Grall
Grall stood inside the large expanse of his own mind, mist surrounded him, making it hard to see. He had fought The Reaper who had taken over his body. Grall had been evicted from his body as if he was a tenant just moments prior, or rather, in Gralls and The Reapers case, it had been years.
As the battle progressed, Grall was able to successfully force his way back into his body, connecting with The Reaper in hopes to give some kind of edge to the battle that was taking place outside. The process had been painful, as it had torn his very being to shreds in order to reconstruct it in a manner for which he could face The Reaper.
When the pain subsided, Grall found himself staring into the fog that surrounded him. The mist moved and breathed as if it was alive.
Grall took a step forward, intending to search for what he had came to find. A flash of light shone through the mist causing Grall to falter in his steps. The mist that had appeared to be alive, now showed glimpses of his memories.
Gralls eyes widened, the dark orbs that lay embedded in his sockets began to tremble. Memories Grall had once long thought dead now shone through the darkness of his cloudy mind.
His father and all he had taught him. The day of his first kill and how proud his father was. Following Grodak to his forge and playing with the bent metals.
Grall's lips began to quiver, these were memories of a time before. A time when he hadn't known pain or lost. As Grall stared into the mist, the dark memories, things Grall had begged the Gods to remove from his mind, began to surface.
His fathers death at the hands of another tribe. How he failed to protect his tribe because of his own need for vengeance. The deaths of his tribesmen who had trusted him. Kernan's, Grall's best friend growing up, betrayal.... Kernan's blood seeping down Oathkeepers blade.
The elders pushing to destroy a tribe that only wanted to live in peace. Gralls banishment at the hands of the ones who ordered him to act. How the people of his tribe looked at him with disdain, distrust, and, worse of all, hatred. The countless attempts at suicide.
The memories sent shock waves through Grall. He could not bear to relive those events and yet here he was. He wanted nothing more then to close his eyes to those memories, banish them from his thoughts, banish the pain that plagued him every second of his tortured existence. But, he stood firm and kept his eyes open as the memories continued to play. He knew, no matter how much he tried, those memories would find him anyways.
The memories continued unabated, showing Grall the traveling merchants. he stood out of view, hidden in the trees, watching as the merchants were torn to shreds by the dire wolves who lived in the forest. He hadn't felt like rushingto their aid, the foolish humans shouldn't have tried to cross through these forests to began with. Grall turned to leave, not bothering to glance back as the dying men let out their final wails.
As Grall left, intending to search for a suitable place to end his life, he heard a high pitch scream. Grall turned back to the caravan, not out of concern, but out of curiosity. His breath caught in his throat as a dire wolf drug a young elven woman with redish brown hair, brown eyes, and olive skin out of the merchant's caravan. Grall found himself mystified by the woman and, without thinking, began to rush to her aid.
As Grall approached the elven woman, a dire wolf moved to attack her. Grall leapt onto the beast, killing it instantly, only to find himself the target for the rest. He fought a vicious battle and came out on top.
He brought the wounded elf, the only survivor of the caravan, back to his home where he nursed her back to health. Grall wasn't sure when it happened, or even why, but the two ended up becoming close. Whenever Grall would try to run her out, she would always return. All Grall had felt since the day he had been banished was hatred towards all living beings, especially his self. Yet here stood someone who contradicted all he stood for. Someone who gave him a reason to feel something other then hatred. Someone who brought back the smile that had long died out. Someone who gave him a reason to live.
This sadly didn't last long, two years after Grall saved the elven maiden, she passed away in child birth. Madness ensued, his mind was chaotic, he no longer had a reason to stay alive. He wanted death more then before and he would have it, but first he was gonna dispatch his beloved killer.
Grall stood on the edge of a cliff, a cliff he had thrown himself off of on numerous occasions, the bundle in hand. He held the small form out, ready to drop the child that he and Leah had once been so excited to invite into the world. As he began to loosen his fingers, a small hand reached out of the bundle and grasped him.
It was so small, so frail, and so strong. Grall gasped in surprise, nearly letting the bundle fall to his death. That was when Leah's last words echoed through his mind, words he had blocked out in his anger.
"Don't let your anger drive you. You are the father to a God and you must be his protector."
In that moment, Grall thought about possibly raising this child to become the strong God he was meant to be. To become even stronger then Talengar himself, but every time he looked upon the child, all he could see was his mother. He knew he would not be able to raise the child, not with the anger that still held his heart.
Grall did the only thing he thought he could in that moment and traveled to the nearest town. He left the infant at the local orphanage, praying to Talengar that his child would be safe now. When he left, he placed a small note on the bundle.
The note read, "I am Drillohiem, son of a once great chieftain and a beautiful maiden. I am to become strong, something my father cannot do. Please raise me will or my fathers blade will taste your blood."
Grall also placed a bracelet, his wedding band which he wore at all times. The bracelet was of black leather with red and blue jewels embedded. A week later, Grall returned to find the town ravaged by the undead armies and only the bracelet was left, torn as if ripped from the hands of someone.
Grall found himself now mourning his wife and sons death and once more, he sought out his own death. Years passed by, the memories of pain and lose becoming more profound with every day. The memories of reuniting with his brother, Grodak, returning to his tribe and being treated as an outsider.
Grall and Grodaks meeting with Talengar.... this memory brought back pain that Grall, at the time, did not let on. Now, alone in his mind, Grall wept. He wept not for himself for he knew he would never be worthy of Talengars gifts as his brother was, but for his child. Grall clutched his wrist where the old wedding band lay, still torn from that day.
This did not cause Grall to falter, it only gave him strength to push on as the memories continued. Adrian, Imp, Tyril, Jaxale, Dronde, and Cassandra all appeared in the memories. Some where happy moments, others led Grall to sorrow, but Grall kept strong. He knew this was all in the past and should be treated as such.
"Why do you not break?" A voice shouted in Gralls mind. Powerful and consuming, the voice pierced every fiber of Gralls being.
"You can't break what has already been shattered." Grall closed his mind to the voice as he stepped forward. "I was shattered the moment I lost everything and all that I have left is those who I cherish. Those you seek to harm. I will not allow you to use my body to do so."
As Grall spoke he heard Grodaks war cry, a sign that he was attacking. Good. Grall thought as he drew Oathbreaker, a grim and determined smile played on his lips. If there was anyone I wished to take my life, it would be you, my brother.
"You will not win." The voice shouted in anger, but Grall was no longer listening.
"So no more can die by my hands, I give my life upto you, God of death." Grall raised Oathbreaker towards the heavens and slammed the aetherial blade into the ground, causing the mist to part and revealing a symbol that lay beneath him. The symbol of a white crow with a death flower held in its beak.
"I have learned a great many things, thanks to you, Reaper. Among them, I learned that the power of the Azartor lay in the hearts of us all." Grall knelt low to the ground touching the symbol. As Grall touched the symbol, he heard Grodak cry out in pain.
It sounded like the pain of a dying man. Grall's head shot up in confusion, Grodak was among the strongest in the material realm. Even Cassandra would be no match for him if he just used his abilities correctly.
"What are you doing to Grodak?" Grall demanded, his voice taking a dark turn.
A sinister laughter echoed through Gralls mind. "Do not worry," the malice was so palpable that Grall could feel it on his skin, "you shall feel the same pain as your dear brother soon enough."
Grall felt multiple emotions all at once. Anger, hate, loathing, and fear pulsed through Gralls mind. Then came understanding. Understanding of the situation and how to beat this monster.
"If that's how it must be," Grall's voice seemed to calm to his ears, "then, please, do as you will, almighty Reaper."
This seemed to surprise The Reaper as the mist seemed to recoil at the words. Silence fell. The only sound that seemed to be present was the sounds of Grodak fighting.
"I like the sound of that." The mist began to quiver as if in anticipation. "The almighty Reaper. The being above all who resides on the worlds below."
Grall stood up, a hint of a smile now touched his lips. "How can you be the one above all when the Source is the one who stands in that place."
"Do not mention him to me." The voice shouted, the mist turning red as his voice echoed through Gralls mind. "He was the one who imprisoned me in the mind of a weak, pathetic, moronic being. If he dares to show his face around me, I will kill him."
Grall's smile widened as the mist began to take form. "Really?" Grall's voice sounded perplexed. "I thought he did you a favor by giving you an almost immortal body."
A scream of rage and anguish echoed through the caverns of Gralls mind. "An immortal body without control. You sought after death and death turned its back on you. You then pursued him in hopes he would take you to your beloved like the fool you are."
The mist had become more profound, but not enough for Grall to attack. "Did you not do the same?" Grall asked while playing a fool. "Oh, wait. You went mad and lost your mind when you lost those you loved. You became such a danger to your family and friends that they had to be the ones to put you down."
The voice let out such a beastly scream, Grall had the feeling The Reaper was about to turn in ward to tear Grall to sunders. As the scream echoed, the mist finally took on the complete form of The Reaper, a tall orc that supported redish brown hair such as Grall's, facial features that would even put Grodak to shame, and the muscles of an orc that was bred for war. The differences between Grall and what this Reaper looked like was so profound Grall caught his breath.
Their differences did not end with his looks. The Reaper, unlike any other orc Grall had ever met, supported red skin with black stripes along his body.
Grall did not allow himself to admire The Reaper's body for long. He knew he wouldn't get a second chance to do what he needed.
Grall grasped Oathbreakers hilt and pulled the blade from the ground. Pointing the tip of the blade at The Reaper's chest, Grall charged forward piercing him with the blade of Oathbreaker. As his blade entered The Reaper's body, Grall caught glimpses of what was going on outside.
Grodak lay on the ground, Oathbreaker piercing his gut as he struggled to fight back. In grodaks sword hand, he held a green sword that reeked of death. As soon as Grall saw these images, they disappeared.
The Reaper had thrown Grall off of him and was fighting back. The Reaper swung his fist catching Grall on the jaw. Grall fell back clutching his cheek as The Reaper's sinister laughter resumed.
"What were you trying to do there, Grall? You cannot kill me, not while I am in your mind."
Grall chuckled a bit, it was funny to him, everything was. Being born with the Reaper, losing his wife and son, even his own death seemed to be nothing more then a sick joke, but Grall laughed. He laughed so hard he doubled over in tears.
"Whats so funny, Grall?" The Reaper did not even try to hide his satisfaction at the sudden insanity that Grall showcased.
"I'm laughing at you." Grall said through the laughter.
The Reaper approached Grall in anger, lifting his hand to strike him once more. Grall snapped up, grabbing the hilt of his sword and plunged it deeper into the bowels of The Reaper. As the sword plunged into The Reaper Grall quickly shouted to Grodak, "Kill me now!" The Reaper back handed Grall, sending him flying across his mind-scape.
This was it, this was the end of all he cared for. He wasn't even sure if Grodak had heard him, and if he did, would he kill his own brother? Just then, Grodaks voice echoed in Gralls mind. It was a simple statement that was meant to enrage him, but Grall found the words more amusing then engaging.
"Thats right. I killed her, and I'll do it again and again. I'll kill her as many times as possible, as long as you are no longer allowed to love."
The Reaper let out a wild scream and vanished, both the mist and his body had disappeared. He was no longer focused on Grall, his thoughts now on the orc that he fought outside of his mind.
Grall took this opportunity and rushed over to the symbol that lay on the ground. He placed his hand on the white crow and spoke the words that was needed.
"Azartor, God of death, I offer up my soul and body to you. May death be my release."
As Grall finished his sentence, a green light shot through Gralls mind engulfing his very being. Rest. Eternal rest. He was finally able to sleep as Azartor took him in his arms and carried him off to the spirit realm.