Thorgar POV
Standing on a mountain's edge, I look towards the horizon and wonder of the great feats my people have accomplished. What mighty feat shall be synonymous with my name as King?
I sit and ponder until I hear someone walk up from behind. He is familiar to me. My little brother.
He stops and stands in front of me to my left to look down the mountain.
"Thorgar! What makes a man strong?" My little brother asks with his back facing towards me.
"HAHAHA the strength of a man lies in his ability to protect those he cares for!!" I answer with confidence and fondness.
"Hmm I see...Then why?" he asks me as the sky darkens.
"Why what little one?" I ask, perplexed by the question. My mind reels as I feel a sense of familiarity with the situation, as if I've been asked this before. My stomach lurches as I am hit with a sense of dread.
My little brother slowly turns and his face melts and festers before my very eyes.
"Why...diD YoU noT saVE USSS!!!!"
A hand grabs me from behind and I spin to see a horde of rotting cadavers clawing at me. Their skin melting and filled with pus, their limbs twisted in the wrong angles, their mouths open in agony, their eyes locked in fear. All of them begging to be saved.
"SAAAAAVE USS." "THORGAR HEEEEELLLPPP!!" "MY KING! AT LEAST TAKE MY CHILD!" "I AM SCARED" "DON'T LEAVE US HERE!!" "NOOOOO" "WHY ARE YOU NOT DEAD TOO?" "IT HURTSSS, MAKE IT STOP PLEASE"
I close my eyes, but they force it open. I struggle but they overwhelm me. I fought for them, and yet I failed. "No more. Please no more!!" I plead but they do not stop.
"WHY DID YOU NOT KILL IT?" "DO WE MEAN NOTHING TO YOU?!" "WHERE WAS YOUR STRENGTH WHEN WE NEEDED IT?" "WHY DID YOU LET US DIEEEEEEEEE"
"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH"
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Then there was silence.
I am on my knees by the mountains edge. The earth is slick with the blood of my people.
My brother's head is in front of me on an altar, with tears of blood flowing from his eyes. His mouth is moving.
He whispers something. I cannot hear what he is saying.
He whispers again. Louder this time. "...t....re..."
Louder. "...t...s...ere..."
Louder still. "...it...is...here..."
*KRAKOOOOM*
The entire mountain trembles. From behind the altar, a great shadow forms. I see the blasted thing. I see the beast that has haunted me every night for the past 200 years.
"...you..." I feel it.
The hateful thing stares at me as if mocking all that I have lost.
I feel as though molten lava is flowing through my veins.
"BASTARD!!" a soul tearing hatred fills my entire being. The ground explodes outwards as I enter a rage, the beast is surprised and strikes at me.
It is too late to move away and so I launch myself towards the hateful creature.
"RAAAARGH!!" I shout with bloody fury. The last thing I see are electric blue draconic eyes.
*BOOOOM*
I awaken with a startle as I find myself facing a ruined hill side. My fist still outstretched, I see that my veins are alight with what seems to be molten gold flowing through them.
A reminder of all I have lost.
I try to will myself to calm down, but all I accomplish is further agitation. Without a word, I direct a punishing blow towards the mountain.
*CRACK*
The mound gives way to my strength. The searing energy slowly recedes and I silently regard my ruined camp.
"...onwards to Kedan then." I walk away as boulders dislodge themselves from the devastation I wrought.
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3 hours later
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I make my way through the busy streets of Kedan and cannot help but inwardly marvel at the sheer opulence of this place. There are shops lining the streets with high quality wares, and taverns bustling with traffic.
On a closer look, however, one can see the demi-human slaves working in the background for the entertainment of others.
I clench my fist and I know my eyes have increased in intensity. I cannot afford to make a mistake here. With a heavy heart, I walk away. I make sure to school my emotions and take care to draw no attention to myself. I bring my hood further down and my cloak tighter around my body.
Being a large individual is making it difficult to blend in, but there are large individuals even amongst humans.
I focus and walk toward the most popular tavern for some information, but then a scene catches my eye.
In the town square, a portly little boy is maiming a horse flanked by 2 bodyguards. He strikes the noble steed as if it has taken his most prized possession. He screams as if possessed by a demon, blaming the horse for his tardiness. He radiates a malice so thick, it is almost viscous.
*WHAM* *THUD* CRIIICK*
"You stupid beast!! Why'd I spend so much gold on such a worthless thing. Since your legs are useless, I'll make sure you can't use them anymore." he states as he raises his sword to chop off its legs.
I can no longer watch. I dash in front of a guard and grip them by their face before they can react. I toss them to the other guard who was scrambling for his sword. The little gremlin whirls around at the sound of bodies colliding and is paralyzed as I stare at him with righteous fury.
"Wh-what d-do..." he stammers
"Silence, worm" I say with such disgust that he looks to have felt it in his bones.
"Leave the horse here, and you may leave with your limbs still attached to your torso." I give him my ultimatum, and I have a feeling he will comply judging by the unpleasant smell rising from his pants.
Without a word he runs away with a speed that does not match his figure. His bodyguards chase after him.
I kneel besides the noble creature and put a hand on its heart. It will not last long.
Deciding on a course of action, I sit next to it and gently stroke its mane until it passes on. It looks at me with gratitude in its eyes, and with a final exhale, the light slowly fades away.
I sit there for a while longer and move to stand, but a voice sounds out from behind me.
"Haha lad, that was quite a spectacle ye put on. Though it wasn't the smartest thing to do, offending the son of a noble. Oh well, the irreprehensible shit goblin deserved it."
I raised an eyebrow at the creative insult and turn to the speaker, only to be shocked as I take in the sight of a dwarf. 'A dwarf in Kedan?' I internally question.
"What? Never seen a dwarf before?" he asks with some snark
"I was merely wondering why you haven't been thrown out by your beard, or captured by the guards. This place doesn't seem accommodating to anything other than humans." I speak plainly as I sense there is important information to be had.
"Ah ye don't mince words I see. Good. Our conversation will go smoothly. For now, be a lad and pick up the poor horse. Let us give it a burial and grab some drinks in the tavern." he says as he waves his hand while walking away.
I pick the poor creature up and heft it on my shoulder. The common folk make way as I follow the dwarf.
1 hour later
"Whoo yer a strong one I'll give you that. Carried that horse as if it was a sack of rice. What would ye like to drink? It'll be on me." he says as we sit on a vacant table.
I keep my head down and reply. "No need. Speak. How are you able to walk here unimpeded?" I question him as he orders a beer.
He looks at me and laughs "Hahaha, well I imagine much the same way all nobles do. Power. I represent an organisation that deals in inter-continental trade. The demi-humans have a lot more power than the denizens of this continent would like ye to believe. Now I believe it's my turn to ask questions."
I remain silent. A gesture for him to continue.
"If ye don't mind me asking, what's a Sentry doing so far from Benevolence and in Kedan." he asks with a knowing grin as his mug of beer arrives.
I give him a sharp look and I can see that my eyes have somewhat unsettled him. Good. It is needed if I am to gain answers.
"I travelled through a large forest and met a young elf about to be kidnapped, with her grandfather laying dead by her feet." I state plainly, blatantly leaving the first part of the question unanswered.
"Oh." he says softly and drinks deeply from his mug.
"A slaver said Count Utgard was involved after I...persuaded him to give me the information." I sat there in silence afterwards, waiting for a response.
"So what? What are ye planning to do? All the nobles here engage in some form of slave ownership. Are ye planning to tear down the system that this kingdom was built on? Or maybe deal with the nobles, including the king, in a more violent manner? Powerful ye may seem, but ye cannot change the established norms." he says visibly withered by our conversation.
I look to him and drop sharp teeth on the table. He picks one up and is startled.
"Are these the fangs of a vampire? What do these have to do with anything?" he asks, more than a little confused.
"Everything." I say with rage spilling from my very being.
I look at him and recognize a need for allies with connections.
"200 years ago, my...people...were eradicated for we were a threat to those in power. We held strength but it wasn't enough. All manner of beasts besieged our kingdom. Over the course of 100 years, only a few of my brethren remained."
"Vampires were there, and they wrought havoc amongst our battle lines. They turned family and friend against one another through compulsion, relishing in the slaughter." I pause and let him absorb the information.
"Sarxis, wasn't always like this. Demi-humans walked with the humans, not under them. They lived in harmony and flourished. Then everything changed significantly in the blink of an eye. They were rounded up as if they were nothing more than monsters to be subjugated. Their lives were made a mockery by those they used to call friend. I've visited 2 other kingdoms and both of them, without fail, harboured vampires in the ear of nobles." I lean back and look to the ceiling.
The dwarf puts his now empty mug and looks at me.
"Why haven't I heard anything about this? Where are the tales of a hero liberating demi-humans in other kingdoms?" he asks with a heat now present in his voice.
"I managed to quietly remove the vampires with the help of a few companions. The Kings, however, refused to see reason. Something is holding them on a leash, and it cannot be explained by mere compulsion. I have scoured the lands for answers, and I have reason to believe that the ones that attacked my people are responsible."
I failed to restrain my anger and crushed the edge of the table. Thankfully no one seemed to notice.
The dwarf crosses his arms and gives me a hard stare. Beyond the defences in his gaze, I see a spark of hope. A slowly rousing flame that promises to roar.
"Tell me Sentry. If I said I was having dinner with the King in a few days to discuss trade, would you be willing to accompany me as a bodyguard? Are you able to differentiate a vampire from a normal human as we go to meet other nobles? This is a risk, but it's a risk I'm willing to take. If it is as you say then the whole of Sarxis is caught in a conspiracy." he states with conviction and I sigh in relief.
My feeling was right.
"Very well. Let us prepare."
I move to stand but he raises a hand.
"Hold on now. I can't keep calling ye Sentry. I'm Brokkr. Master smith and merchant at yer service." he flashes a businessman's grin and I find it amusing.
"I am Thorgar." I say. This is no time for amusement.
"The dinner will happen 3 days later. You would do well to rest and tend to your equipment. Seeing as how we'll be partners, I see no harm in allowing you one free service gahaha." he laughs and waits for my answer.
"That would be appreciated."
"Good lad! Let us head to my forge". He leads the way with a renewed energy in his steps.
A while later, we arrive at his smithy and he is deserving of his title. I see excellent weapons and armour on display, all made with remarkable quality.
"Well let's see it. I can feel something special on that axe of yers. I would love to give it a look." he states eagerly
I look at him and choose to trust him as our goals align. I unclasp my axe and place it on the anvil. The weight of it producing a heavy *clang* that rattles Brokkr.
"By the gods, how much does that thing weigh? Furthermore, how are you holding it with one hand??" he asks incredulously, disbelieving of my strength.
"Can you maintain or improve it?" I ask hopefully, as I had not been able to maintain my Greataxe for months.
"I can only maintain it. This thing requires rare materials that I simply do not have to upgrade." he says as he gets to work. I note this favour down in my head. This will not go unrepayed.
*CLANG*
*CLANG*
*CLANG*
The sounds of the forge are deafening as Brokkr showcases his skill as a master smith. He carefully maintains the weapon as if he were tending to his child.
He stares long and hard at my Greataxe and ,with both hands, tosses it into the air.
I grip outwards and my axe thrums with power before returning to my hand.
"HAHA neat trick lad. It is rare for metals from the void to be imbued with magic, but I guess there are exceptions to the rule." Brokkr laughs.
It is not magic.
"It was a gift. From a man who believed in me when he shouldn't have" I say, my mind replaying that fateful day over and over again.
Brokkr looks at me with concern and I wave it away.
I thank him for his service and prepare the rest of my weapons and tools in my backpack.
1 handaxe
1 silver long knife
2 flasks of holy water
3 sticks of dynamite
1 potion of healing
1 wooden stake
1 flask of oil
I equip my handaxe and long knife and put the rest of the items on pouches along my belt.
I then turn to Brokkr and with rage filling my eyes I spit out a name.
"Utgard"