Lucia's heart raced as she realized the shackles that had bound her were now shattered, lying in pieces on the floor. In their place, she found herself adorned in the armor of the holy knights, a stark contrast to the chains of her imprisonment. With newfound resolve coursing through her veins, she knew that her moment of liberation had finally arrived.
The brightness of the morning sun pierced through the fabric of the tent, casting a warm glow upon the interior. However, amidst the peaceful ambiance, an unsettling silence hung heavy in the air. The absence of the paladin's snores signaled an unusual stillness, contrasting with the usual bustle of activity outside the camp. This eerie calm set Lucia's senses on edge, her instincts warning her of impending danger. With a cautious glance around the tent, she steeled herself for whatever awaited her beyond its confines.
Before Lucia's awakening, her father, the paladin, had led his troops of knights into the heart of Suthur with the intention of eradicating the monsters that harboured the plains of suthur.
As they approached the village, the paladin noticed an unusual stillness in the air, a silence that seemed to suffocate the very essence of the forest. The usual cacophony of monster calls and rustling leaves was conspicuously absent, replaced by an ominous quiet that sent shivers down the spines of even the most seasoned knights. It was as if the very heart of Suthur had been drained of life, leaving behind a desolate landscape devoid of its former inhabitants.
The paladin's laughter echoed through the silent plains as he mocked the supposed cowardice of the monsters. "How cowardly can those vermin get!" he exclaimed, his voice filled with contempt. "Make haste, men! We're going after them!" His command thundered through the ranks, igniting a fervor among his knights as they spurred their mounts forward, eager to confront their foes.
Just beyond the plains of Suthur loomed a treacherous mountain range, its peaks veiled in mist and mystery. Whispers among the humans spoke of fearsome creatures dwelling within, ancient guardians of forgotten secrets and untold power, its inhabitants: the most ferocious of divine beasts.
As the knights closed in on the hordes of monsters, the air crackled with tension and the clash of steel against scales echoed through the mountains. With fury, they charged into battle, their swords gleaming in the sunset as they sought to rid the land of the creatures.
The dragonoids put up a formidable resistance against the holy knights, their massive forms and fiery breath striking fear into the hearts of their adversaries. With powerful wings and razor-sharp claws, they swooped down upon the knights, unleashing havoc and chaos upon them. Despite their bravery and skill, the knights found themselves facing a relentless onslaught, forcing them to fight with all their might to overcome the ferocious beasts.
One after the other both dragonoids and knights fell to ground.. a blood stained battle field had been created in mere hours as heaps upon heaps of flesh fell to ground, painting it in crimson blood.
Devastated by the havoc of battle and the appearance of seevads, the paladin ordered some of his high-ranking knights to retreat from the fray, realizing that they were ill-prepared to face the ferocity of the dragonoids and seevads head-on. With a heavy heart, he watched as his men withdrew from the battlefield, knowing that their survival was paramount if they were to regroup and strategize for a more effective approach against the creatures, the lower ranking knights were still deployed in battle and fought while being healed by mages of the holy empire of intrisha.
At the same time, another leader was commanding his own forces—the creatures of the village. He stood at the head of his village, a formidable figure, an orc of high rank and stature, a high orc.
With fangs protruding from each corner of his mouth to the bottom of his nose, the high orc exuded a menacing aura that instilled fear, His eyes gleaming with anger and rage at the demise of his fellow creatures, his hair was intricately braided, contrasting with his bright red skin, which looked as if it had been meticulously carved. Muscles rippled on every inch of his body, a testament to his formidable strength.
With an angered scoff, he looked to his right, kneeling, was Ragard, his most trusted aid. Ragard's eyes burned with a fierce determination, matching the intensity of their leader's rage.
Ragard, a mix-breed, possessed an air of uniqueness amidst the towering figures of the orc tribe. His silk brown hair cascaded past his shoulders, a stark contrast to the typical rugged appearance of his kin. Despite his smaller stature compared to other orcs, Ragard exuded a quiet strength, his eyes reflecting a determination forged by years of facing adversity as a mixed-breed in a society that often valued pure lineage above all else. Ragard's presence was commanding, his gaze unwavering as he awaited orders from his leader. Though a mix-breed, his loyalty to the high orc chief was unquestionable, his determination to protect their village evident in every fiber of his being.
"Gather the younglings, Ragard," the orc chief commanded, his voice carrying the weight of authority and urgency.
"What is your plan, sire?" Ragard asked, his tone filled with subtle curiosity and apprehension.
The orc chief grinned, his sharp fangs gleaming in the dim light.
"We are heading into that mountain range," he declared, his voice carrying a mix of determination and excitement.
"Sire, you can't possibly be thinking... It's too dangerous," Ragard said softly, his eyes betraying a hint of concern.
"Do you doubt me, Ragard?" the orc chief asked, his voice laced with a hint of challenge.
Without a second thought, Ragard rose to his feet and hurried to the hiding spot they had created within the depths of the ground for the younglings.
The orc chief gazed at the ominous mountain range, a shiver running down his spine as he sensed the overwhelming presence of mana emanating from its depths. The sheer power emanating from the mountains was suffocating, and he knew Ragard shared his unease, evident in the concern etched across his face.
With a menacing smile, the orc chief joined Ragard, his eyes glinting with determination despite the palpable danger ahead.