SOUTHERN CHAPTERS
Revision as of 13:35, 17 October 2006 by 24.18.236.10 (talk)
"BAND OF BROTHERS" | Book 1
In this story arc we meet the main characters of the Midnight Chronicles of the Southern region.
chapter # 1:1
- "Tomorrow's Allies" , October 14, 2006.
- RECAP:
The sun loomed over the southern land like a vulture circling rotting meat. Our story begins amid the damp gloom of the sparsely wooded region only a few days from the Aruun Jungles of the lower Erethor. Kyuad's face slaps against the rot of a tree stump set just below a small ridge, his head resting beside the Sarcosan war hero ShadowWall. The Erenland sage and the elder captive had been routed off the land by a roudy Goblin scout squad. Not more than a stride away a fellow Erenlander called Thorton felt his muscles stress as he was hoisted to his feet. Both men clasp in iron manacles seemingly prone to the shadow's maw. With a putrid belch the Orc called Radagug the Dog spewed commands to the young defender in a tongue barely understood by either men. Jerking Thorton about the noose fell around his neck and quickly tightened - the Dog stepped back the full distance this man-catcher noose would allow at his goblin horde cackled with glee.
"ROUK-DROK FRAGA KILL OOL KROGLE HU-MON!! ROUK-DROK FRAGA KILL!! ROOG DWORF-AXE"
The sickly Orc blasted motioning for Thorton to catch the Dwarven Urgosh he was about to throw...
It seemed this hellish band delighted in torturing their victims by forcing one to sever the other's head! The twisted cadre amid the Goblin Dogs bound one over the other to watch ripping and tearing skin and cloth from the neck of poor Kyuad. The disgusting mounts best described as rat-things seemed to be coralling their goblin masters as the mob grew with anticipation. While the other mounts, two malnutritioned wolves and Radagug's own worg, seemed bored by the entertainment.
But the Erenlanders would not be alone this day. Downwind spying from beyond the tree cover the spry Elf Eranon watched with the most unusual of companions - an Orc called Durgaz. Durgaz knew this land, he had just been here less than a week ago visiting with the old Sarcosan rider hereabouts... Only moments from seeing heads roll, one way or another, Durgaz stepped from the trees. Durgaz also knew this Orc, the Dog was his elder brother!!
It hadn't been long that Durgaz had broken from his tribe. If Orc family names could be descraced this would have surely done so, but as one brother turned from the Shadow to have the light wash over his face the other stepped into his footfalls hoping to prove that even thoguh he had been the runt of their family, he would not be the black sheep. The challenge was issued and Radagug accepted as only a slimy Orc would, he barked orders to the Goblin Dogs to KILL THE TRAITOR - so much for honor! Meanwhile beyond in the trees Erenon showered arrows down on the rat-things as both Thorton and Kyuad looked to free themselves while the distraction was made. The men did not know these fey coming to their aid, but they needed no invitation to escape. Several theatres of combat opened as most of the Goblin Dogs, numbering some 20+, threw themselves at the Orc Hero as he again belowed to challenge his brother. Rat-things encroached on the elf, surprising him as they climbed the tree - they began to speak!! The mounts these goblins road could only be the twisted form of Dire Rats, and they seemed to be craving the sweet meats of elf flesh regardless of the Dire Beast truce with the Witch Queen. The battles would end as Durgaz sliced his elder brother nearly in half. But rather than run, the orc commander's goblin horde and their animals crowded around Durgaz as if mezmerized... And from where Radagug's corspe fell a monster arose cradling a child amid his entrails that buldged from his wound!
But this would not be... As Durgaz's eyes blurred, coming back to focus on a dead child at his feet! This battle was not a battle at all! These visions had flooded the Orc turncoat's mind for monthes before he finally took action to emerge from shadow. And it would be the pool of viscus in the cavity of the little dead girl's chest that would take him into tomorrow's events... Sniffing the air and hearing the crackle of twigs he slowly remembered his place. It was the dawn, the fading hour, the time when the shadow is weakest for a full half hour Aryth could rest. And as the morning fog faded from the Orc's mind he remembered... The elf, Erenon, he is in grave danger!!
MEANWHILE...
A day's journey away two Erenlanders found their prize. Thorton had led Kyuad to this place, he knew the grove the children called "Shadow Wall". It was a place they were warned against going, a place where shadow could not go. But it was also a place feared by those in the hamlet of Festrun. The grove of elven trees was only 10-12 miles from Festrun, but no one ventured there in fear that shadow patrols would learn they had gone in. Thorton had just made his home in Festrun in recent years, so while he knew of the bedtime warnings he had no fear they were real - and less than 30 yards they stood from the center of the Shadow Wall. As Thorton pointed the way for Kyuad a voice echoed from within. It was a strong voice, but hollowed with age.
"Come now SIRE, you and those opposed to the enemy in the north may enter. And you Master Kyuad step forth and be FOUND. You are both welcome in my home. The shadow cannot enter in this place."
And as the door krept open the two young rebels made their way. Across the cottage filled with objects of beauty and danger sat Walden Mikhail, once called SIR MIKHAIL FRIEND TO ARADRIL, A WALL TO SHADOW (aka. Shadow Wall). Kyuad sought out this man who would have a gift for him, an item found long ago and destined for Kyuad's hand... It was Caffel who directed Kyuad to the Shadow Wall and it would seem her abilities proved correct.
Now blind, Walden explained to the two men his tale of woe. How the enemy had torn out his eyes at the fall of the last great war 99 years before. How his new battle would be to seclude himself to wait for Aradril's rally call. He told them of the fall of the battle and of his lost love, who broke her promise to Aradril and didnot join the battle so long ago - breaking the back of the resistance. He spoke of his gift to see the paths, the souls of men and fey - he saw these two were emerging from the dark. This is Aradril's call. And as the men talked over whipser-leaf tea Walden would raise his head to see beyond the walls of the Shadow Wall cottage... The enemy approached. They could not enter here, but the shadow has ways to extract their prey and with the wood around them burning smoke drove the rebels into the maw of Shadow and the shackles that would take them to Gallow Valley where Thorton would be given the choice as prophecied in a vision the day prior...
As Erenon took aim at this morning's meal, the buck deer rushed beneath him. The tree the elf had taken cover in was strong but not strong enough to quake from the large stag's rut as it felt the pain of arrows rushing into it's tough hide. Racing to help his new ally Durgaz saw the elf fall, landing just on the otherside of the deer. And as he ran Durgaz yelled
"CARRION STAG!! ELF EATING DEER!! GET CLEAR!!"
Smashing the orc vardatch into the hind quarter of the huge buck, the hammering cut did little but to enrage the fanged deer! When it finally fell no less than 6 arrows and 4 hacking rips scarred the Carrion Stag but it didnot fall alone. Durgaz found that he could barely hold his footing with the stag's antler rack still driven through his armor, protruding from his lower back! That would not deter the orc though. The carcass lay behind them as he argued the explanation to Eranon why they
"MUST GO NOW"...
Durgaz's vision was distined to happen less than 24 hours away, and if they could not get there three lights amid the darkness would be doused - Kyuad, Walden and Thorton would DIE!!
The two unlikely allies pushed themselves to the limits rushing to the clearing nearby Walden's cottage. Gallow's Valley took it's nickname from the locals who would gather to watch the enemy punish lawbreakers. It was a minor entertainment recently created by entrepreneurs of the hamlet of Festrun that would draw several from the larger cities nearby. Today three men would be put in the gallow of their own torture. And a small audience of locals watched from the clifface above as the orc called Radagug the Dog barked his order for Thorton to chop the necks of his fellow lawbreakers!
"ROUK-DROK FRAGA KILL OOL KROGLE HU-MON!! ROUK-DROK FRAGA KILL!! ROOG DWORF-AXE"
But yesterday's vision would not play in exactly the same manner. Durgaz's vision pushed him to arrive at the site of the gallows some three hours prior to Radagug's entourage would arrive! Still wounded from the Carrion Stag earlier that morning the orc and elf set their trap. And it would be sprung! But not fully as intended. While Durgaz's vision seemed to exagerate Radagug's number of Goblin Dog forces, he also over estimated his brother's intimidation factor. Radagug would NOT rush to one-on-one battle quite so quickly as he did in the dream... Eranon from the trees let loose the log trap, that would swing decimating nearly half the Goblin Dogs!
The goblin captain and keymaster Forc would also prove to take a different path, as the other goblins rallied around Radagug to battle Forc slobbered over the men on the tree stump, for he knew the secondary forces that Radagug had in tow. When the battle began to fail the elder orc brother he barked another order and from beyond the few rat-thing mounts the hyena-like wolves that made up the second half of the mounts his Goblin Dogs road shed their saddles and stood up fully errect!! Unsure if the rat-things were the Dire Rats of Durgaz's vision, Erenon KNEW these beasts - they were a more savagely bred version of the humanoid shadow agents called Gnolls. These Gnolls had mascaraded as wolfling mounts - THIS is the true reason Radagug would be called "the Dog"!
As the battle wore on the turning point would be Kyuad and Walden's escape, pinning Radagug to the Gallow Stump with daggers hidden by Eranon the heroes turned the tide against the Goblin mass as Durgaz chopped his way toward his brother. Walden's age betrayed him and all saw him fall to the horde as Radagug sounded the retreat! By the end of the day Eranon stood above a fallen Gnoll nursing a malnorished wolf mount saved from the Goblin retreat, Kyuad used his arcane abilities to free himself and nearly fell Radagug, Thorton had his chance to severe the head of the elder orc but almost as if by fate was unable to wield the Dwarven Urgosh in his defender hands, and Drugaz disappeared over the ridge rushing on the trail of Radagug's Dogs as they fled to the NorthWest.
Taking control of the clearing the three heroes saw their audience had long since disappeared, and concerned for the Orc hero and their own safety chose to make their way back to the smoke filled cottage of Shadow Wall. This would be their place of rest for the nightfall.
Hopefully it would be a safe haven for a short time until Durgaz returned from his hunt. And if hope be with him he would return with Walden, the Shadow Wall himself...
But that's another tale to be told...
- RECAP:
(the CONCLUSION - coming soon)
