Duck, Duck, Duck... (Open)

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Erik

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Following his first evening at the Ogre's Head Tavern, Wolfram couldn't help but toss and turn in his bed at the inn. As far as he could tell, his companion, Relyk, was fast asleep. He, on the other hand, was wide awake.

Being of noble birth, he felt like he should know Calanhelm and its laws better. Alas, his mind was muddled from years of torment at the hand of the sea elves. And then there had been the handlers with the circus... He still shuddered at the thought of their vile, greedy ways.

Then there was this was business to do with Alzoul (sic?). Who was this mage? Could he really reap such devastation upon the world? His companion Relyk seemed keen on joining with the rest of the rabble and doing what they could to stop him. Wolfram would follow her wherever she went. Without her, after all, he would still be performing and brewing ales for the circus masters. He just didn't know what to make of Relyk's newfound friend, Lad Lord Mobieus. That one didn't rub him the right way, like a few others from the tavern...

The night wore on, and the horizon over Calanhelm turned from black to grey. Wolfram ran over the same thoughts again and again in his head, until sleep finally found him.

Wolfram dreamed he was a child once more. He lay in the grass, looking out upon the harbour near Saerloon. In the distance, he could see the sailing ships that served his family, the Ostrems, and others allied with the Duchy of the Deep.

He rolled over onto his back, gazed up at the cloudy, light blue sky. The sea wind tussled his auburn hair. He breathed deeply, and relaxed in the smell of the crisp, salty air. Here he was at peace. Here he was at ease. He began to nod off.

Quack!

Wolfram jolted awake. He looked around, and soon spied the source of the noise. A dull, brown duck was floating near the reeds at the harbour’s edge. Wolfram paid little attention to the duck, and nodded off once more.

Quack! Quack!

Wolfram awoke again. This time, a brightly coloured green duck accompanied the first. Again, Wolfram decided the bird was of no importance, and nodded off again.

Tweet! Tweet! Tweet!

Wolfram awoke yet again. This time, a trail of ducklings accompanied the male and female from before. Now Wolfram was really starting to get annoyed. He was nearly ready to get up and walk back to the holdfast, but the birds quieted down, so he thought he might try to nap once more.

QUACK! QUACK! QUACK!

Wolfram jerked wide awake. A male duck stood right on his chest, quacking into the air. Seeing Wolfram awaken, the bird turned its attention on the poor, helpless boy. Aghast, Wolfram screamed out and batted at the batty bird, but that only seemed to antagonize it further. The duck’s quacking became relentless. It started flapping its wings in anger. Wolfram managed to push the bird off his chest, and stand and turn to run, but the duck started biting at his heels and attacking his back. Wolfram lost his footing and tripped. The bird kept attacking. Wolfram couldn’t help but cry out in dismay.

Back in the inn, as an adult, Wolfram awoke in a fit. He beat his blankets and pillow, thinking the duck was still attacking him. After a minute or so, he settled down and realized it had just been a dream. Sunlight was starting to filter into the barren room. Wolfram now realized he was lying in a pool of sweat.

“That damn duck,” Wolfram muttered aloud, as much to himself as no one in particular. “I will catch him yet.”

With that, Wolfram pushed the covers aside, and prepared to get up from the straw-sewn bed. He rubbed his weary eyes, breathed deeply and stood. Next, he relieved himself in the chamber pot in the corner, changed his undergarments, and donned his tunic, armour and weapons.

He then peeked in on Relyk in the next room. Surprisingly, she still seemed to be sleeping peacefully.

Wolfram then walked down the stairs to the common room. There was no one to be found. It seemed everyone was asleep still. That was just as well. Wolfram knew the best hunting was to be had early in the morning, when other people weren’t around making noise.

He went to the door and walked out into the Calanhelm dawn. Wolfram already had a fair idea of where he might find the duck who stole his lucky copper. He figured he’d start by checking the river’s edge outside the city gates.
 
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