen it many times before, but at the same time it looked so much like every other stranger's face. She had learned in, how long had they said she was gone, the nine months of her travels that looks could be deceiving but she didn't have much of a choice. She had to trust these people. They all seemed to know who she was and had been searching for her. They could help her. She hoped they could. Life was bleak without memories or anyone else to travel with let alone be around. Everyone she had met believed that she was some sort of lunatic because she didn't know her own name and was filled with such confusion most of the time. She only hoped that these people would understand.

"I'll give you all money rewards if you help me. Please."

[starkat]

Anora had stood their listening as the Rangers came up to them. Her emotions were running wild as she listened to Sandrina’s tale. Saddness over Sandrina’s lost memories washed over her. I hope we can help her. I wish I knew where her parents are.

When her childhood friend begged for their help and offered money, Anora sat down next to her. “I won’t take your money. I would be glad to help.” Pulling a worn envelope out of her pocket she handed it over to Sandrina.

“Because of my family's business, we didn't get to see each other often. In fact the last time was a few years ago. To keep in touch, we wrote letters back and forth all the time. This envelope contains the last letter I ever received from you.” Anora watched as Sandrina fingered the envelope. Hama leaned over to look at the address.

After a moment Anora continued. “I remember the letter you sent me just after you got your necklace. You drew a picture of it so I could know what it looked like.” That brought a small smile to Sandrina’s face.

“When you disappeared I never truly believed that you were dead. Since all that had been found was your sword, I always held out hope.” Anora’s voice trembled. “You were on your way to Gondor when you disappeared. I was to meet you there.”

Anora stopped there. Everyone was watching her. Momentarily shy, Anora looked to the man who had introduced himself as Hama.

[Crystal Heart]

Sandrina looked at the piece of parchment that Anora was holding out in front of her. There on the paper just as she had said, there was a sketch of the necklace that hung around her neck. The words that she had written were scribbled with a small slant as if the writer was excited.

A memory stirred. A memory of sitting at the oak desk and writing furiously, happily to her friend about the amazing gift her parents had made for her before the trip.

Sandrina looked up and smiled, a bright and cheerful smile that was filled with hope.

"I remember that. I remember doing that!" Sandrina exclaimed, her heart racing, "That was before, before my cousins..."

Sandrina stopped, her eyes gazed far away in thought. The memories of the fall made her head throb in pain. She rubbed her right temple, trying to ease it.

"I was beaten," Sandrina whispered as realizations of what truly happened came to her mind. She could only see a fragment of her memories in her minds eye, but she could see it all the same. Their clubs came swiftly down upon her in anger. Yes, she had been beaten and left for dead.

She looked up at the small group that formed. She looked each of them in the eyes, hoping to find something of realization in them as well. She saw shock within them.

"Where are they?" Sandrina asked, her small, delicate hands clenching in anger.