Whispering Spirits
Finally he thought to himself, my journey can finally begin.
Within the Orc tribe it was well known what it took to gain the right to start down the path of the shaman. Entry into the temple of fire and power was granted at a young age so that they may begin their training of the god of fire and power early. The path of the shaman is not an easy path, ones mind must be strong, and ones body durable. Many aspired to achieve the Warcryer or overlord status, few aspired to achieve the title of Doomcryer and even fewer were able to achieve the status of Dominator. It takes a great Orc to become a leader of the tribe.
It had been his dream to follow in his fathers steps and become a high standing member of the Orc tribe, his brothers and sister had left long ago on their journeys. Karrhig and Narod had taken the path of the monk and the art of Tangsu, both had a high agility and superior speed of arms; something that is learned quickly by those they fought with. His sister Vashnak sought to become a raider in the southern armies. The strongest of her age she could best any Orc in 1 on 1 combat and many in 2 on 1 combat. Their father often praised her to the council, and spoke of how she would make a great champion of the city one day. Now though it was his turn for too long he had been unable to master the first test of the temple, his father had been disappointed and begged him to reconsider and join his brothers as monks. However Rarlgon would not be dissuaded, he would not let this path beat him into submission it was not the way of the Orc's. Two days prior he had gotten what he needed.
***
"Master Ravencall i seek aid in my troubling time." Rarlgon spoke with a little desperation. He gathered himself and began. "This test, the war cry test, I'm unable to understand it."
"I know of your troubles young one, your father Morlek and i have counseled on this matter. He has asked that you not be granted assistance." The old Doomcryer spoke softly, a distinct change from his often fierce and powerful voice booming through the halls of the temple of Pa'agrio. "I am acquiesce to agree with your father. You are the last of your age left within the temple, you lack the ability to truly harness your mana."
"I..."
Holding a hand up the master broke off Rarlgon's next word. "Without your ability to harness mana you are nothing more then a common Orc. The spirits will not heed to assist you or your allies without showing them your strength. The spirits are ever watchful young Orc, even now they see you here before me and hear your words."
Those words stung Rarlgon as he looked past the master to the statue of Pa'agrio. The mighty god of the Orcs, who could fell nations with a single swing of his axe; whose single punch could stop the winds of the north from blowing, and the only Orc capable of speaking with all the spirits of the Orcs from within the chamber of the gods. Rarlgon realized his folly, he had come begging for help in front of the most powerful Orcs, an Orc who could not and would not assist Rarlgon.
"Forgive my folly Master, I forgot my place." Turning to go, Rarlgon paused. "Praise Pa'agrio."
"Remember Rarlgon, the power of Orcs does not come from themselves it comes from the fire that burns within us, the fire which binds us to our lord Pa'agrio."
With that Rarlgon walked out.
The sun broke over the hills early the next morning as Rarlgon prepared to leave. His father sat at the table wearing his ceremonial wolf skin cloak & hood, he was to journey out today for several months to the city of Giran on diplomatic affairs of the Orc village. He would have left at mornings light if not for a message from the flame lord Kakai.
"What do you think the flame lord wants father?" Rarlgon asked taking the seat opposite of his father and beginning to work on his breakfast.
"I don't know, its not often the flame lord would interrupt the departure of a diplomatic affair." His father spoke calmly, but his face bore a worried look. It was true that the flame lord rarely had reason to stop departure of someone, his father also rarely wore the face of a worried Orc, Rarlgon noted this but did not move to ask why. Morlek's look changed slightly as his gazed moved to the pack sitting at Rarlgon's feet. "It appears that you yourself are about to depart. Where are you off too?"
"I'm off to continue my training in the frozen waterfall."
"A good hunting area, it should allow you many an opportunity of improving your skills. Good luck, if you see Rosheek, tell him i say hello. Do yourself a favor though do not disturb his meditation he still holds your brother Karrhig in disfavor for that."
Rarlgon smiled at the memories of Karrhig and Narod's training for all their abilities they had not yet learned to curb their bluntness; it was due to the rank of their father, as though they had somehow deserved respect. The trainers however quickly curbed their egos and since Rarlgon had heard that they had earned great honor among those they trained with for the ferocity of their attacks on the monsters of the Langk lizardmen.
"I'm off too meet Kakai, will you be here when i return? Perhaps we may journey together for a short time."
"It would be an honor, I will await your return father to do just that." With that Morlek departed for the kings hall.
It was not long before his father came through the door again, his face downtrodden. His eyes rarely seemed so empty as they did at this moment; It was as though his soul had been stolen from his body, whisked away to the halls of Pa'agrio. His normally robust and lithe form which stood taller then any other Orc, seemed as though he had taken ill with the plague his strength sapped and arms and legs almost cumbersome.
"Father....?" Rarlgon spoke trying to grab his fathers attention. "Father? What has the flame lord told you?"
His fathers eyes slowly rose from the floor to meet his son's, for the briefest moment Rarlgon felt as though he heard the spirits themselves crying out to him. His fathers eyes welled but not a single tear fell, the voices of the spirits filled the room and Rarlgon heard them. Though he did not distinguish one from the other and could not, it was as though thousands of voices had broken out at once in speech. The voices some loud and some soft grew ever powerful in his ears and Rarlgon winced nearly falling to his knees, Rarlgons eyes however never left his father and he witnessed that which few rarely did. His fathers strength returned to him, his body became less cumbersome and it seemed as though his soul had returned with stronger fervor then ever. Rarlgons father raising his eyes met Rarlgons and in that moment a flash of power surged into Rarlgon, the voices abated and the room fell silent once more.
"I've gotten word from Oren, they have sent a message to me and our family." Morlek spoke firmly but with sympathy.
"What of father, what ill has come that would sap you of your strength so?" Rarlgon was puzzled as to what news could so affect his father and shake him to his very foundation.
"Vashnak has fallen...."
It took moments for the full effect of those three words to sink in to Rarlgon, in the moments that passed his emotions raged and swelled like the oceans of Elmore. Memories of Vashnak entered his mind as though he had just experienced them, of past fights, laughter, and shared stories, not a moment of their lives was missed. He slumped into his chair his body now sapped of all its strength, he had thought her invincible, and now she was but a memory. His mind was dishevelled he couldnt focus on anything, wasnt able to bring up any specific memory, and worst of all he couldnt feel anything anymore. No fear, anger, saddness it was all gone; never before was he this empty, he had lost his mother so young he had easily overcome it, but now after a lifetime with vashnak it weighed him down as if anthras was stepping on his soul.
Morlek came up to Rarlgon clasping his hand on his sons shoulder. "Do not dispair Rarlgon, she has gone to meet with Pa'agrio. She is with our god now, ever to walk the battlefield in victory." the grief welled inside Morlek again, but was quickly replaced with pride. "Come, we shall make our pyres, the fire of our emotions shall burn high and hot; our enemy and hers shall cower tonight in the knowledge that their days are comming to an end." and with that Morlek left.
Rarlgon and his father spent the day building the pyres and accepting the furtherance of the orcs in the village. Some would bring a single log of timber to be burnt as a show of the strength of the village; Many would bring a story to share of their time with Vashnak. No one shared saddness or mournful words, it was to be a great day when a warrior would take the spirit trail to their god.
The pyre burnt high and strong as his father had said it would, Even when it seemed as though the fire should long have been exhausted and turned to coal, it stirred and raged again. Standing at the pyre he turned to his father, "The fire is strong, or lord Pa'agrio must be with us."
Smiling at his sons youthful comment he turned to look at him, "No, he is not."
"Then what stirs the fire when it tries to cool and burn out? Its as though it refuses to die and flares back up."
"Yes it does, but it is not our lord Pa'agrio, though he may mourn the loss of his warrior, his eyes cannot focus on this one pyre. For throughout the orc kingdom many pyres burn tonight, he mourns them all and will not focus on one as to dishonour another."
"Then the spirits are setting it ablaze?" Rarlgon questioned, his eyes straying back to the fire. "They mourn the loss of Vashnak."
"Yes," Morlek spoke softly. He had wanted Rarlgon to learn all that he needed to alone, but felt a pang pull from the spirits. "What do you understand of the spirits?"
"They are fallen orcs, souls of the great orcs of past. They aid us in all that we do, most of all during times of war, they fill our warriors with their great strength, and make the enemy quell before us." Rarlgon paused looking back to his father. "They are our kin."
"Good, you understand. So how is it that they can feed the fire if they are with our lord Pa'agrio?"
Rarlgon thought for a good while, his training had been specific to harnessing the spirits; he had yet to speak to one spirit, nor had he felt their presence before this morning with his father. Truly spirits were dead souls as he had been taught, but how does ones soul effect the real world, this was a question he had never thought of.
"The spirits are very powerful Rarlgon, but they have no true way to affect the world. Should I die tomorrow before our fight is done, I would not wish to give up on that fight and would long to continue fighting."
Rarlgon took his fathers words in as they stood watching the flames die and spur up over and over. A while later he spoke again, "If every living creature has a spirit, why then do humans, goblins, or elves not harness these spirits?"
Morlek smiled again, his son was on the right path now. "They're spirit's are weak, when a human dies it doesnt wish to continue fighting; It is content with its passing and is willing to leave the job to another if unfinished. They look for nothing other then the place where their soul will go to rest."
No more words were spoke that night, they stood watching the pyre both in their own thoughts until the last of the coals had been exhausted so not to be able to support any spark of flame.
Morning light came early the next day, Rarlgon sat eating his breakfast as his father entered carrying kindling. The brisk wind of elmore followed in after Morlek, sputtering the fire in the fireplace. Morlek shut the door and set the kindling down by the fireplace, he noted that the pack was not at Rarlgons feet as it was the previous day. "So you seek to hide yourself in this hovel?" He asked rarlgon.
Puzzeled Rarlgon took note of his fathers stern face, "I am to speak to Ravencall, I wish to discuss some of my training."
"You seek to hide yourself in the village, and find the answers to your problems in others? Vashnak would not have this."
"Vashnak would not have had her death come so quick either, I seek to finish this trial so I may move to find her killer and avenge her; not so i may hide here forever." He had never spoken so fervently to his father.
"You will not find your answer in Ravencall your answer will only be found outside these walls, in your own training. My word is final, Ravencall will not see you. Should you be in the village walls by the end of this day i will throw you outside of them myself, but i will make sure its from the top of the walls." His fathers voice boomed in the tiny room. Closing his eyes Morlek lowered his voice back down, "What will you do when you find her killer? You cannot even figure out a simple trial on your own how will you fair in combat, would your crawl to the aid of your companions and hide behind them. The strength and power of a Dominator is not in hiding, it is to stand at the front of the lines and face what death may come to you. Think on that as you will but know one way or another you shall be outside these walls tonight, prepared or not."
The suns bright rays shone down upon her half exposed back, the warm rays barely broke through the brisk wind blowing across her skin. She rolled over too stare up at the sky, clouds slowly moved across the sky cutting off her warm sunlight. She felt the touch of mist sprinkle on her chest, she shivered at its chilly embrace. The rocking of the boat was eerie, like the drone of the zombies of the marshland. She had dreaded taking this voyage but they had left her with little choice. Her nostrils filled with the smell of the ocean, its brisk air did little to sway her foul mood. She had been on this boat for nigh 4 days, she had little left to eat save for the ugly fish she had caught. Her hunger bit into her stomach, the fish was not appealing, its slimy coat and the smell it gave off was repulsive. The thought of the fish brought a nauseous feeling to her, no she thought I will not be eating that fish. She curled up on her side to try and quell the pangs of hunger she felt, when the boat rocked a bit stronger.
"What now?" She cursed as she pulled herself up to a sitting position just as the ship rocked again, stumbling her back down to her hands and knees. Looking up she was sprayed with gush of water as the boat rocked violently down then back up. She gripped the sides with all her might trying to steady the ship while blinking away the water. Through the splash of water she saw it, the shore. She didn't know which shore this was, but bless Shilen it didn't matter! She would finally feel the blessed earth below her feet. The boat rocked once more, this time she screamed a cry of joy as she rode the surf.
Minutes later she was pulling the boat upon the shore, once it was secured she fell back. Laying on the earth she laughed as she rolled over and over, until finally covered in sand she lay fully back looking up at the clouds. Their drab and somber look could do little to quell the hope that now flourished in her heart. No matter which part of Aden she had washed up on she would no doubt be able to find a means to get back to her home. Shed been gone a long while, no doubt her friends had worried about her. Thoughts of her friends spurred her on she sat up determined to find a meal better then the rank fish that still sat in the back of the boat. Standing up she went to the boat and retrieved her swords, strapping the scabbards to her hips, the picking her helmet up she turned to face the trees.
This was not what she was expecting, the forest color was turning, the trees which should have been maples and oaks still lush and green were primarily deep green pines. She had not been in this land before, she had ventured far some would say, but this land was inherently strange to her. The sounds of the forest were nothing like the forests surrounding black rock hill. The forest was oppressive, the trees muffled all but the loudest of sound. Perfect she thought an ambush could be waiting around any corner by dreadful spiders, or werewolves. It hit her then, she had no idea what did inhabit this forest, no idea of what monsters or barbarous beasts would jump out at her. With that thought she pulled the blood sabre and Artisan blade from her scabbards, and proceeded to scan the forest.
She made her way cautiously, ever vigilant for an ambush or roaming beast. By mid day she had only had brief encounters with some groups of spiders, which she had quickly dispatched with no fret. She had found several bushes of berries and had caught an owl suprised as it slept, the meal sat heavily in her stomach. Her courage was building with the encounters with weak monsters and food in her stomach; She was beginning to drop her guard as she followed the mountain path, looking for a vantage point from which to discern her location and that of a road.
An hour or so into her trek along the mountains she found an old pathway, which lead up to what looked like a crows nest type look out. She headed up the pathway steadily until the path broke from the woods, at that point she deftly peered up to the lookout. No movement she thought, looking at the path noting it was rough and had the look of the antiquated buildings of Floran. She reckoned that the lookout would be abandoned, she proceeded with as much haste as she could while keeping a steady vigilance on her rear flank. Upon reaching the crest she found the post long abandoned, what looked like a fire pit had weeds and moss growing in it; the wooded slats used as a guardrail were definitely aged and appeared to be near ready to crumble.
"Perfect," she said looking out at the surrounding countryside, it had the distinct look of a series of plateau's. The ground had several large crevasse's splitting it, roads mingled in and out, over and under the cliff sides.
"This place is a labyrinth," She spoke to herself as she tried to discern which way would be best to go. It was then she noticed it, standing off in the northeastern direction was a large statue. She would have thought it perfect as a sign of civilization but as her keen eyes focused in she discovered who the statue was. "...Pa'Agrio..."
She sat on a nearby stone thinking, how could I have come this far? She had meant to float out slightly and come back in with tide somewhere around windy hill or perhaps if the tides shifted she would end up in and around the bandit stronghold. This was an ill timed mistake. To end up the territory of the Orc's, she had just delayed herself a terrible amount of time. Eva had to have cursed her and shifted the seas to make the boat travel much further north then it would have ordinarily. While she could easily travel via the city gatekeeper, it was no option forcing her to take the ****ed boat. Here and now she would be ill advised to walk into the Orc village, as they rarely accepted dignitaries to visit let alone a single lone dark elf. She would need to think, there was only one way into and out of the Orc homeland via the land; how she was to come about the knowledge she needed was going to be difficult.
Dusk had come quickly on her as she sat thinking, nothing had come to her. Camp was her new priority, it was a welcomed distraction from the dreadful thought of the orc village looming in the distance. She had set her camp up on the lookout as it was the most defendable position, she had taken what little daylight there had been to set a single sound trap at the bottom of the pathway; if any creature or Orc attempted to climb the pathway the snap would go off and alert her to their presence.
Her fire brought warmth and warm meat as she cooked up the remainder of the owl meat she had. The meal soothed her body, which was still distressed from the long water voyage. As her body lay on the solid ground, her eyes wandered past the fire to the place where she knew Pa'Agrio to be standing; but the ground was quick to quell any fight she had in her as she fell into a deep sleep.
A baleful cry of what could only be guessed as a wolf sounded out throughout the plateau below, waking her from the deep slumber. Her hands were quickly to her swords, eyes ajusting to the flame light that dimly burnt infront of her. She knelt beside the fire taking a new log and lighting the end of it on fire, stepping to the edge of the pathway she could see little in the dim moonlight which. She steadied herself as she reached back and threw the log down the hill the flame sputtered and spiraled into the night landing near the forests edge. The sight that she beheld drew her breathe, 4 bright red bodies were floating from the forest on bat like wings. Shadow like flames licked at their finger tips, their eyes burning in the night like two small suns, focusing in on the lookout.
Stepping back from the edge she knelt back down at the fire, reaching into her satchel she pulled out a strap of leather, with a small plain buckle. She started to whispered an incantation as a summoning circle appeared beneath her, Magic coursed through her body exiting into the ground through her feet; As the final words slipped past her lips just seconds later the circle closed and there stood her companion. A wolf only by name, trained long and hard by her hand alone; His body was lithe and muscles were telling as they flexed beneath his fur. The wolf shook his coat, and sniffed the air, quickly he snapped his head back down teeth bore. "Valor we've company," she knew well that he was aware, but as always she felt the need to talk to him. Reaching back to the pack and pulling out a face shield and armor plate too small for her, she turned back to Valor she secured the face shield on the wolf. It was blazing red, forged of the strongest steel that could be found, ornate fangs embelished the wolfs already fierce maw. Then she secured the Armor plate to his back completing the set, it glinted in the fire light its mithril setting shining like a lone star in the pitch black night.
The pathway narrowed as it reached the top which meant only two of the beasts could float side by side. She turned to see valor inching towards the lip further up the edge of the lookout. She felt secure in knowing he was there, it had taken her a great deal of time to secure the means to get the wolf. The pet manager in gludin had asked her a great task to have her pick of the littler of hunting beasts. She had taken several months of travel and hunting to gather the required proof, upon her return the manager took her to the side of gludio to his cages. Inside she saw many strong well built hunting wolves, but none seemed as though they could meet what she wanted or needed. All were strong and powerful but they were slow and cumbersome because of that strength. She was about to say she couldnt choose when Valor had appeared. He had landed deftly beside her outside the cage much to her and the managers suprise. The wolf looked up to her, their eyes had met and in that brief instance she knew. She told the manager this was the one she wanted and they had been together as much as they could. Through the years she often let Valor run free to keep his strength and stamina up, however she always knew he was within range of her to come to her aid as he had done again this night.
The beasts slowly came near to the top of the pathway, giving her a better look at her foe. The Baleful yellow eyes shone ever stronger at this close distance, the mouths glistened with saliva; the deep purple of their lips contrasted by the stark white of the fangs they bore inside. The bodies appeared to be flimsy and weak but on closer inspection they were covered with taut muscles, they looked to almost hop as the powerful bat wings drove them up the hill. The wings which greatly resembled the red bats, it looked as though it were a giant hand covered with purple leathery webbing. Trailing lightly behind them was a demon like tail flicking back and forth, as a cat would when playing.
The cry of the beasts brought a surging tremor inside her, but she quickly steeled herself. The beasts bore down quicker as they came into sight of her. One of the lead beast threw out its arm to rake down her front, attempting to take giant chunks of her armor off in one go. She readily avoided the blow striking back at the beasts outstretched arm landing two light blows on either side of the bicep. Recoiling the beast spun in air swinging its devilish tail out striking her cheek. The blow was merely a distraction not meant to hurt her, she had to awkwardly parry and spin away from a blow from the second beasts claws quickly there after. Catching her feet under her she skidded to a stop spinning masterfully around she landed another series of quick blows on the second beast. The beast roared back, sanguine fluid flowing from the various wounds. The first beast leaped to the air in front of her coming down with both arms fully extended intent on pinning her to the ground. She deftly back flipped out of reach lunging forward into a powerful strike intent on felling the beast. Its wings pulsated though and the beast shot back, not quickly enough however as her blow sliced through the windpipe; the beast attempted to cry out in pain but it came out as a sickly gurgling.
A howl shot out in the midst of her fight as she witnessed Valor pounce from his vantage point biting down into the neck of the rearmost beast, his powerful paws slamming the beast from the air into the earth. The beasts maw opened wide as it attempted to alert its companion of the new foe, but it was for not; Valor had pierced its windpipe. She could spare little time to witness her companions attack as the third beast had moved around the staggered first two. It made a string quick clawing attacks, it took a sequence of well time parries and blocks with her two swords to repel the beast. By then the second beast had recovered and was roaring as it joined the fray. Her blades worked in a fury as she parried, blocked and avoided each attack waiting for her opening. Then it appeared, the third beast had over extending she parried the claw with the blood sword in her left hand rolling her wrist she continued the motion into an over handed slice; she heard a foul snap as her blade cleaved through the bone of the wing and bit into the beast shoulder. The beast stumbled and rolled to the ground, as he fell away she looked up to see Valor rip the throat clean out of the beast it had pinned. Her skin quickly bristled though as the first beast which had been gracelessly floating back to her snap his head round and with renewed vigor descended towards Valor. She made to stop the beast but just then she was sent careening backward from a backhanded swipe from the second beast. Struggling back to her feet she witnessed Valor caroming down the pathway, the first beasts claws were alight with black flame.
"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" She screamed, she had been stealthy all day in her movements through the Orc's homeland; Avoiding sight of the guards, slipping past roadways into the wilderness. However the sight of her most trusted companion being knocked around had sent her into a rage. Gathering her feet under her she focused on her rage, sending it by force of will slamming into the beast which had sent Valor flying. The beast lingered for a moment, then snapped its head back towards her. Its eyes flared bright, its cry gurgled in the torn windpipe, but the spray of gore left little wonder on whether it had worked. The aggression held, it was dangerous to do in such a situation but it had to be done. Aggression tended to focus the one it was used on into a blind fury, there would be little defense on the mind of the beast now.
She had expected the beast to come straight for her but it stopped; It was then she noted the beasts hands, it had begun focusing the dark energy in its hands into a ball. Then reached back and with all the might its body had threw the energy. It had appeared as though a shadow was flowing towards her, but upon impact she felt the full concussive force. It bent and tore into the brigadine tunic, the cloth under piece tore wide as the dark energy flared into it and slammed into her side. All her breath was released in that instance as she was sent backward slamming into the nearby wall of rock. With nothing to slow her body she was at the will of Shilen, her swords fell away as her body hit. Her head slammed backwards, it was then she was thankful for having put on the brigadine helmet, it spared her a very inglorious death. The second beast sensing her weakness attempted to seize the opportunity, Its claws bit into her shoulders as it shrieked wildly. Lifting her arms she seized the beasts head and focused all her remaining effort into this last spell. Her hands started to burst into dark flame as she felt the life force drain from the beast its claws tightened for a moment then fell limp at her side. She had rarely used the drain health spell it was only to be used in key spots as one rarely had time to use it more then once in a series of fights. The beast was already incredibly weakened from the stinging attack she had laid on it, it had all but bled out by the time she had cast the spell. She had gained little by using the attack and had exhausted near all her mana, she pushed the beast off while surveying the area. Two beasts remained one was crippled and clawing itself away from her, the other she had used the aggression skill on was stalking towards her its mouth dripped of its own blood but like her it knew the battle was over.
She leaned back hopeful that the beast would end it quickly, lifting her hand up she gripped her necklace of devotion. Her mind fluttered about her memories, of friends, merriment, and laughter; then it shifted to the fights she had fought, the enemies she had slain. She wondered to herself had they done this, gone back through their memories and their life. Quieting her soul she opened her eyes, the beasts hands flared with burning black energy; slowly drawing more and more darkness as though it pulled the shadows from the ground. Raising the ball up above its head, she shut her eyes.
The pine trees swayed in the northern winds, rustling loudly with each gust. Rarlgon shuddered as the wind grazed across his exposed arms. The deep green cloth of his robes of devotion ruffled as the brisk winds passed, the leather cap swayed from his belt; reaching down he unclasped the cap and placed it on his shaven head. The deep blue cloth shoes he bore padded along the stone walkway as he headed towards the temple. He reached the large archway and slowly began to descend to where his training had began. He noted out of the side of his eyes the small gremlins who inhabited the temple, scurrying for hiding spaces among the crevices. Rarlgon smiled the creatures made for a slightly difficult first task for most new initiates.
He remembered the blue gemstone test, master Ravencall had tossed the blue gemstone among a room full of gremlins. Rarlgon had thought how hard could it be and struck down the Gremlin who he had saw jump for the gemstone but before the creature slammed to the ground it tossed the crystal to the next gremlin who ran quickly through the crowd of scurrying gremlins. They had been wary as was their normal disposition, until the first gremlin fell dead; Then full on fear was evoked and trying to settle some 50 gremlins was next to impossible. It was as though their was a tide of little bodies running in circles in the closed in room. The gemstone had become a flicker of light amid the flow of bodies, the challenge was not to kill all the gremlins that would be too easy; the challenge was to get the gemstone back without loosing control. The frustration effected everyone differently, the gremlins were quick to their pack mentality. Every swing, every gremlin caught by hand would merely protect their new precious gem and toss it to the next. They never stopped, they never rested, for each move he made they made the opposite. His rage began to burn, grabbing the rear most gremlin by the throat he bore back to toss it into the flame in the center of the room; but he paused. The creatures eyes they shot back and forth, its wrinkled eyelids barely opened.
His eyes focused on the gremlin group still running round and round the room, the did not stray from the pattern. Stepping to the side wall he watched as the pattern changed, they now made a smaller more rectangle type running pattern. Picking up a stone he hurled it at the creatures, the creature was struck cleanly on the side of the head. Rarlgon moved forward and struck another creature aside, the gremlin had made no attempt to move. Then it struck him, as a drop of rain which foretold the storm. They're blind as a bat, they're bodies sensed the movement of larger masses but not of smaller stone and fists. How had they sensed the gemstone then? They passed it as though they could see it. It perplexed him until the solution made him near fall over. Spirits.
This initial test was to find the fledgelings who could follow the path of the Warcryer and Overlord. Rarlgon released the small gremlin from his grip, it quickly ran to join the others, as it did so Rarlgon sat down in the center of the room. Closing his eyes he allowed his senses to free; Ignoring taste, touch, Smell, and Sight; they were of no use to him. He focused instead on sound, listening for anything. Ignoring the patting of the feet, he focused harder, past the panting of breath or the crackle of the fire; Harder still he focused, then he heard it a faint hum. Just the slightest twinge of sound, but it was moving round and round him. He desired the gemstone, he wanted to touch it to get close to the spirit which was imbued inside. His body tingled as he sat motionless on the floor, it felt as though he was being grazed by wind, but there was no air flow throughout the closed room.
As if by instinct his sense of sight kicked in, with his eyes shut it appeared, as shadows moving on a dark wall. Light slowly slipped into his eyes, it felt like he had just opened his eyes on first days light. He could see the shadows clearly, he saw their ebb and flow, then as one the shadows melded to one. A black flowing ribbon of shadow, flowing as if it was moving with the wind. It danced and darted up and down as it moved, his eyes focused harder he felt the strain of the magic flowing through him; Rarlgon's eyes burned as he looked deeper into the shades of black. Two black braids darted forth from the ribbon of black, they trailed over the top of the ribbon and fluttered with every movement of the shadow.
Rarlgon longed for the shadow to come closer to him, he desired it. Every time he focused and bid the blackness to come to him, it would appear too shoot further away. He bore down sending the magic coursing through him reinforcing it with his will, the shadow inched forward. Again he Bid it, and the shadow danced forward. More and more he sent out his will and his magic bidding it ever more to come closer, the shadow continued to dart left and right but still came ever closer. Rarlgon thought to himself if he could but move his hand out to touch the blackness... the shadow had heard. In that instant out of the black shadowy ribbon formed two stark eyes blue as the seas. The ribbon exploded with blue fire, it licked at Rarlgon's face. Fear gripped him, he bid the beast away. It did not heed him, the two braids lashed out incandescent flames of blue grazed his face. The shadows ribbon like form took a more beastly shape, the braids thickened as they drifted by him. Rarlgon's soul calmed, he felt something touch it. A desire, a wish, something so powerful and primal that needed to be done.
"Spirit" Rarlgon spoke, as he did Ravencall who had been drifting in and out of sleep from boredom startled awake to see his student and the gremlins sitting. Ravencall was agape, Rarlgon's eyes opened and he saw the beast floating above the gremlins. "I bid you to consider my wish."
The gremlin with the stone opened his mouth, a unwieldy and high pitch voice broke forward without the gremlins mouth moving. "Free me first."
"I am but an initiate, I can do no such thing." Rarlgon spoke in a heavy tone. "Heed my wish though and your exit shall be given."
The spirit danced and wheeled, it said nothing.
"These doors cannot open until this task is completed." Rarlgon stated. "You'll be caged as long as I."
A sickly and vicious laughter erupted from the group of gremlins, made all the more uncomfortable by the unnatural looks they had; Faces frozen in half smiles, eyes whose lids normally near shut were opened all the way. The giant eyes stared back, black as the ebony night sky, they did not blink, they did not look round, all eyes stared intently at Rarlgon.
"My life will not end young Orc. You know nothing of the Spirit world, you sit before me
and bid me to do as you command." Again there was the vicious laughter. "I know you, I
know of your father. Your desire to be greater, your father would not sit here and bid me to do as he commanded." Rage began to fill the air, the room filled with a heavy almost intolerable heat.
Rarlgon remained still, calm, but inside he felt fear. The spirit was mad, he had insulted it. He bit hard on his lip, it was going to be much harder to persuade the spirit now. His eyes locked with the blue eyes of the spirit, "Spirit, forgive me. I meant no disrespect, allow me the chance to repay you. You are a spirit of the wild, a beast of great skill and speed. You do me honor by merely speaking with me."
The heat dissipated slightly.
"Your power is great to have compelled all these gremlins to do as you bid them."
The heat dissipated more.
"I humbly ask you to assist me, Rarlgon son of Morlek. Allow me to assist you in accomplishing your task, and accomplishing my own at the same time."
The heat was gone, leaving the beast sitting in front of Rarlgon. Its blue flames flickered as it hovered above the Gremlins. Its eyes shimmered like the sea, as they focused on Rarlgon. It said no more words, without Rarlgon even noticing the Gremlin directly beneath the beast stood and walked forward. Its clawed hands cupping the blue gemstone extended forth in front of Rarlgon. Rarlgon looked to the beast, its eyes for the first time closed as it seemed to bow before him. Rarlgon reached out and completed the task.
Rarlgon found Ravencall sitting in the antechamber of the temple; he was recounting a great tale of Pa’Agrio. Seeing Rarlgon approaching he excused himself from the young Orc’s. He bid Rarlgon to follow him down the hallway towards the eastern exit of the temple.
“You know I have been told not to help you Rarlgon,” Ravencall said.
“I have a question though master, one which is not related to training per say.” Rarlgon said sidestepping the comment. “Do you recall my Initiation into the temple?”
“Yes, I do say you were outstanding when you arrived here. You far outreached every pupil I had seen” Ravencall said. “Why do you ask?”
“I spoke with the spirit that day; the spirit was in front of me I could see him, but not so completely as to know what or who it was. Do spirits often hide their appearances?”
Ravencall thought a moment before answering assuring himself that he was not assisting Rarlgon’s training as he had been instructed. “No, they do not often hide their appearances. When spirits make themselves known to the world around them, they often times will arrive ethereal as the ghosts in the cave of trials are. It takes training to see them as they are right away, often times the mind attempts to rationalize the sudden appearance as a shadow or fog.”
“Do you often have the same spirits around you master?” Rarlgon questioned.
“Do not confuse your initial meeting as a common occurrence Rarlgon. The gemstone had been infused with the spirit by me; it was not easily removed, but thanks to your promise to it I had no choice. Spirits spend their days inside the spirit realm, they do not walk beside us at all times; they must be called to us from the spirit realm. Often times when calling lesser spirits like the woodland robin I used for that test, they are not pleased.”
“Then the spirits are chosen by yourself? So I could call my sister Vashnak for aid.” Rarlgon perked at the thought.
Ravencall stopped walking and sighed, “The passing of Vashnak was a sad tiding, but do not jump so foolishly Rarlgon. Spirits enjoy their rest as much as war but to be inside our realm without purpose brings uneasiness to them. Often a Warcryer or Overlord will just ask for assistance of any kind related to what they need, the spirits who are eager to help will come. You can call specific heroes if you wish; in some cases it’s beneficial. I often times would call my father the great war chief who hated the Varka Silenos, it would bring greater strength to me and my party when fighting the Silenos. Simply to call your sister to this realm without giving her purpose would not be helpful to you or to her. If she wants to see you, she can come too this realm easily enough to speak to you, as spirits often times will aid us in strength and guidance.”
This dismayed Rarlgon, he had wanted to see his sister. Now that hope was dashed by the cold words of Ravencall, he understood the dangers and did not want to endanger his sister’s spirit. “Then I’m ready to train, passing this test shall be easy now. My focus is stronger then ever, I must leave soon to find out why Vashnak fell and too whom she fell. I will have my revenge.”
“It seems you may have found your focusing point in your training. Remember this Rarlgon, you ran the first day you were here; Most need to crawl.” Ravencall let his statement sink in. “I wish you the best of luck; I will be in the temple for the rest of the day if you finish early you may come to me.”
They shook hands and Rarlgon headed out towards the main village his pack over his shoulder. His goal was to reach the Cave of Trials before nightfall, the Kasha bears and spiders in the area were great training aids. Passing through the archway he nodded to the two guards, walking past the walkway to the upper level of the main building he overheard two Orc’s speaking.
“You must find these spys” Rarlgon recognized the voice right away; it was the Neruga Chief Tantus. He was one of the more soft spoken and intelligent chiefs in the village. “If they manage to undermine us we could face bigger problems.”
“Really? I hadn’t thought of that. You Bandersnatch dung, I’ve sent out warriors across the plains. They’ve eluded us at every turn.” The growling voice was also easily recognizable, it was Hatos. The Urutu Chief was often the loudest and quickest to anger, he often could be found at the center of most of the bar room brawls that took place in town. “We need more Orc’s out looking, make sure to tell your boys to lookout for these outsiders while they are on patrol.”
Rarlgon walked over to the walkway, to see the two standing on the landing. As he started to walk up the walkway, Hatos drew his sword and pointed it down. Stumbling back Rarlgon looked up astounded.
“Eavesdropping are we young one?” the voice boomed down at him. “What have ya to say!” Stepping closer Hatos eyes flared.
“I was…. Its just I was walking past and heard you talking… I meant only to ask to assist you.” Rarlgon managed to stammer out the sentence with a little bit of dignity intact.
The two chiefs stared at each other, and then burst out in a hearty laughter. Pointing down at the stunned Rarlgon, “Ahh young Rarlgon you’re just too easy!” Tantus spoke out in between his laughter.
Hatos sheathed his sword and placed his two hands on his hips as his laughter continued to break out of his big toothy grin. “Did you see this younglings face, priceless I tell you! Rarlgon boy you’ve brightened my day if only for a moment.” His grin slowly faded back into a pursed lip, his lower fangs pressing into the upper lip. “We would have you assist us in anyway that you could young one. But this job seems a bit much for someone of your skill.”
“I’m headed to the cave of trials today, it appears that the village may have some enemies lurking. I’m willing to assist in anyway that I can Chieftain. What should I be looking for?” Rarlgon said firmly, ignoring Hatos’s biting allusion to his lack of skill. “Have the humans come to tarnish our lands? Or have the dwarf’s staked claim to some piece of rock?”
“Neither, I’m afraid. For both of those would be easily averted and crushed. No, this is a bigger problem; some of the feral tribes have begun to build their forces. We fear they may seek to unravel all that we have built here with the five great tribes.” Tantos spoke softly, but the petulance of his thoughts broke through slightly. “These Orc’s are eyeing the power that Kakai has built; they refuse to succumb to more civilized lifestyle. Choosing to live in the wild and fight clan fights, and stir up problems with the humans and others of Aden and Elmore.”
“The feral tribes, they’ve never come so far as to enter our land. I would see them completely destroyed as our family has wished and worked for.” Rarlgon hissed.
“Even with your fervor my young Orc, we all know that you are unable to form your mana sufficiently enough to pass Ravencall’s Trial.” Hatos made the words cut in as he spoke them. “I will not send you to your death.”
Rarlgon bristled at the statement. How is it everyone knows? he thought to himself. His father no doubt had spread the word near and far. Apparently he meant every word about throwing him out; no matter Rarlgon thought. His triumph would silence every one of his detractors. “You shall see Chieftain, I will bring you proof of my victory and you shall be amazed that one such as I should bring forth what your kinsman were unable too. I shall take the butcher’s sword, the marker of your tribe as reward for completing this task.”
Chief Hatos toothy grin flashed again, “if your so willing do what you must. I will honor your request of a butcher’s sword but know this, I will not take fault for your death, nor will I mourn your foolishness.” With that the Chief of the Urutu walked up towards the throne of Kakai. All the while Rarlgons eyes dug deep into the broad back of the Chieftain.
Tantos looked up at his fellow Chief as he walked around the corner, then turned back to Rarlgon. “You should listen to him Rarlgon. I know he is harsh but he speaks the truth, you have no true skill as a fighter and your skill as a mage is lacking.”
“What do you know of my skills Tantos?” Rarlgon spoke harshly, realizing who he was speaking too he quickly righted himself. “Only Ravencall has seen what I can do, yet everyone believes me a lost cause.”
Tantos smiled inside noting the quick change of tone after the initial burst. He knew Rarlgon must know how everyone knew of his lack of skills, and he knew that everyone was told to not assist him. Morlek was a dear friend to Tantos and he would not be the one to break the vow; and truthfully he could tell the moment Rarlgon chose his path little good would come of it. “I will bring it up no more Rarlgon but know this among your siblings, you are lacking. You cannot command Orc’s, and nor can you command your own mana. You have no place.” Tantos turned and headed up after Hatos.
Stunned at the brashness of the oft soft spoken Tantos, Rarlgon could only watch as he walked away. His emotions flared, rage mixed with fear, courage mixed with sadness, and fury mixed with loathing. Turning his eyes burned like the sun, his muscles tensed and flexed with each step. His eyes venomous with fury shot around looking at friend and foe alike, none dared walk near as he passed. Rarlgon strode straight past his father as he came forth to bid him a good journey. He would not be lectured again today, no he would find these Orc’s, he would garner the respect and then nothing would stand in his way of finding Vashnak’s killer.
His momentum carried him quickly to the eastern gate as the morning sun began to climb to its apex. Knowing full well that once he left today he would not return until he completed his task, he did not look back, nor did he stop to check provisions, this would be his personal trial one which would not end him, but be his beginning.