Adventures in Balkania
Tales of Sombor the Paladin and Tirana the Mage Knight.
In the mountainous peninsula to the west of the Great Continent, far from the riches of Santara, the orderly dominion of Tionghoa, and the intrigue of Mata Hari, lied the Kingdom of Balkania. Ruled by King Dubrovnik, second of his name, Balkania was a realm of adventurers. Here was the winds of magic at their strongest, where monsters of all kinds and sizes still roamed the roads. The men and women of Balkania were as hardy as their realm was humble. Theirs was a realm of faith, where the worship of the God of the gods - Bogan as He was known here - remained strong even as the world as large was corrupting towards idolatry. Those who could etch their names in this realm could surely do so anywhere else in the world.
Sombor son of Adrianopol hailed not from Balkania; he instead came from the east, from the mercantile marches of Pontica. The second son of a noble, he left his father’s estate to become a knight-errant, to defend the innocent in distress and fight evil wherever he could find. Armed with his armor, his sword, and his faith, the journey of Sombor the Paladin soon led him to Balkania, where the Army of Darkness from the north was preparing to descend upon and make way for the rise of the Demon King.
The realm of Balkania had many towns and villages but only one city, named also Balkania. Here at the capital adventurers gathered at the Guild Hall, merchants sold their wares in the market, the King maintained order from the Royal Palace, and the Great Sage kept watch from his tower.
Tirana daughter of Skopje was powerful in magic - too powerful. Her father, Skopje the Great Sage, tried to teach her restraint, to mold her into a worthy successor, to protect Balkania through magic. Yet she rejected her father’s path, and instead chose the path of the warrior. Having left her father’s estate in rebellion, Tirana the Mage Knight entered the Adventurers’ Guild to make her name and prove her strength.
From this point on, the paths of Sombor and Tirana soon merged into one, that of the adventurers of Balkania.
First Meeting with Tirana
The floor guardian had been taken down, but the job was not finished. The paladin shook his head. A mix of concern and amusement emanated from his face as he saw the fallen mage knight. “First dungeon?”
Kneeling beside her, he took out his stick of Phoenix Salts and placed it just above her nose. The revival item, a staple for adventurers of Balkania, soon did its job.
The mage knight stirred, her eyes opened weakly. “Ouch,” she groaned, looking up to her rescuer. “I didn’t think that dying dragon would lash out its tail like that. I should have been more alert. My apologies for being such a burden, umm…”
“Sombor,” he said, reaching out a hand to her; eagerly, she took it. “And don’t apologize, my lady. Your magic was instrumental in taking down that guardian. You are a rookie, but your potential is as clear as your fire magic. What is your name?”
“I’m Tirana,” she said, now back up on her feet. She bowed with respect. “I thank you, Sir Sombor. The way you fight… I can tell tell you’re no ordinary knight. Care to share your story?”
Sombor shook his head. “My tale is a lengthy one. And judging by your attire, you struck me as no ordinary adventurer either.”
Tirana smiled. “That’s a long story as well. Let’s make a deal. You tell your story, and I’ll tell mine. What says you?”
“No time, my lady. I need to get going.”
“Don’t you mean, we need to get going?”
Sombor’s eyes widened. “I… don’t take on students. Nor do I stick in one place. Once true peace returns to this kingdom, I shall move on.”
The mage knight smirked, her eyes sizing up the paladin. “Then I’ll just have to keep up won’t I?”
Seemingly accepting the arrangement, Sombor said nothing; he looked around, and soon found what he was looking for. He reached down and grabbed the serpentine skull that was on the floor.
Tirana gasped; flashes of her father, the Great Sage, entered her mind. “Isn’t that…”
“Dragon bone, yes,” responded Sombor. He threw it to his newfound companion, forcing her to catch it. “It’s yours now.”
Tirana gazed upon the dragon bone she held. “But this beast…”
“...was taken down by your fire,” Sombor finished. “The one with the killing boot gets the real loot. That’s the third article of the Adventurers’ Code, right?”
“Well of course, but….” Tirana’s eyes widened; the mage knight’s hold on her newfound treasure tightened as the implication finally set in. “Sir Sombor, you could have taken the dragon bone for yourself and left me lying on the ground… thank you.”
“Don’t mention it,” responded Sombor, his face impassive. “I only did what is right in the eyes of Bogan.” He turned around, his hand beckoning his new companion, unsolicited but not unwelcomed. “Now let us move on, the next floor awaits.”
Tirana straightened her posture, trying her best not to give away her excitement. “O-of course. I’m right behind you, boss!”