a dream, a disturbing thought, a recollection of old memories… interrupting my sleep.
I wake up in a tent near the campfire to the sounds of loud and boastful riders of the mark, who have arrived in the late hours, taking no care for those who already are resting or those who already are in deep meaningful conversations. Pah! My foul mood that already have haunted me for days, after leaving Fenmarch, is rising like a red vengeful moon in the darkest of night.
From prospecting plans for my own homestead, to being called upon by the thane of Snowbourn to help a group of dwarfs to prospect our mountains, ignited my foul mood. To endure the dwarf folks rude nature, while they walked in our mountains like it was their own, was an insult to the mark. And now we need to make a deal... to haggle with these greedy dwarf folk in Elthengels in the days to come. But to add insult to the injury, we stumble upon a camp filled with feeble orcs that could become a threat to our farmers nearby, if we agitate them. The besotted dwarfs seemed not to care, as long as they get their deal with the thane. Something must be done...
a few days later
Bidding a fond farewell to my companion the last week, who negotiated the deal with the dwarfs, I watch him... watch Waelden ride off to his own errants and disappear from view, before heading towards the mountains where the orcs was spotted.
a fortnight later
My feets are moving fast through the underbrush of the forest, jumping over roots, reaching out of the ground like grabbing hands, trying to deny my hunt of the wild savage beasts running away from me. I have been at it for hours, but it feels like an eternity. My limbs ache and I'm bleeding from numerous infected cuts in my flesh, making my head swim and my vision blurry, but I'm not done yet, pushing my body harder, forcing my feet to run faster, steeling my resolve for what to come.
After days of scouting the orc camp and planning, I started to stalk my way around their sentry lines, and one by one, the savage beast got their throats slit in silence, with no mercy from my part. These foul being have no right to walk above the ground, to have the privilege of sun or the stars to shine upon them. They are fated for the abyss and Im a willing hand to send them there. I had plucked maybe half their sentries, before the cursed senses of those within the camp, felt the death of their companions. Their rising aggression in response to my grim work, had to be cornered, unless I wanted to flee from my grim task. I had to put fear into them, forcing them to flee, to disperse. So I took the initiative and went on the offensive, hurling loud dark curses at them while charging towards those who where close to me.
Within moments I was in the middle of storm, a whirlwind of blades, knives and axes dancing all around me.. and out from the center of the storm, calm calculating strike and counter strike from my part, hitting and felling several orcs, but getting numerous cuts in return. In full force now, a dark veil fell over my eyes and my pace increase, making me move even faster, deadlier and I shout aloud “Lacho calad! Drego morn!” More of the cursed orcs fall to my sword or get their head bashed in by my shield and I awake fear in their eyes. Their attack falter and then the effect I had hoped for appears when they hither and thither in all direction, eager to flee my wrath.
The next hours was spent hunting down different small groups fleeing the area, not an easy task and many would sadly get away, but not the last group I now was chasing. Nearly out of breath and with trembling hands exhausted by swinging the sword and the shield, I crash into them with all my strength, making us all fall to the ground. Rolling over them while I drop both my shield and sword, I draw out my knife and let the last part of the deed be close and personal, grinning while their dilate eyes widen even more in shock and fear, when my knife sent them to the darkness.
sometimes later
Im spent… utterly spent. My wounds are too numerous, too deep and badly infected and it seems I have broken my left arm and several ribs in the fight, making it hard to breath. My eyesight is still blurry and I fear a heavy hit to my head, unnoticed in the fight, may be the cause of it. With my back leaning up against a tree, near a stream, I have no idea where I am at the moment.. and I'm famished.
The wind on my face is turning colder now and my eyes seems to enter the darkness, maybe I finally can get a restful sleep...
