imported_Song
27-07-2007, 01:28 AM
I fear we will not be strong enough for this foolhardy mission Song', Barathor leaned back in his chair looking gloomily at the elf sat across from him in the tavern.
'Nevertheless friend, we will be travelling there this evening to test our mettle', the elf smiled softly, his smooth hairless face glistening in the flickering light of the open hearth fire.
'Very well, let us gather our forces and head out to the Misty Mountains, wrap up warm friend elf, I fear your lack of hair will leave a chill on your fragile frame', laughing he got up and slapped his friend on the back, 'come let's visit the lady and summon them'
Leaving the inn they headed towards the Scholar Stairs in Bree and entered a small unassuming house.
'Kellie!' Barathor cried out, 'we must travel, sound the horn and gather the troops, we head out at sunrise'
A clatter of dishes and a mild curse was the only response as Kellie came down the stairs to the entrance hall. Resplendent in her golden armour the Lady Captain of Precept cut a striking figure on the battlefield, alas her domestic skills were sorely lacking.
'I need a maid.' she sighed much to the amusement of the other two, 'So it's on then?', she questioned an eager glint in her eye.
'Aye, we are short numbered but our years of training should stand us in good stead', uncertaintly crossed Barathors face, whilst the elf merely grinned.
'Very well then, I shall summon them and meet you both in Rivendell. Until then my friends'
And so the calls went out across Bree, warriors were summoned, Loremasters dragged from their studies, the hunter, Giles, raised from his bed much to the dismay of his swarthy bed companion. One and all they set out with Kellie at the lead her bannerman, the portly Neko, grudgingly sat astride his lumbering horse following in her wake.
They met at the foot of the Misty Mountains, outside Rivendell.
'My kin!', cried Barathor his voice competing with the clunk of armor and shuffling of horses, 'Tonight we dine in Helegrod, too long has the scourge of Thorog blighted this fell place, we shall infiltrate his domain and slay the creature!'
As one they raised their swords, staves and bows and cried their battlecry 'The Power of Three!'
Hopping atop a rock, Song waved his hands to calm them down, 'We are short handed on this mission my friends, but fear not for we are made of stronger mettle than anything this beast can throw at us.', he paused for effect letting the true measure of their endeavour sink in, 'And should we fail we can always throw Kraggax at him to dine on, I'm sure the stringy dwarf will make a nice snack!', he winked slyly and jumped off the rock to land gracefully on his saddle.
They all laughed at that, even Kraggax, though you could barely tell through all that beard.
Kellie rode forward and blew her horn, the sound rang out crisply across the mountains echoing back at them after some time.
'Let us ride out' she cried, and spurred her horse on towards the domain of Thorog. Milhelm, the captain in training at her side glanced across at her 'So we're going to kill Thorog then huh?!'.
She smiled softly at his eagerness 'Well first theres the small matter of summoning the beast Milhelm'
'So we're going to kill him though right right?!', his eyes shining with eagerness Milhelm was like an eager puppy and Kellie hoped that this battle would temper his eagerness with experience.
'Let us hope so Milhelm, we are incredibly shorthanded so let us pray that we have the skill and the nerve to conquer his minions and then we shall see about felling the beast himself.'
'Sooo we're going to kill him then!?!', he squealed with delight.
Throwing her hands up in despair she kicked her horse on yelling back 'Yes Milhelm, I guess we are!'
They rode on through the night across the valleys of the Misty Mountains until finally they arrived at the gates of Helegrod.
Kraggax and Heph, the two burly dwarves, swathed in weapons and armour took the lead as they crept up to the gated entrance.
'Hold here friends', Kraggax whispered softly, 'Do not move beyond this point'
'This point?', Song questioned as he stepped past the point he'd indicated 'Oops!' he cried and scurried back towards the safety of his kin as several ogres and orcs rounded the corner and charged the band.
'GAH! damn elves' cried Kraggax as he and Heph called out their battle cries and waded in. At the sight of these two tiny warriors the ogres and orcs turned their attention to the pair and they clashed with a great ring of steel. The pairs axes shattered the orcs shields and cleaved straight through their meagre defences.
Kellie blew the battle horn and the battle raged on. Helegdir and Cailleach toyed with the two ogres, keeping them stunned and controlled with their magics. Song led the minstrels in a merry tune, raising the morale of his companions and keeping their spirits alive and full of hope. Eilella and Ragrin appeared from the shadows, hamstringing the lead orc and dispatching him quickly before they turned their attention to the ogres.
With a great cry the final ogre went down, peppered with arrows, Giles jump astride the final ogre plucking his arrows from the body of the beast. 'Well that was interesting', he glared at the elf.
'What can I say' the minstrel grinned, 'The orcs like me!' and with that they all laughed out loud, their spirits raised they pressed on into the Citadel.
As they crested the rise a small camp of orcs lay at the foot of the huge staircase that led to the massive ironbound gates of the Citadel, a rhythmic chanting began and the orc drummers took up the tune and pounded out a beat on their war drums.
Kraggax turned around and winked at his companions, then, gathering himself up he literally threw himself amongst the camp, scattering the orcs and their smaller goblin lieutenants to the four winds.
'Hah! A dwarven bomb!' squealed Eilella in delight as she slit the throat of an inattentive orc. As they finished off the last of the orcs they made their way carefully to the massive ironbound gates. As the last one of them crested the stair the gates creaked open of their own accord.
'It seems we are expected' muttered Heph darkly.
'Ah we have visitors' a sibilant voice wafted over them from the darkness of the interior.
The Servants Four, Thorogs minions stepped forth from the shadows, Adhargal, Ansach, Breosal and Grisgart.
'When do we kill Thorog, where is he?!', cried Milhelm. Kellie glared at him silencing him instantly.
Kraggax stepped forward addressing the foul creatures, 'Stand aside demons' he cried brandishing his battle-scarred axe, 'let us through so we may dispatch your master and end your misery!'
At this three of the four stepped back, Adhargal hissed at his brethren 'Ready the servants, I shall dispatch these fools'
The three took off into the citadel leaving Adhargal to confront the band.
Chuckling darkly Kraggax sighed, 'You fool, you cannot stand in the way of the light, CHARGE!', and he ran swiftly, for a dwarf, across the courtyard and crashed into the dark creature.
Fell magic seeped darkly from the creatures fingers threatening to overcome the companions but again with the Minstrels singing their songs of freedom and love and the Captains rallying cries they soon overcame the beast and he lay dead at their feet.
'So when do we get to kill Thorog', asked Milhelm.
'MILHELM!' they all cried.
'Come enough of this,' said Giles, 'We press on, Storvagun awaits our company!'
They pressed on up the side of the citadel through a small mountain pass, winding around and above, until they arrived at the abode of Storvagun.
'Woah he's a big fella', Thorkell exclaimed
'Aye that he is, and look theres Ansach' Barathor pointed out the dark Lord, a speck against the vast size of Storvagun the Giant Lord.
At that the giant lifted his huge axe and slew Ansach in one massive swipe, the axe shattering the body of Ansach and leaving nothing but a crimson visceral stain on the snowy slopes.
'Uhm', whispered Ragrin the hobbit, edging back. Kraggax and Heph glanced at each other sharing a look, and with a conspiratorial wink they ran full tilt towards the giant their battlecries ringing in the ears of their companions.
A great clash of steel and sinew and the battle was begun. The giant swatted at the warriors in fury as so many swarmed around his feet trying to hack away at his defences. He gave a cry of frustration and howled in fury.
Thirty snowbeasts appeared from the cover of the snow, having laid in camouflage ready to be summoned in an instant. They swarmed the rear guard threatening to overcome the companions.
With a rallying cry the champions, Srren, Ardaion and Barathor leapt into the fray their blades a blur severing limbs and heads from the creatures bodies. Soon all the beasts laid dead and bleeding at their feet and they returned their attention to the Giant Lord. >
Storvagun was struggling now, his best attempts at defeating the foe had met with a resilience he had never encountered before. As he took yet another swing of his axe in vain he noticed a rustling either side of his shoulders. He glanced left and right and cried out in despair as from the very air Eilella and Ragrin appeared slicing his precious veins open at the throat with their razor sharp blades.
As his lifeblood pumped out of him, covering the combatants below in a crimson tide of gore, he slumped to his knees. 'CLEAR OUT THE WAY' cried Heph, as they all rushed to the sides the Giant Lord crashed face down into the snow, his last breaths fading away into vapour.
A great cheer went up as the giants eyes glazed over.
'Onward companions!' cried Kellie.
'So are we going to ki...', Milhelm stopped short as they all turned at him glaring, mirth at the corners of their eyes. Holding his hands up he went off to check on his bannerman.
Grinning widely Barathor stood atop the Giant, 'My friends we have come but partway through our journey but this is a huge achievement for a band so short in numbers, let us take his treasures and press on!'
And onward they went, entering the Lair of Zaudru the giant spider who feasted on the souls of the living. Great battles ensued in her lair, many spiders laid dead in their wake as the finally arrived at her threshold, without skipping a beat the dwarven warriors charged yet again into the fray and once again they emerged victorious. Each victory spurring them on to greater feats.
They left the lair and entered the icy caverns of the drakes and again slaughtered all in their wake. Not one drake or worm was left alive and soon the walls dripped with blood and viscera. A charnel house of gore in their wake they strode atop the final plinth where Grisgart awaited.
'You have done well' he hissed, 'but fear not, the deaths of my kin have only served to make me stronger' he cackled malevolently dark magic gathering at his hands he flung them out summoning several gigantic drakes and two ferocious worms.
Again the companions clashed blade and armour with their foe, the battle raged on and on, the giant drakes wings beating the companions back again and again. But the skill of the Loremasters kept all in check and the songs and cries of the Minstrels and Captains ensured the companions morale never wavered in the face of the enemy.
Soon, after what seemed like days, they sat back exhausted against the tomb at the centre of the platform. Blood covered every part of the cavern, the drakes lay bloody and very dead, the worms were unrecognisable such were their injuries, and Grisgart....
He was cleaved in two, the final deathblow delivered by Aidyan his huge two handed blade chopping clean through the creature.
'My friends' cried Barathor once more, 'What we have achieved here tonight, in the face of huge adversity and with little resource, is a monumental achievement. Tonight we camp outside the gates of Helegrod, and tomorrow we shall...', he winked at Milhelm.
'Slay Thorog?' Milhelm asked quietly
'HA! Yes' yelled Barathor, 'Tomorrow we summon the beast to his demise!'
They all cheered at this, Song, Thorir, Raendoos and Kaywyn struck up a melody on their lutes as the companions trudged wearily outside. The Captains bannermen scurried around readying the camp, and one and all collapsed into their bunks grateful for the respite.
'Nevertheless friend, we will be travelling there this evening to test our mettle', the elf smiled softly, his smooth hairless face glistening in the flickering light of the open hearth fire.
'Very well, let us gather our forces and head out to the Misty Mountains, wrap up warm friend elf, I fear your lack of hair will leave a chill on your fragile frame', laughing he got up and slapped his friend on the back, 'come let's visit the lady and summon them'
Leaving the inn they headed towards the Scholar Stairs in Bree and entered a small unassuming house.
'Kellie!' Barathor cried out, 'we must travel, sound the horn and gather the troops, we head out at sunrise'
A clatter of dishes and a mild curse was the only response as Kellie came down the stairs to the entrance hall. Resplendent in her golden armour the Lady Captain of Precept cut a striking figure on the battlefield, alas her domestic skills were sorely lacking.
'I need a maid.' she sighed much to the amusement of the other two, 'So it's on then?', she questioned an eager glint in her eye.
'Aye, we are short numbered but our years of training should stand us in good stead', uncertaintly crossed Barathors face, whilst the elf merely grinned.
'Very well then, I shall summon them and meet you both in Rivendell. Until then my friends'
And so the calls went out across Bree, warriors were summoned, Loremasters dragged from their studies, the hunter, Giles, raised from his bed much to the dismay of his swarthy bed companion. One and all they set out with Kellie at the lead her bannerman, the portly Neko, grudgingly sat astride his lumbering horse following in her wake.
They met at the foot of the Misty Mountains, outside Rivendell.
'My kin!', cried Barathor his voice competing with the clunk of armor and shuffling of horses, 'Tonight we dine in Helegrod, too long has the scourge of Thorog blighted this fell place, we shall infiltrate his domain and slay the creature!'
As one they raised their swords, staves and bows and cried their battlecry 'The Power of Three!'
Hopping atop a rock, Song waved his hands to calm them down, 'We are short handed on this mission my friends, but fear not for we are made of stronger mettle than anything this beast can throw at us.', he paused for effect letting the true measure of their endeavour sink in, 'And should we fail we can always throw Kraggax at him to dine on, I'm sure the stringy dwarf will make a nice snack!', he winked slyly and jumped off the rock to land gracefully on his saddle.
They all laughed at that, even Kraggax, though you could barely tell through all that beard.
Kellie rode forward and blew her horn, the sound rang out crisply across the mountains echoing back at them after some time.
'Let us ride out' she cried, and spurred her horse on towards the domain of Thorog. Milhelm, the captain in training at her side glanced across at her 'So we're going to kill Thorog then huh?!'.
She smiled softly at his eagerness 'Well first theres the small matter of summoning the beast Milhelm'
'So we're going to kill him though right right?!', his eyes shining with eagerness Milhelm was like an eager puppy and Kellie hoped that this battle would temper his eagerness with experience.
'Let us hope so Milhelm, we are incredibly shorthanded so let us pray that we have the skill and the nerve to conquer his minions and then we shall see about felling the beast himself.'
'Sooo we're going to kill him then!?!', he squealed with delight.
Throwing her hands up in despair she kicked her horse on yelling back 'Yes Milhelm, I guess we are!'
They rode on through the night across the valleys of the Misty Mountains until finally they arrived at the gates of Helegrod.
Kraggax and Heph, the two burly dwarves, swathed in weapons and armour took the lead as they crept up to the gated entrance.
'Hold here friends', Kraggax whispered softly, 'Do not move beyond this point'
'This point?', Song questioned as he stepped past the point he'd indicated 'Oops!' he cried and scurried back towards the safety of his kin as several ogres and orcs rounded the corner and charged the band.
'GAH! damn elves' cried Kraggax as he and Heph called out their battle cries and waded in. At the sight of these two tiny warriors the ogres and orcs turned their attention to the pair and they clashed with a great ring of steel. The pairs axes shattered the orcs shields and cleaved straight through their meagre defences.
Kellie blew the battle horn and the battle raged on. Helegdir and Cailleach toyed with the two ogres, keeping them stunned and controlled with their magics. Song led the minstrels in a merry tune, raising the morale of his companions and keeping their spirits alive and full of hope. Eilella and Ragrin appeared from the shadows, hamstringing the lead orc and dispatching him quickly before they turned their attention to the ogres.
With a great cry the final ogre went down, peppered with arrows, Giles jump astride the final ogre plucking his arrows from the body of the beast. 'Well that was interesting', he glared at the elf.
'What can I say' the minstrel grinned, 'The orcs like me!' and with that they all laughed out loud, their spirits raised they pressed on into the Citadel.
As they crested the rise a small camp of orcs lay at the foot of the huge staircase that led to the massive ironbound gates of the Citadel, a rhythmic chanting began and the orc drummers took up the tune and pounded out a beat on their war drums.
Kraggax turned around and winked at his companions, then, gathering himself up he literally threw himself amongst the camp, scattering the orcs and their smaller goblin lieutenants to the four winds.
'Hah! A dwarven bomb!' squealed Eilella in delight as she slit the throat of an inattentive orc. As they finished off the last of the orcs they made their way carefully to the massive ironbound gates. As the last one of them crested the stair the gates creaked open of their own accord.
'It seems we are expected' muttered Heph darkly.
'Ah we have visitors' a sibilant voice wafted over them from the darkness of the interior.
The Servants Four, Thorogs minions stepped forth from the shadows, Adhargal, Ansach, Breosal and Grisgart.
'When do we kill Thorog, where is he?!', cried Milhelm. Kellie glared at him silencing him instantly.
Kraggax stepped forward addressing the foul creatures, 'Stand aside demons' he cried brandishing his battle-scarred axe, 'let us through so we may dispatch your master and end your misery!'
At this three of the four stepped back, Adhargal hissed at his brethren 'Ready the servants, I shall dispatch these fools'
The three took off into the citadel leaving Adhargal to confront the band.
Chuckling darkly Kraggax sighed, 'You fool, you cannot stand in the way of the light, CHARGE!', and he ran swiftly, for a dwarf, across the courtyard and crashed into the dark creature.
Fell magic seeped darkly from the creatures fingers threatening to overcome the companions but again with the Minstrels singing their songs of freedom and love and the Captains rallying cries they soon overcame the beast and he lay dead at their feet.
'So when do we get to kill Thorog', asked Milhelm.
'MILHELM!' they all cried.
'Come enough of this,' said Giles, 'We press on, Storvagun awaits our company!'
They pressed on up the side of the citadel through a small mountain pass, winding around and above, until they arrived at the abode of Storvagun.
'Woah he's a big fella', Thorkell exclaimed
'Aye that he is, and look theres Ansach' Barathor pointed out the dark Lord, a speck against the vast size of Storvagun the Giant Lord.
At that the giant lifted his huge axe and slew Ansach in one massive swipe, the axe shattering the body of Ansach and leaving nothing but a crimson visceral stain on the snowy slopes.
'Uhm', whispered Ragrin the hobbit, edging back. Kraggax and Heph glanced at each other sharing a look, and with a conspiratorial wink they ran full tilt towards the giant their battlecries ringing in the ears of their companions.
A great clash of steel and sinew and the battle was begun. The giant swatted at the warriors in fury as so many swarmed around his feet trying to hack away at his defences. He gave a cry of frustration and howled in fury.
Thirty snowbeasts appeared from the cover of the snow, having laid in camouflage ready to be summoned in an instant. They swarmed the rear guard threatening to overcome the companions.
With a rallying cry the champions, Srren, Ardaion and Barathor leapt into the fray their blades a blur severing limbs and heads from the creatures bodies. Soon all the beasts laid dead and bleeding at their feet and they returned their attention to the Giant Lord. >
Storvagun was struggling now, his best attempts at defeating the foe had met with a resilience he had never encountered before. As he took yet another swing of his axe in vain he noticed a rustling either side of his shoulders. He glanced left and right and cried out in despair as from the very air Eilella and Ragrin appeared slicing his precious veins open at the throat with their razor sharp blades.
As his lifeblood pumped out of him, covering the combatants below in a crimson tide of gore, he slumped to his knees. 'CLEAR OUT THE WAY' cried Heph, as they all rushed to the sides the Giant Lord crashed face down into the snow, his last breaths fading away into vapour.
A great cheer went up as the giants eyes glazed over.
'Onward companions!' cried Kellie.
'So are we going to ki...', Milhelm stopped short as they all turned at him glaring, mirth at the corners of their eyes. Holding his hands up he went off to check on his bannerman.
Grinning widely Barathor stood atop the Giant, 'My friends we have come but partway through our journey but this is a huge achievement for a band so short in numbers, let us take his treasures and press on!'
And onward they went, entering the Lair of Zaudru the giant spider who feasted on the souls of the living. Great battles ensued in her lair, many spiders laid dead in their wake as the finally arrived at her threshold, without skipping a beat the dwarven warriors charged yet again into the fray and once again they emerged victorious. Each victory spurring them on to greater feats.
They left the lair and entered the icy caverns of the drakes and again slaughtered all in their wake. Not one drake or worm was left alive and soon the walls dripped with blood and viscera. A charnel house of gore in their wake they strode atop the final plinth where Grisgart awaited.
'You have done well' he hissed, 'but fear not, the deaths of my kin have only served to make me stronger' he cackled malevolently dark magic gathering at his hands he flung them out summoning several gigantic drakes and two ferocious worms.
Again the companions clashed blade and armour with their foe, the battle raged on and on, the giant drakes wings beating the companions back again and again. But the skill of the Loremasters kept all in check and the songs and cries of the Minstrels and Captains ensured the companions morale never wavered in the face of the enemy.
Soon, after what seemed like days, they sat back exhausted against the tomb at the centre of the platform. Blood covered every part of the cavern, the drakes lay bloody and very dead, the worms were unrecognisable such were their injuries, and Grisgart....
He was cleaved in two, the final deathblow delivered by Aidyan his huge two handed blade chopping clean through the creature.
'My friends' cried Barathor once more, 'What we have achieved here tonight, in the face of huge adversity and with little resource, is a monumental achievement. Tonight we camp outside the gates of Helegrod, and tomorrow we shall...', he winked at Milhelm.
'Slay Thorog?' Milhelm asked quietly
'HA! Yes' yelled Barathor, 'Tomorrow we summon the beast to his demise!'
They all cheered at this, Song, Thorir, Raendoos and Kaywyn struck up a melody on their lutes as the companions trudged wearily outside. The Captains bannermen scurried around readying the camp, and one and all collapsed into their bunks grateful for the respite.