After the intense sparring sessions for a few days, Gormlaith has grown powerful. She even became a "Nob" in the Klan. All the Ork-humans knew of this. They were even more excitied to meet her later. Through Thrasher, they knew all who were part of the Klan and their ranking.
If they were lower or higher an instinctual type dynamic was apparent. If they were weaker, it took a little more to get them to do something. If stronger it took less effort. Also caused them to work a little harder. Such was the way of the Ork part of them.
Tracker reported several mercenary groups and bandits. They were headed to Highever. It seems Arl Howe was still making his move against them. Thrasher did not send him back. He was ordered to assist Elissa with things. And to do the quests around the camp. Recruiting people to Thrasher's side of course.
Gormlaith and her troops were then assigned to the area to defend and build a proper defense. Which would allow for them to become stronger till Thrasher called for them. The bodies of the attackers were never found of course. Thrown in to make more troops into "pits" of his.
The weapons and armor, turn into proppa choppa's and eavy' armor.
Gromlaith resisted slightly. Wanted to give them burials to pay respect. She was straightened out by the Operator Norad on why that was not going to happen. It would be a while before the customs of Ork's and that of Thrasher settle in completely. But she did teach her troops about Honor. Which was not a problem for those willing to learn it.
Thrasher made it to the Korcari Wilds.
Info: The Korcari Wilds are a cold southern expanse of forest and swamp, the extent of the troubles inside are not truly known.
Chasind Wilders speak of a wasteland of snow and ice further to the south, filled only with desolate tundra and nomadic barbarians. Most northerners believe little of what the Chasind have to say.
But enough to not venture to far forth.
The Wilds are also home to Flemeth, the legendary "Witch of the Wilds", and her daughters. Who is also something of a really ancient and powerful means. Revealed only a little in each game with out going into great detail. The comics and novels brushing only a little as well.
South of the Wilds itself lies the mysterious region known as the Sunless Lands.
But what concerned Thrasher was what happened there and left alone till now. A lot of the area was left unchecked. A mist inside that ensnared the Kossith. The forebears of the Qunari.
They prayed to animist gods, however when Qun became law, the temples that Kossith built to honor their gods were destroyed and the priests were re-educated or driven into exile. Then things took a turn for a worse for the race. Those that were not changed over were, "captured" and twisted into horrors such as Broodmothers for the females. Which gave birth to the first Ogre's in Thedas. Or says so the info Thrasher had and what he purchased from the System.
The order of things were destroyed. It would be a pain to waste points on taking apart. So he settles for the simple solutions. Go in, and rip things apart personally.
Tracker did not want to let his Warchief go in alone, but he relented with how important things were in the camp themselves to change. An additional three hounds were with him. Only slightly weaker than the other three. Two midgets with him. "Goblin-Human" created from the moss. It was impossible for them not to be created.
Trained as caretakers and thieves instinctively by the Spore information. Still need a Runtherd to make them proppa and train them.
They were able to ride the hounds and attack from those positions.
"I will get it done Warchief." Tracker saluted and went to work. His thoughts on a few matters. 'If they give the "midgets" trouble, it will be open season on their items. Go practice to steal what they have. As well as take something to cause the downfall of Howe and Loghain more.'
"I know you will do fine." Thrasher took a few steps forward. A danger sensation passing that made him excited like no other since arriving. "Oh, my death is possible here! How exciting!"
System: All Check Auto Pass
"Waaaaaaggggghhhh!" Thrasher howled into the mist. Echoing his very defiance that rattled the Earth. His power burning from the very core of his soul. He would not step back at all. The Will of the World did not touch on anything in the area out of fear. "I am Thrasher Skullsplitta! I will rip you apart if you defy me!"
*Shing!* Green energy lit up as the image of the three ork gods appeared behind him. Cruelly twisted looks on their face. Gork, Bork, and Mork were interested in what laid inside. Each step pulsed into the Earth. Pushing back against the mist further. He used 3x level 9 spell slots to make it last for as long as he needed.
As if shining brighter than the sun itself.
Unknown to Thrasher, or he just ignored it, Golden eyes watched him. A look of caution but as well as hope as he moved forward inside. The glowing eyes retreated into the deeper part of the mist. The sound of beating wings took off in flight. Other tasks called to it.
System: Lunatic Quest started. $%@#$ & *%@%$ are watching you. Searched through the mist for #%%$%. Upscale quest. Find the Chasind encampment first.
Operator: The D.G. cells have finished settling into the new configuration. Skills are now settled. Additional power and skill level can push during Rage, Desires.
.
It is in the blood-
.
As Thrasher moved through the area, he could feel his blood pulse. Constantly on edge as he was in a perpetual stage of Rage actively. Every twitch and footfall was heard in the area of 30 feet. An axe in each hand gripped tight. The God sword was put away. As well as the armor receded. Several quests bombarded him to make it worthwhile and then some to fight this way.
*Crack!* A tree branch broke to his left. The sound of an animal, tiny and scurrying away sounded. A few more leaving next.
*Thump!* Something heavy fell to his right. Nothing came after pausing for a few seconds. A bit of bait to get him to act. a slight swirl in the mist alerted to a hulking creature around. The wind moved around a horn of sorts.
*Fwoosh!* The air distorted as swing went out. Thrasher moved into it, angling his weapon low. A stone axe passed by his cheek. Missing it by an inch or so. A quick dash and cut, his assailant was injured. Blood coating his axe. But the enemy did not fall. It was still alive by the sound of the moan.
"Ohh." Deep and gruff. A massive creature maybe? Not deterred, the creature swung with more intensity than before. It missed Thrasher who bound back against it by a half-inch. To bad of an angle to have contacted. "Humph!" The creature drifted back into the deeper mist. A bit of a taunt as it laughed.
*Thwack! Thwack! Thwack!Thwack! * The telltale sounds of arrow launching cut throw the air. A bit of magic wrapped around them as the shots pierced the mist. Pushing a path that Thrasher could see.
System: Perception Check 27 Pass
Health -3
Health -4
Health -2
Three of the arrows cut Thrasher. One missed and hit something in the distance with a thud. The little surface cut was nothing to worry about. The small affliction inside was devoured by the D.G. cells. Let alone his ork physiology.
Thrasher ran with a burst of strength like a beast on the hunt. The horned creature from before made a swing at him and paid for it. A simple leap and slash cut it's head, clean from the body. Before landing, Thrasher threw the axes at the area he lost saw the archers fire from.
*Schlick!* One thrown axe hit home. Spilling blood of the archer from the skull. The second missed but that did not matter. It allows Thrasher to see a little more for just a moment. Another arrow took flight, missing Thrasher who ducked slightly.
*Fwip!* The archer was spotted, as Thrasher looked out. A Genlock Archer. Humanoid darkspawn.
Info: They are generally armed with a Darkspawn Shortbow and have a Darkspawn Dagger for close combat. Wearing light armor and tainted weapons to help spread the corruption of the Blight. Very similar to the Archer Boyz.
Thrasher picked up the weapon of the fallen creature. A close look revealed it to be an Ogre.
Info: The Ogre are the backbone of the offensive part of the Darkspawn. Siege breakers and then some. Monstrous beasts of brutal power. Very similar to the Meganob.
"Torah!" Thrasher gave a cry as he spun and threw the weapon. A large path in the mist cut open as he charged through towards a spotted archer. In seconds, he had hold of one of them. "Weak!" A simple crush and the head was gone.
*Splurt!* The thrown axe found home with the enemy. To fast for them to move away. Listening intently, Thrasher could hear the sound of another. Closer listen and it was something big.
*Thump! Thump!* Two distinct somethings. They were careful. Trying to sound like one. The mist became thicker keeping sight to a terrible level. Thrasher was tempted to use magic, but mentally scoffed at the idea. The challenge was to good to pass up.
Thrasher moved up. Grabbing his first thrown axe as he moved. The heat of a body brushed pass him. Barely missing him by more than 1/8 of an inch. But the breath of the other gave them away. An exhale pushed the poison breath away.
'Mine!' Thrasher did an upward strike with all his might. The force lifting him off the ground slightly. instinct told him to mine his now exposed rear. With a twist of his body, The momentum from the strike was used to get out the way. 'Close!'
System: Acrobatics Check 26 Neutral
Thrasher flipped over missing the strike to his back. As well as a few more arrows hitting him. They lodged into the belly of the Ogre he just killed. The axe cut through the head from the strike. The arrows going into it were overkill. And the strike from its partner just added insult to injury. Landing on the other ogre was a bit of a problem.
"Sup?" Thrasher was a little suprised of the metallic part of its head. Enough fighting from the war let him know it was a leftover from Chronoa's forces. Which meant trouble for the entirety of this Forest. "Die!" Thrasher kneed the eye sockets. Crushing a part of one eye. It malfunctioned enough to cause it to go haywire.
Health - 13
Injured from the dense substance. Thrasher had no choice but to get off the ogre. A drop to the ground and a roll away, got him far enough away. Already grabbing the nearest weapon to keep fighting.
*Booooom!* An explosion rang out in the area. Some voices could be heard in the distance. A slight foreign language to the untrained. But Thrasher had heard so many different languages, that he was able to understand. It was a type of elven.
'It is oos Ancestor was such an Elf lover. Maybe I should just call him Grandfather? Defintely suits his old young self. Then again, I am old to.' Thrasher charged out attacking the now fallen over Hemlock Archers. Quite a number of them had arrived. About 13 or so. Nothing major in the mist. But in the open.. yeowch! 'Hmm, I can see why this was at the level of Lunatic. I am really liking this place more and more!'
After killing all of the archers and sending them to the "Algae," Thrasher looked at the bodies of the 3 ogres. The exploded one had the most tech. The other two only a little. Mostly around the heart but not the head. Which would work against regular warriors and archers.
"Hmm." Thrasher spread his hands out as the D.G. cells broke the metal down. Accessing the information in the bodies, would take time. 'Haaa, I remember the beginning of the war with these things. We couldn't get shit from them. But Azul and Jane found a way after trial and error. Glad he gave this to me. Just wish he gave me the mind control part. Then again...'
Thrasher rembered that he would have done terrible things with that program if he had it. Much worse than what Azul did with it. The one he had, was more of a curing type. As well as a booster for the individual.
Making it a super healer, disease curer, genetic breakdown, and overall research material. More magic than tech, but with his Matter Manipulation, it was more organic and magic. Which Thrasher needed, considering the way he fought.
'.. it worked fine in the end anyway. I like this.' The three ogres broke down into the moss. Upgrading the level of Thrasher's Matter Manipulation metal portion. A quest finished as he did so. With a simple spell, the two axes returned to him. 'Time to upgrade these from basic to something more!'
As he worked on that, the Club Ace lit up. Accepting something on his behalf that would protect and give him the thrill of battle he wanted. A symbol appeared on Thrasher's forehead of magic. A swirl with a few points in the cardinal directions. The others saw it as they approached him. In vanished right as Thrasher requipped his armor.
System: Lunatic Quest Task 1 completed. $%@#$ is happy with you. User's third class is changing... Searched through the mist for Augmented Darkspawn. Find the Chasind encampment completed. Rewards: Chasind artifacts, Elvhenan artifacts, Mark of $%@#$ in the blood has awakened, Mark of Elgar'nan accepted by Club Ace mark, Medium Pull 5x, Common Pull 7x.