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Hey all, just looking for some feedback on this prelude. Post all you want and be brutally honest in your opinions and comments. Enjoy.
Higher Calling – Prelude
‘How kin I be killin’ my own brothas’ I thought to myself as yet another troll fell into shadow from my blood-stained poleaxe. ‘I too, be troll, why dis bloodshed?’ I asked myself as I parried a spear thrust, countered with a kick to my foes’ stomach and continued with an upward slash of my blade to his face.
“Kill da defiled ones!” I heard from my left; ten more trolls charged throwing axes and spears. I dodged one spear and deflected a thrown hatchet before decapitating the nearest troll. He left his guard low and paid dearly for it. Another troll lunged from the left and sliced my side with his axe. I knew the blood was dripping but my lust for battle blocked all pain. A left hand uppercut stunned the troll long enough for me to pierce his throat with a stab of my tusks. He slumped to the ground as his eyes darkened and life seeped from the two gaping holes in his neck. A spear pierced my shoulder but I fought on; my rage distorting reality like a strong inhale of my pipe. Or so I thought.
I shattered the bodies of two more foes with a single strike and impaled a third on the back end of my poleaxe. The remaining five trolls charged at once to overwhelm me. I deflected an axe and caught a spear that had been thrown at my in my right hand. I returned the spear to its rightful owner but he wasn’t as agile as I was and he failed to catch my throw. He crumpled to the earth in shock, eyes wide open and misting in the last few moments of life. ‘Pity’ I thought ‘It’s been far to long since my last game of catch.’
I raised my poleaxe and cleaved the next troll clean in two; he (well, ‘they’ now) dropped to the earth and fell into eternal slumber. I threw my poleaxe at the furthest troll from me to end the spell she was casting. My pole weapon ended her spell and her life. I was now weaponless and the final two trolls, the leader and his final crony, simultaneously struck at me. I dropped to the earth and avoided both spear thrusts. I tripped the clan leader and then rose to my feet. The crony stabbed me in my gut but it didn’t matter. The regenerating abilities from my troll ancestors would render me healthy in a matter of minutes. I grabbed the troll’s head and twisted violently. An audible snap told me he would never move his limbs again.
I dropped the limp body and turned to face my final foe. “You be good fighta’ mon, too bad yous gonna be joinin’ dem in dere eternal rest” He said to me.
I laughed at his comment, “Fight me like a troll mon, no weapons or tricks, jus’ you an’ me,” I responded. He lunged at my head with his spear; his answer was clear enough. I evaded the stab and countered with a jump kick to his neck. He stumbled back before recovering and lunging once more. I dropped to the ground once again but not to dodge. I kicked my legs up and caught my foe in the stomach. I rose as he flew into the air, ready to finish him when he landed. He hit the ground and never rose again, his face impaled by the tusks of a head I had severed from his crony minutes ago.
I found my poleaxe and made sure to decapitate each troll to ensure none could recover from their injuries. I cleaned my blade and sheathed it to my back before inspecting my injuries. I looked down at my body and stood in shock. It was not rage that had kept me from feeling my injuries. ‘No’ I thought ‘this cant be true’.
I awoke with a gasp and beads of sweat running down my face. “I’m sorry, sir, but the Warchief requests your advice on some important matters,” an orc warrior said before closing my door.
“More nightmares, Surak?”
“Ya, girly, da battle ova’ in da Plaguelands against da Mossflayer Tribe,” I responded. But the nightmare wasn’t just a dream, the nightmare was my life.
“Dat be a gory one, try ta forget it, honey. Go an’ help govern da Horde, it take your mind off some of those bad memories,” my wife said. I dressed and put on some ceremonial armor to look presentable to Thrall. I exited my room and was escorted by four shorter but burly orcs to the warchief’s chambers. “Welcome, Surak,” he said to me as the guards left, “Please come and sit.”
I did as he asked and we made small talk. Thrall was not always like this. Early in his life Thrall was strictly business but that was then. His beard and braids were now gray, his green skin losing it pigments. “Surak, you and I have been friends for many years, comrades through countless battles. I need your advice now, old friend,” the warchief said to me. He coughed and hacked before straightening again.
The question he asked me was the result of many events, some of them personal, others that affect the Horde entirely. In order to understand his question, and my answer, I must tell you young ones of many events. I will tell you my view of recent past. Listen and listen well, for it all began in the village of Sen’jin.
Very good and gripping start. Dream sequences are a bit cliche (in my opinion) but you pulled it off very well. I especially liked the usage of troll tusks as spears. I've always felt that should be a racial ability.
Ive already written the first four chapters and the prelude. Each chapter is about six pages long in microsoft word and the fifth chapter is halfway done (minus some proof reading and so on). I have the full story planned already, I just cant get anyone to okay it in TDL.
Here's Chapter 1-part 1. Its set in Sen'jin village and the surrounding areas (I'm taking a few geographical liberties). The first few chapters of the story tell of Suraks initiation into adulthood and how his journey to greatness and disaster begins.
Chapter 1 - Coming of Age
"I neva’ thought mah life would come ta dis. Da shamans had tried ta warn me, I didn't believe dem, no one eva' did. Maybe I should 'ave. Listen up lil ones, I'll tell ya of mah journay."
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Hammering.
On a beautiful morning like this I was stuck in the village.
Hammering. The dew hadn't even evaporated and the morning sun was still crimson in the low eastern sky. But I was in the shop.
Hammering.
It was a perfect morning to train and kill murlocs and other semi-mindless creatures but there was much to do. Battle would have to wait for tonight the rite of passage for males in our village was taking place. Every troll boy of at least seventeen years would be granted status of man tonight. The women would have their rites tomorrow. Hammering. As the son of the village blacksmith I was overwhelmed by the number of orders that had to be finished by tonight. Ceremonial helmets, axes, spears and an assortment of metal objects all had to be repaired and polished to perfection. My father, Uhlaki, and my younger twin brothers, Ahnlaki and Berlaki, were with me as well furiously working to mend all sorts of weapons and implements. My older sister, Lanlaki, worked in the room beside us patching up leather and cloth armor and items of the same purpose. "Surak, quit daydreamin’ mon, we got work ta do," My father said.
"I would 'cept it not be day yet fatha’," I replied.
"Well den stop ya 'mornin'dreamin' or whateva' you calls it and hamma' dat spearblade nice and flat mon," He said back. I resumed my tedious work. Dad worked alone on more delicate and precious pieces while Ahnlaki, Berlaki and I worked as a team. Berlaki tended to the fires while Ahnlaki would heat the metal in the furnace and I hammered the heated metal. My father was stern at work but otherwise very laid back. A good joke or wrestling match wasn’t far away when he wasn’t working. My father and I no longer practiced wrestling though. Instead he trained me to be a warrior like himself. He was of average height for a troll at around seven feet two inches. I on the other hand was not at all average. Fully stretched my frame was close to nine and a half feet tall. It came from my mother’s side; she was of the Zandalar tribe while my father was of the Darkspear. My father still had the upper hand in our matches despite my height. He had experience and strength that I had yet to gain. "You boys betta not be fightin' while I be away." My mother Skam'ra said as she returned from the well.
“We weren’t fightin’ girly, I be tellin’ da kids about ‘ow I made a sword for an orc chief once an’ ‘ow ‘e still carries dat blade t’dis day” my dad said. We knew the story wasn’t true but dad insisted it was.
"You know dis be da last day you kin call me 'boy' right ma?" I asked.
"You always be mah lil bebe, Surak, and doncha be fergettin’ dat mon," She countered as she poured the water into the cooling bowl for our metal works. "Besides, your mohawk be too short ta be a mons mohawk." My copper mohawk wasn't short by any means, but compared to my height it looked small. The rest of my head was shaved except for the three braids hanging from my chin as was traditional of my family. Ahnlaki and Berlaki had just started theirs while my father’s braids were close to three feet long. "Surak," my mother asked, "doncha ‘ave ta go finish your armor fer tonight?"
"Ya, ma, I gotta get some featha’s from da harpies an’ a few more murloc scales." I said. "An’ den I still ‘ave to coat mah helmet with coppa."
"Get breakfast an’ get ready, yer brothas kin finish da weapons an’ armor up." She replied.
I went up to our house on the second floor of our hut that was both a home and a hardware store. I ate and took a loaf of bread for the day. I put the bread, my skinning knife and a few healing potions in my bag and went to the family armory. I put on my murloc scale shirt and some pants of the same make. Some hard leather armor and boots were next plus a worn belt. Some murloc skulls on my shoulders added the final touch to my armor. My dad had coated them in copper to increase their durability and our village shaman had blessed them to add protection from magic. The final piece was my necklace that hung low and was adorned with bones, talons and tusks. My future wife, Nefertan, was the daughter of an enchanter and had the necklace blessed to give me strength. Our families had promised us to each other when we were about three. It wasn't bad; Nefertan was a priestess trainee and was considered by many the most beautiful troll in Sen'jin. I left my helmet on its pedestal, It was my most prized possession. It was the skull of a baby kodo I had killed when my father and some of his friends took me hunting in the Barrens. I had to coat it with copper like my shoulder skulls so it wouldn't break in battle.
I strapped my quiver to my back and picked up my three axes. Two single hand axes sheathed into my belt and a two-handed poleaxe on my back. I picked up my bow and attached my item pouch to my belt. The armor was lightweight, suited for long hunts in the wild. I left the house and walked over to our neighbors’. My friend Gul'gantu was crouched on the porch. Gul'gantu was a trainee assassin, his double long knives were deadly and his throwing daggers could be thrown with pinpoint accuracy. "You be late, mon," he said to me.
"It be a big day at da shop, Gantu. My fatha was needin a lil help." I replied. "You be ready ta go, mon?"
"Ya mon, you wanna kill da harpies or da murlocs first?" He asked.
"North ta da harpies, den we kin work our way back down da shore killin murlocs and dem lil crab tings." I replied. Gantu lept off the porch and we jogged north towards a nearby harpy nest. Gantu and I finally stopped after a good half hour or so of jogging. We took a quick break before we began our hunt of the harpies. I readied an arrow and Gantu prepared to throw his daggers at a moments notice.
We turned the corner ready for battle, but that was not necessary. We relaxed slightly, and then cringed at the scent of fresh, roasting death. We were too late, someone had already killed the harpies, and quite effectively at that. Harpy bodies were strewn everywhere but oddly enough, there was little blood. The bodies were not stabbed or slashed, but burned. "Da magic energies in dis place be strong, mon," said Gantu.
"Shush, I be smellin orcs nearby." I replied, "Over dat way." I pointed down a small ravine with my tusks.
"I check it out mon, you see if dere be more harpies for us ta kill out 'ere." Gul'gantu slipped down the ravine and began using the rocks and small bushes for cover, blending in with his surroundings. I turned to inspect the rest of the harpy roost and look for any undamaged plunder. I collected some talons from the bodies and around one hundred or so feathers of blue, red and copper color. There were a few coins in the various nests and even a decent leather glove. Gantu already had some of his own so this one was mine (my left hand felt much safer having a thin layer of animal skin covering it). "Psst, Surak, down dis way mon," whispered Gantu. "It be a she Orc warlock mon, she be attackin' da harpies."
"She be friendly or is she corrupted mon?" I asked. Most warlocks were friendly to the Horde but others were not because of the demons they served. They were consumed with the need for power, and would do anything to get it.
"Friendly, she be killin’ ‘arpies fer a reason, not jus’ random killins," he replied.
"Alright mon, let's go have a word wit' her, see if she wanna help us kill some more ‘arpies." I said. Gantu stood up straight (as straight as trolls stand) and we walked down the ravine to meet this she Orc. Gantu and I both had our weapons at the ready but concealed in case of a trap, warlocks had been known to lay traps. The orc turned to us and greeted us in a slightly more jovial manner than expected.
"You two little trolls are a little far away from home aren’t you," she stated. Her eyes were brown but the tint of red made it obvious she was a warlock in training. Her skin was an average green of orcish heritage.
"Well Razor Hill be far too, girly," countered Gantu, "I be Gul'gantu and dis be Surak. You be pretty good at da ‘arpy killin business, mon."
"A polite troll? Should I go report to Thrall?" She replied jokingly, "I'm Ytanna. Did I take all of your harpies? There should be more on that mesa right there," she pointed northeast. "Why don't you boys join me, I need a few more eyes and livers for my master."
"We'd be 'appy ta keep ya company, Ytanna" I replied. The three of us made our way up a slope to the top of the mesa. Sure enough there were harpy nests built on, in and around a few scattered trees. "Alright," I said, "Ytanna an’ I will pull da harpies dis way, den I charge dem while Ytanna cova's me. Gantu, kin sneak around be'ind dem and do 'is business."
"No objections here," answered Ytanna. Gul'gantu used the cover near the edge of the mesa to stealthily make his way behind the nearest harpy nest. Ytanna prepared a fire spell while I fitted my arrow. "On t'ree girly," I said, "One...two...T'REE!" All hell broke loose, first from Ytanna's fingers (literally), then from my bow as I furiously shot down harpy after harpy. Ytanna unleashed two more fire spells that killed four harpies and then three more. I dropped my bow as I fired off my final arrow straight into the face of what looked to be the matriarch of that particular nest. With their leader falling limply to the earth the harpies panicked. I lifted my poleaxe off of my back and charged into the fray. Harpies were falling left and right from Ytanna's spells of darkness and inferno but still more swooped down upon me. I sliced, slashed and stabbed with all the strength I had.
A second wave of harpies closed in on me but they never made it. A splash of fire incinerated three harpies and the six others died in less then twenty seconds. Gul'gantu lept from one harpy to the next slicing the throat with one dagger while plunging the other deep into the soft belly and up into their chest cavities. All nine harpies were dead before they hit the ground.
We all gave each other nods of approval and small smiles. Gantu and I took the talons and feathers we needed, Gantu was also preparing for the ceremony tonight. I retrieved my arrows and sliced off four harpy beaks with my skinning knife, they would make for good elbow and kneepads. Ytanna took all the eyes, livers and other organs she needed. "Look at dese t'ings mon," said Gantu as he held up some harpy eggs, "I found lunch for da t'ree of us." I took out my loaf of bread and split it among us and Ytanna tossed out a few apples. She then proceeded to fry the eggs on a rock she heated with a small fire spell.
After a good eat and some light conversation about the previous battle we got ready to move out. "Ytanna girly," said Gantu, " 'ow about you come back wit' us to Sen'jin, dere be a big party tonight."
"I'm sorry boys but I cant stay and play any longer. I must be off to Orgrimmar." She answered. "I'll see if I can visit you tomorrow or the day after though, we can go hunting the pig men or horse men." We said our goodbyes and parted ways, Ytanna north and Gul'gantu and I southeast towards the coast. The sun was still high in the atmosphere and we had murlocs to hunt. We stepped onto the hot sand and spotted the dead carcass of some dead seabeast. It was well over forty feet long and covered by a horde of little crabs and small shore scavengers.
We walked up to the corpse and began hacking at the crabs, Gantu with his long knives and I with both of my hand axes. Within minutes there were at least one hundred dead crabs. The small ones took a single stab or a crushing stomp of the heel to kill. But then the larger crabs came out of the crevice they had eaten into the beast. Their shells were thick and spine covered and their claws could cut off a limb with relative ease. I sheathed my two hand axes and took out my poleaxe. My poleaxe made the crabs seem like I was chopping firewood. Two or three good hacks would split their shells and then Gantu would run behind them and stab their exposed innards. Seven giant crabs were slain before their comrades scuttled away into the sea and seceded their rights to the dead seabeast. None of the organs were whole so none could be sold at the village. Gul'gantu and I salvaged all of the bones we could including the pelvic bone and the skull. The teeth would make good daggers for Gantu and the tail fin had a wide, flat bone that would make a good shield for myself.
With half of our mission complete we decided to go home to Sen'Jin and drop of all our new plunder and then set out to a nearby murloc settlement. A few of our trollish neighbors gave us stares of awe as we passed with the giant skull of a sea beast. I walked a little taller as I passed Nefertan and a group of her friends on my way home. Their excited giggles and some 'ooohhhs' and 'ahhhhs' told me they were definitely impressed. The skull of a sea beast would be a great adornment over the top of my family's forge and home (I got to keep it because Gul'gantu couldn't carry it himself). After showing the skull to my family and recounting the story of how Gul'gantu and I lured it onto the beach and slew the beast (it didn’t really happen but no one had to know) Gantu and I set out again. This time to the southeast towards the murlocs.
Murlocs were unlike harpies for they had strategies and weapons. Their shields of shells made our projectiles useless and murlocs were smart enough to know when to run, when to fight and how to execute some simple battle tactics. Gul'gantu hid on the dunes as I charged into a group of three murlocs, shouting at a full sprint. They immediately surrounded me but they failed to see Gantu making his way towards the skirmish. I killed one murloc straight away by hacking his shield in two and slicing him in half with an upward slash. The murloc to my right wounded my leg, but he was soon dead from a few clean backstabs from Gantu. The final Murloc ran but a thrown dagger and a poleaxe throw dropped him ten yards away.
By this time my leg had healed up with no traces of a scar. I skinned the murlocs for their scaly hides as Gantu took their teeth and any loot they had on them. Three swift chops severed their heads and we stored our plunder and skulls on a nearby dune. We used the same strategy on four more patrols until we had all the scales we needed. We took all sixteen murloc heads and their scale hides back to the village along with an assortment of shells, clams and gold. One shell had a large black pearl inside it, about two inches in diameter. "Take da pearl mon," Gantu said, "Give it ta Nefertan, she be likin' dat fer a necklace." It was a good day of profit and hunting, sixteen dead murlocs, but there was one problem. There were sixteen murlocs dead, but one more was alive, watching from the safety of the waves. That murloc slipped away after watching us leave to our village; he would avenge his brothers’ deaths.
"T'anks mon," I replied, "We betta' get goin though, we got t'ree hours til dusk be comin'." We rushed home and dropped off our spoils of battle. Gul'gantu and I ate a little supper bought with some of the money we got from selling our plunder and then stored the rest in our houses. I took off all my armor and washed it off. Harpy blood and murloc mucus makes you smell like the local latrine. After a ceremonial cleansing for both body and soul, I went downstairs to find Lanlaki. I would need her help to make the pearl into jewelry. "Whoa mon, dat be a big pearl!" she stated, "for Nefertan right lil brotha?"
I nodded and replied, "What kinda jewelry you t'ink she be wantin?"
"I be talkin' ta 'er today and she was complainin' dat she be needin somet'in for 'er 'eaddress tomorrow night." Lanlaki answered.
"T'anks girly," I said, "you t'ink you kin mount it by tomorrow den?"
"Yah mon, jes' be gettin me dat 'eaddress tonight," Lanlaki replied.
I threw on some fresh clothes and made my way over to Nefertan's house. Her mother and father, E'Fratne and Og’nate, were on the porch rocking their youngest child, bringing the count to around fourteen kids. They were very jolly trolls, always optimistic. She raised the kids and baked food for profit in her spare time while he was the town enchanter and alchemist. We exchanged pleasantries and then I asked where I could find Nefertan. "Oh, she be at da swimmin’ 'ole wit' Reyana and Jujika. Go and see dem dere, and tell dem ta 'urry back 'ome for da ceremony tonight," She replied. A ten-minute walk southwest put me at a small grove near the shore. A tight clump of bushes and trees surrounded the swimming hole with the exception of where a path was cut. I cautiously entered and bolted upright as I heard three screams. Luckily they weren't screams of pain, but of embarrassment, the three girl trolls were skinny-dipping. I politely turned away (after a short look) and asked, "Could I speak ta you Nefertan?"
"Sure, jes' one sec, Surak," she replied. I escorted her out of the grove after whispering a sorry to Reyana and Jujika. I began to speak when Nefertan quieted me, kissed me, smiled and then told me to go ahead. "Well," I started nervously, "I got a lil surprise for ya." Her eyes lit up as I showed her the pearl, reflecting the evening sunlight into her cerulean eyes. After another long, but awkward troll kiss (the tusks are a little restricting) I asked if I could put it in her headdress. "Ya mon," she replied, "but only if ya do me one other fava.' Kin I have a few of da blue featha's put in ta make mah 'eaddress look betta?"
"No problem girly," I answered. I apologized for 'interrupting' her and her friends. She giggled, winked and said, "maybe you kin join me next time I go swimmin." I waved goodbye and told her that E'fratne said to hurry up and get home.
Nefertan's younger sister gave me the headdress and I brought it back to Lanlaki. She sealed the black pearl on the headdress and put in five blue feathers. The five blue feathers contrasted perfectly with the copper ones behind it and the black pearl shone on the headdress. I thanked Lanlaki and put the headdress on my pedestal and took my helmet.
I bought copper from the local supplier and melted it. I poured the copper over the baby kodo skull, only the brow ridges, eye sockets, horns and nose holes did not get covered. Those places were painted black to match my murloc shoulder skulls and to accentuate the skulls features. Some new blue and copper feathers made for a good mane on the helmet. My mother Skam'ra gave me my scale chest armor that now had sleeves to the elbows and then she helped me put feathers on the murloc skulls to match my helm. We dipped the four harpy beaks in copper and then mounted feathers on each pad. My armor was ready for the ceremonies.
My father had carved a new spear and I was to give it to Nefertan's father as was tradition. We dipped the blade in copper and the adorned it with feathers and runes of good fortune along the spear shaft. My final trip was to the village shaman. Lanlaki had made a necklace from the murloc shells and the harpy talons. I was going to have it blessed to provide the wearer with increased intelligence and a spell to increase the regeneration of energy for Nefertan. The shaman, Kuji'fet, smiled and blessed the necklace. I thanked him, bowed, and left to get ready for the rites.
I put on my armor and I took my poleaxe for show. The whole village gathered to the northeast of our village. A natural indent in the wall of a mesa made for a perfect amphitheater for town ceremonies. My siblings took their seats in the indent while my mother and father stood behind me. Thirteen boys stood with me around the fire in the center of the amphitheater with their parents behind them. Kuji'fet walked to the center of the circle near the blazing pyre and began the Rites of Adulthood.
The bonfire was massive, blazing high and bright and even causing some of the stars in the sky to fade. The light danced across the masks and helmets of fourteen soon adult male trolls. I had only been this nervous three times before in my life: the day I met Nefertan for the first time, the first time we ever kissed and the time I went kodo hunting and killed the baby kodo that became my helmet. Kuji'fet the shaman began his speech with a gruff voice that did not fit his frail, lanky body. “Quiet mah children,” he pronounced, “It come dat we must recognize dese no longa be boys, but dey be men. Da time 'as come ta give dese men vocations ta follow and a destiny ta pursue.” The crowds cheered at this time, but a hand raise from Kuji'fet was enough to silence them almost instantly. “First, let us recognize each of da boys. Boys, please respond ta me by steppin' forward and statin' your chosen profession.”
“Kanat!” yelled the shaman “Mage, good shaman,” he replied.
“Nonak!” said Kuji'fet. “Shaman, good shaman,” Nonak answered.
“Enifod!” declared the elder. “Mage, good shaman,” was the return.
“Gul'gantu!” cried the shaman. “Assassin, good shaman,” returned Gantu. Whispers rippled through the crowds, Gul'gantu's late father, Ru'gantu, was the last assassin to go through our village.
“Presuiti!” Kuji'fet said. “Priest, good shaman,” was the reply.
“Hadrada!” the shaman proclaimed. “Warrior, good shaman,” Hadrada yelled back. Hadrada was my only competition to become champion of the village. He was barely seven feet tall but was built more like an Orc than a Troll. I had never fought him with weapons, but he had won two out of our three wrestling matches, but that was before my growth spurt.
“Telpren!” The elder boomed. “Shaman, good shaman,” Telpren replied somewhat timidly. Telpren was about eight feet tall, intelligent beyond belief and weighed as much as a stick of his height.
“Sipasa!” announced the ancient troll. “Hunter, good shaman,” was returned.
“Ypokax!” yelled the frail man. “Hunter, good shaman,” Ypokax yelled back. Ypokax was Gul'gantu's cousin. We hunted together every once in a while when he wasn't helping at the tavern his father ran.
“Nasco!” was said next. “Mage, good shaman,” was his answer.
“Jikota!” Kuji'fet cried. “Hunter, good shaman,” declared Jikota.
“Trasta!” the troll declared. “Priest, good shaman,” said he.
“Un'poyu!” boomed the shaman. “Assassin, good shaman,” announced Un'poyu. There were more murmurs in the crowd. It was rare to see an assassin once every nine years. Two in one ceremony was unheard of.
“Surak!” roared the ancient. “Warrior, good shaman,” I boomed back in my own louder and deeper voice. The crowds gave a few 'ooohs' and 'ahhhs' at the resonance of my voice off the mesa's walls. Showing off was always fun.
“Good,” the shaman said as he smiled, “and now, as be tradition, if any boys 'ere 'ave a marriage proposal, please step forward.” Six of the fourteen stepped out. Hadrada, Un'poyu, Ypokax, Telpren, myself and surprisingly Gul'gantu. I’d never heard of his plans for a marriage proposal.
Ypokax went first, he offered a ring of silver to Jujika and a new axe to her father; they were an arranged marriage. Un'poyu went to offer his hand to Reyana; they too were arranged. He gave her a set of bracelets inlaid with jade and a new war hammer to her father. I went next, giving Nefertan her headdress and necklace and the spear to her father. After this all hell was ready to break. Hadrada and Telpren offered their marriage proposals to the same girl. She had to choose Telpren, Hadrada or neither by the time her ceremony came the next night. Finally it was Gul'gantu's turn. He walked straight to Lanlaki. He gave her shell earrings inlaid with three pearls each that we had collected that day. He brought my father a new set of forge hammers made with sea beast bone handles and pure granite hammerheads, Gul'gantu had really put thought into his gifts. All six of us returned to our places in the circle.
“Now dat we've finished dat, I will bless all of you wit' attributes dat will benefit you t'roughout your life.” Gul'gantu was blessed with speed, quickness and accuracy. I was given endurance, power and courage. Then came Kuji'fet's final words. “By wind, earth, fire and wata', and you as our witnesses, I proclaim dese boys now be men. No longa are dey children, for now dey be adults, and as adults dey will 'ave full rights and full accountability in da community.” The people roared in approval and cheered as we exited the amphitheater.
By this time the moon was high and the night was clear. Eight great pyres were lit surrounding the village and one even larger one was made in the village center. All sorts of foods and drinks were set on massive tables out in the village square. The fourteen 'new men' as we were called were allowed to change into our ceremonial garb. We entered the tables together amid loud cheers and the songs of the slightly drunk. We sat together at the head table with the village elders. They gave us advice on war, politics, love and any little anecdote they could conjure up.
Once again Kuji'fet silenced the village. The fourteen new men were given ceremonial wine, well over one thousand years old, as our first 'official' adult drink. After hours of eating, drinking, vomiting and more eating and drinking, us ‘new men’ were told to report to the village council. We all took one last drink and made our way (slowly) to the village council. We sat in front of Kuji'fet, his wife Danzi'fet and an Orc of pale green color and speckled hair. The orc spoke to us with a northern accent, “Welcum, lads, to our council. The time has come to prove to the Horde an' to your community that you are truly worthy of full adult status.”
“Dat be right, new mons,” said Kuji'fet, “we 'ave two missions fer ya ta complete. Da first one is fer dose of you dat 'ave not made a marriage proposal. Tomorrow you be travelin' ta da nearby Echo Isles ta assault Zalazane and 'is minions. We want proof dat 'e be dead when you return. Da priests dat be goin wit' you be able ta resurrect you, but dat shouldn't be 'appenin.”
Danzi'fet was next to speak, “and fer you possibly married new mons, we have a different task. Ta da nort' dere be a salamanda' dat be rampagin' in da Barrens. Da Orcs be needin' a team ta put da beast down.”
“That's correct,” cut in the Orc, “you trolls will go to Razor Hill with me and then west to the Barrens to slay this salamander. Your shaman trainee will be given the spell to resurrect any of you that may be killed. We leave for Razor Hill tomorrow just after daybreak. Get some sleep, you'll have a busy day tomorrow.” The fourteen of us left in a shock. None of our parents ever told us of a 'test' after the ceremony. We all took a drink home and chugged it to ensure a good, hardy sleep.
I woke the next morning before the sun showed itself but after it was light. A splitting headache and aching limbs greeted me with open, yet unwelcomed, arms. My mother had packed my pouch with lunch foods while I ate some fruit, bread and a tall glass of goat milk. Gul'gantu came up the stairs, we exchanged 'good mornings' and he helped me gather my equipment. I couldn't help but notice the stare-tag he was playing with Lanlaki. It was look, look away, look, look away until I thought their necks might snap. Finally, fully armed and ready, we made our way to the village center. Our family, friends and our possible brides waved us off after we had exchanged a few 'good lucks' with the other squad of eight. Presuiti was chosen to lead the other squad; he was a solid choice for a commander. For our group Telpren was given authority. It was a good decision; Telpren was smart and made up his mind quickly plus he was the only possible healer for our group.
The orc that addressed us the night before pulled up in a wolf drawn cart with a large orc at the reigns, a bodyguard no doubt. We piled in, took off our heavy armor and laid our weapons down. Some of us talked and others slept from a lack of rest the night before. It was a two hour ride to Razor Hill. “Git out, boys!” yelled the Orc driver, “Yer ride ends here.”
“Over that bridge,” said the councilor, “and down the path is the Barrens. Follow it west and take the road north a ways when it turns, the salamander is known as 'Dromogash. Find it, put it down and take whatever plunder you find in its den and split it among yourselves. If there's anything of real value then bring it here back to me. My driver will bring you back to Sen'Jin when you finish so you wont miss the ceremonies for your women. Good luck and may your ancestors protect you.”
We decided to get our weapons sharpened and stock up on supplies before moving out. Hadrada and I had our weapons sharpened, I bought some better arrows while Un'poyu and Gul'gantu purchased new throwing weapons. I sold my two hand axes for a larger battle axe so I could use my newly carved shield. A single rune was on the shield, fierce, or 'suras' in trollish; the basis of my name. The rune blessed me to give me strength in battle and my poleaxe was blessed to help me regain vitality when attacking my enemies. With all our equipment in line the six of us left for the Barrens. Ypokax Deadeye, Hadrada the Strong, Gul'gantu the Swift, Un'poyu the Crafty, Telpren the Wise and Surak the Fierce.
We set out eager but nervous, anxious but still excited at the thought of heroic battle and glittering plunder. But after an hour of walking it became obvious that a new method of transportation would be needed. A passing goblin cart was the answer. The three-foot high knee biters wouldn't deal with Telpren, so I decided to try my two fingered and one thumbed hand at negotiations. “Mista' goblin 'ow much fer a ride ta da north road?” I asked.
“Well big boi,” his little voiced piped up, “How much do you have?” his eyes glittered with a tint of gold.
“I've got dis axe, it be pretty nice,” I said as I drew my pole axe to a stop about a millimeter from his neck, “Do ya get mah point ya wee lil mon?”
“I'm sure we can work something out,” he said as he smiled and laughed nervously. We climbed on board and told him of our situation. A promise for ten percent of all our plunder was enough to buy us a rides for the day.
The goblin, Werqutink, was actually quite pleasant after the first altercation. He had a wife, identical triplet daughters and a home in a place called Ratchet. He and I struck up a quick friendship on the way to the northern turn where we would find Dromogash. He bid us good luck and happy hunting as we exited the cart. We put on our gear and headed north to find the rampaging salamander. It didn't take long to find his wake of destruction. A three story orc home was ablaze and sending smoke over a thousand feet in the air. “Betcha he be dat way,” I said.
As we rounded the bend on a hill we saw a massive twenty-foot tall and forty-foot long salamander. I drew my bow and fitted an arrow, Ypokax did the same, and Hadrada readied a light javelin. Telpren had a plan ready in seconds. “Alright mons, Un'poyu stealth left, Gantu da right; go fer da flanks and soft undabelly but wait for us ta charge,” Telpren said as the two rogues set off, “you warria' boys fire yer t'ings and den rush him wit' space between you twos ta avoid da firebreat', I be keepin' you's 'ealthy wit’ spells, ya mons?”
“Ya mon,” said Hadrada.
“Yasureyoubetchamon,” was my reply.
Forty arrows, five light javelins and three medium javelins later Hadrada and I charged the great Dromogash with melee weapons ready. Hadrada threw his heavy javelin at a full sprint from twenty yards. The bolt pierced the lizards front right leg, slowing the salamander. He then readied his round shield and long sword for close combat. I drew my poleaxe and lodged it in the great beasts neck, right behind the skull when Hadrada was keeping Dromogash's attention.
I readied my tall shield for the retribution I knew was coming. I was ten feet in the air and fifteen feet away before I realized the salamander had head-butted me. My shield withstood the attack but my arm was broken in several spots. The drop to the ground didn't help much either but a potion later plus a little troll regeneration and I was sprinting back into battle.
By this time Gul'gantu and Un'poyu had charged throwing their daggers and axes. The lizard was bleeding from deep gashes to its sides and underbelly. Ypokax had moved into position to fire arrows into the softer right flank of Dromogash while Telpren was busy casting his healing spells. I picked up my poleaxe that had been dislodged and decided on a bold move. I picked up one of Hadrada’s javelins and stabbed it into the reptilian beast. I leapt onto the javelin and immediately leapt once more onto the beasts back. I roared with all my might as I took one good slice at the beast’s spinal chord. The thundering slam of the mighty tail shook me from Dromogash's back. The beast's spine had been severed from mid back down. With no back legs and no tail, the beast was a sitting duck (well, lizard).
We decided the best way to kill it would be a slit, or twenty, of its gargantuan throat. Un'poyu and Gul'gantu climbed onto the beasts back and simultaneously severed the beast’s spinal chord at the neck. With the beast dying slowly Hadrada and I both took our two handed weapons and made a deep slash on each side of the reptilian neck. Telpren shot a spell of shamanistic fire into his mouth as the beast roared in pain. Ypokax used a short ranged triple shot at the same time to finish the job.
We gathered by the head, cleaned our blades and retrieved what projectiles we could from the earth and our newly deceased foe. A few handshakes and pats on the back all around and we got to work skinning the beast; every part could be used at the village. Telpren stood guard for any predators or scavengers. “Gantu,” Telpren said, “Go back ta Werqutink and 'ave 'im get a few more carts, mon.” Gul'gantu sprinted away with his blessed speed southward. “And Ypokax,” he continued, “Follow da trail and see if you kin find a den or lair.” Ypokax left scouring the earth for the trail to the lizards’ den.
Laughing.
That was never good on the plains. It was a vile laugh. Hadrada, Un'poyu and I turned to see a pack of a dozen or so gnolls, smiling in their own disgusting little way. They stopped smiling when Hadrada and I drew our two handed weapons, ready for a battle. Eleven four-foot-tall gnolls against four seven-foot-tall or taller trolls seemed like a good match to us.
In a flash Un'poyu had killed two with his long knives and Telpren began weaving a spell of earth-based destruction. Hadrada charged and sliced a gnoll clean in half with a vertical strike. I roared as I ran towards three more gnolls, they raised their crossbows to fire. Only one shot his off and landed it in my shoulder, the other two were killed by my downward chop, one was beheaded and the other had an axehead-shaped hole in his chest. I saw the fear in the third gnolls eyes, but it ended in a flash from an arrow to the back of his neck. Ypokax had come back from his tracking in time for a few kills of his own.
With half their number killed in minutes, their living comrades fled, but none made it very far. An arrow and a thrown dagger cut down two of the five, and Telprens spell slew two more. I launched my poleaxe in an overhead throw, lodging the blade into the final dog-mans back. Another blade cleaning later we settled back in to butchering Dromogash's remains. “So Ypokax, didja find da lair dis salamanda' 'ad?” asked Telpren.
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