Backstory of Helpful Hanz

[Nemesio]

In case anyone wants to follow the little prequel adventure Steve and I are in the middle of....Here is what we've covered so far.

Eleina is a high-born elf from Il Aluk. In addition to her status as noble of Darkon, she secretly has a lot of underground connections. When Hanz rescued her, Eleina offered to pay him handsomely for his act. Whether or not he accepted payment, she has been offering him work as a look-out and muscle for her smuggling activities ever since.

Hanz's work with Eleina and the Sithican refugees started in Mayvin, a bizarre town populated mostly by gnomes. The insane architecture of Mayvin mirrors the experimental nature of it small residents. The Sithicans are all crammed into the Registrant’s Dormitory, which lucky for them was built to accommodate larger folk. Unfortunately, the establishment is almost always overflowing with noisy gnome businessmen.

The Sithicans were in rough shape and had already lost a few of their numbers traveling through the mountainous center of the Core, all the way from Forlorn to Darkon. They had wisely avoided the main roads but it had not been without cost. Their leader and matriarch is an ancient wizard of great skill, named Mirelith. The wizard’s robes are dyed a deep red, tattered beyond repair from the long journey. Strangely despite her ragged appearance, she seems to have no lack of resources, as she is willing to pay Hanz five silver each day, as well as paying for all of his amenities. The elves are supposedly in great need of a guide, a guard, and a translator. Hanz is capable of serving them as at leas two of the three. The Sithicans are mostly a solemn bunch. They speak little, even to each other. After spending some time with them it becomes clear to Hanz that he is not needed as much as a guard as they initially let on. Otherwise they trust his knowledge of Darkon explicitly and hang on his every word.

Before long the Sithicans decide to leave Mayvin, as a few days among the mad gnomes of Mayvin is enough for the elves. For the first time, Hanz gets to act as their guide and guard on the road as he leads them toward Corvia. A primarily dwarven town, Corvia is built into and amidst pillars of black and glassy volcanic stone. Mirelith buys rooms for the dozen or so remaining Sithican refugees at the Obsidian Heart Inn. The rooms at the inn are quite the opposite of those of the inn in Mayvin, spacious and very quiet, some of the Sithicans would comment that they were almost tomb-like. Obviously irritated by Corvia's strong dwarven influence, not to mention the brusqueness of the dwarves themselves, the Sithicans decide not to tarry long, and so Hanz and the refugees continue on to Il Aluk, where they are supposed to be reunited with their benefactor, Eleina.

The journey to Il Aluk is relatively uneventful. The refugees are beginning to appear optimistic for the first time. More and more Darkon seems a stable place for them to settle down, but Hanz knows better.

Everything changes once the band reaches Il Aluk. The city is quite filthy and bustling with activity, filled with a myriad of races and cultures, much like a steaming pot of soup with too many ingredients. The Sithicans appear truly lost in the chaos. Hanz suddenly gets the feeling that his real job has only just begun. After getting all their attention he directs them to keep moving. They all had best continue on their way if they are going to make it to Eleina's estate before dark.

Eleina owns a large plot of land located in a borough northwest of the Vuchar, known as Aluk Septentrion.
Not surprisingly, she has invited the Sithicans to stay on her land, until they can find their own way. One of the many reasons that Hanz is so fond of her. He has witnessed her seemingly endless capacity for kindness before. He knows she has a dark side as well, but he truly wants to believe that she is good at heart.

Things seem to be going as planned until.....a beggar in the street calls out to Hanz. "Hey you! Yuh you! Don't I know you? You are Talon no?"

Hanz looks at the beggar, a mite confused. "Talon? Uh, no, no, I am ex soldier, ja. Now I am just shoemaker. You must haff me mistakenen viss somevone else, ja?" He is also looking around, seeing if anyone is paying attention to the conversation.

"No. You are Captain Hanz Mueller! I would never forget yurrr face! You and other soldiers took my farm by force! Had to send my wife and girls running into the night before you arrived so they wouldn't be tortured! I have never seen them again! You devils! You razed it to the ground! I am penniless! I have no one! You DEVIL!"

The begger rushes Hanz with a dagger which he pulls seemingly out of nowhere! The Sithicans look on in horror. One of their number, an obvious warrior named Alelakon, jumps to Hanz's side.

Hanz is startled momentarily. His military training kicks in very quickly however. His short swords are in his hands even before he realizes it! He looks for an opening and takes it.

[Nemesio]

Before Hanz can even react, Alelakon leaps on the beggar, attempting to disarm his dagger. The disheveled old man is stronger than he appears though and his knife ends up piercing the young elf's chest. Alelakon groans and falls to his knees. The beggar stands holding his bloody knife with a look of confusion on his face. Horrified shrieks issue from the Sithican refugees as a couple of their number close in on the beggar with hatred in their eyes.

[steveflam]

Hanz reacts quickly. Left hand's blade slaps the beggars wrist, making him drop the dagger/knife. The Talon's left hand guides his blade
flat against the beggar's chest, making the man stagger back slightly.

The Falkovnian nods to himself. Good job, he tells himself.

"Sir. Please, cease your activity. Deiner Polizai vill be here soon." He grabs the attention of the other refugees, speaking in their tongue.

"Please. Leef him be, ja? He sees he is outnumbered and ist not ein idiot. Let him be, mein freunds."

[Nemesio]

Mirelith looks at Alelakon aghast. She shuffles over to the young elf, who is still kneeling on the ground, mouthing a scream as he looks at his wound in horror. A gout of blood spurts from his chest between his open fingers, soaking his shirt.

Two of the male elves nod their heads at Hanz and move closer to him as he struggles with the beggar. Their hands are clasped on the handles of their swords yet they have not drawn them.

Meanwhile six men appearing to be constables push themselves through the crowd. One of these guards stands out from the rest. He is of enormous stature, well over six feet tall, powerful, and grossly obese. His chapped lips barely conceal his receding gums and oddly protruding teeth. As the guards approach the monstrous man calls out with an authoritative voice: "You there! All of you! Drop your weapons!"

[steveflam]

Hanz places his weapons on the ground, looking back at his comrades, nodding to do the same.

[Nemesio]

The dozen elven refugees look at Hanz, and trusting his judgement they all drop numerous weapons, leaving an impressive collection of finely crafted steel on the ground. Their piled weapons gleam, tinted with pink and orange from the setting sun.

Three of the six guards walk over to the elves and command them to step further back away from their weapons.

Two of the guards close in on Hanz and command him to step away from the beggar.

The fat guard walks immediately over to Mirelith and Alelakon. He inspects the poor lad for a moment then waves Mirelith away. "We have a little problem here. Let me have a look." Mirelith shakes her head and says: "He is dying. Can you help us?" The guard walks up behind Alelakon and puts his giant sausage fingered hands about his head, a mocking look of sympathy on his face. In one deft motion he breaks the elf's neck, saying: "Better to put him out of his misery. He's the lucky one you know?"

The refugees scream with rage. Mirelith nearly tumbles over as she tries to hold up Alelakon's crumpling body.

[steveflam]

Hanz screams out in rage and jumps at the obese guard!

[Nemesio]

Cheers, jeers, and screams of horror erupt from the crowd of bystanders watching the melee.

The obese man strikes out at Hanz with surprising speed, and with tremendous force he hits him in the head with the butt of his sword.

The two guards that had advanced on Hanz and the beggar beat the unfortunate fellow down mercilessly.

Meanwhile several of the Sithican refugees pick up their weapons. As they do so the three guards cut one of them down. All three guards are cut down by the elves shortly after thereafter.

A seventh guard previously unseen emerges from the crowd blowing a loud whistle.

[steveflam]

Hanz does pick up his swords before rushing the obese man, and though he gets knocked by the man, attempts to attack him.

[steveflam]

Years of training kick in as Hanz attacks the obese man. Furious at his callous nature and what he did, his blades move meticulously and precise. Right hand slices across the brutes chest, cutting a deep gash. A split second later, his left cuts down at the man's elbow joint, narrowly cutting the arm in two. A sickening crunch is heard as bone and cartilage crack and splinter. Hanz spits in the mans face.

"For mein freund, you sweinhund!"

[Nemesio]

The fat man screams out in pain as he is maimed by Hanz. A mere second later five glowing blue darts of energy spring forth from Mirelith's palms finishing off the swine.

The crowd of spectators begins to dissipate as several more guards rush onto the scene.

[steveflam]

Hanz reacts quickly now, seeing more foes arrive.

Speaking in Elvish/Sithican

"Form up! Keep alert. We fight for our lives now! To arms!"

[Nemesio]

With their reinforcements the guards morale is restored, as the elves no longer outnumber them. A few of them fire crossbows. The rest of them rush in with clubs and short swords, but the guards are no match for the Sithicans. Armed with masterwork longswords and composite longbows, and with superior training, the elves are a sight to behold in combat.

Before Hanz's eyes, four elves are wounded, as well as several guards. Three of the guards are struck down.

The beggar sees his opportunity and he takes it. He picks himself up off the ground and attempts to stumble away.

[steveflam]

Hanz growls and runs after the beggar, forgetting his order!

[Nemesio]

The beggar falls to the ground, submitting to Hanz.

Sobbing and coughing up his own blood he manages to say: "Now you will finish what you started all those years ago! Perhaps I will see my girls again after all." He smiles showing off bloody, and pulpy gums and missing teeth.